The past year and a half has been something of a trial by fire for the UFC. After selling the company for a record $4 billion and holding four out of its top five highest selling pay-per-view events of all time in 2016, the king of MMA promotions had to sit back and watch as buy rates, television ratings, and revenue declined while their beloved princess took a foray into professional wrestling and their crown prince tried his hand at boxing.
Though the organization gave a valiant effort in finding the next heir-apparent to the throne of superstardom, courting such suitors as Cody Garbrandt, Francis Ngannou, and Darren Till, ultimately none of them could pull the proverbial sword from the drawing power stone and reach the levels of popularity set by the company’s two biggest stars.