Popularity is a double-edged sword in today’s mixed martial arts.
It has the power to launch a fighter’s career in the presence of masterful win streaks and memorable finishes, but also unfairly bury deserving contenders in favor of sexier ticket sales and jaw-dropping matchups.
That’s why it’s important for the people in charge—in this case, the UFC—to manage their roster accordingly, book the sensible fights and actually play by their own ranking system.
If they can do that, then these five fighters gaining vast popularity will fall into their rightful places.