Amongst fans and a multitude of media outlets, it was assumed that Brock Lesnar was the biggest pay-per-view draw in the UFC.
The former heavyweight champion was included in the May 2011 issue of ESPN The Magazine, which featured a listing of the highest paid athletes in 30 different sports.
Lesnar topped MMA with a whopping estimated earning of $5.3 million for two bouts in 2010. With such a high payout, many assumed Lesnar was the UFC’s biggest draw.
According to UFC president Dana White, this assumption is far from the truth.
“Georges St-Pierre is by far the biggest pay-per-view star in Mixed Martial Arts,” said White on Wednesday.
St-Pierre has come under harsh criticism as of late for failing to finish his last four fights.
Lately, the French Canadian has favored a methodical approach in taking opponents out of their comfort zones and coasting to unanimous decisions, which has brought about scrutiny from a multitude of fans.
Still, St-Pierre has remained dominant in his efforts, and he continues his neck-and-neck race with Anderson Silva in the bid for pound-for-pound supremacy.
As with any sport, people will always have their opinions, but the dollar signs don’t lie.
“For what it’s worth, people want to say (GSP) is this or that,” said White. “By far. By far the biggest pay-per-view star in MMA.”
St-Pierre has managed to attain mainstream sponsorships from notorious brands such as Gatorade and Under Armour. He has achieved more commercial success than any fighter in the history of the sport, and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
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