The UFC is growing rapidly, and was perfectly lined up to get even bigger in the next year. Unfortunately for Dana White, and MMA fans in general, there is a rapidly shrinking list of “star” fighters that the UFC can count on to attract fans. Chuck Liddell is gone. Randy Couture is gone. The careers of other brand-name fighters like Matt Hughes, Wanderlei Silva, Kenny Florian and BJ Penn are all undeniably approaching an end.
On top of that, the UFC’s single biggest PPV draw, Brock Lesnar, after his UFC 141 loss to Alistair Overeem and it is highly unlikely that his decision will change (which often happens in the UFC). The second biggest draw, seemingly-unstoppable Welterweight Champion, Georges St-Pierre, recently underwent major surgery on his knee. There are rumbles that this injury could be career-ending, and whether or not this proves true, it is difficult to believe GSP will come back as the same fighter that remains undefeated since April 2007, even though he anticipates a November 2012 return. To top it all off, #1 Pound-for-Pound fighter, and UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva is apparently planning to retire after his current UFC contract expires, which is likely to occur in 2013.
With only one dependable draw that is immediately available (Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones) the UFC needs to build their fighters’ brands. Quickly. Luckily, they have a deep pool of talent, both young and old, that they can work with.