Sports exist in an eternal state of flux. Older competitors fall off their games, the victims of age-related decline, and younger athletes replace them in the remorseless meat grinder that entertains the masses on a weekly basis. MMA is no different. New fighters debut on every major card, while older fighters retire or fall out of the big leagues and onto local or regional events.
Stars are something else entirely, and they are not so easily replaced. The Ultimate Fighting Championship lost Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre, and Jon Jones is currently riding the pine; Anthony Pettis’ career has fizzled since he took a beating of epic proportions from Rafael dos Anjos; Ronda Rousey, however, seems to be the real deal, and if Conor McGregor pulls off a victory over Jose Aldo at UFC 189, he will quickly become one of the sport’s biggest draws; Bellator MMA’s Will Brooks is a tinderbox of charisma waiting for the right spark to ignite; Rory MacDonald could revive the Canadian market with a win over Robbie Lawler, and Luke Rockhold’s brand of California cool might make him the man if he beats Chris Weidman.