There's lots of talk about how the UFC has had a great 2015 and that's true. There've been a number of missteps, of course. The Reebok apparel deal is a rolling calamity, for example. There have also been a number of unforeseen setbacks like Jon Jones' misconduct or surprising drug test failures of marquee attractions or antitrust lawsuits from former fighters.
Those complications matter in the overall picture, but they shouldn't obstruct the very discernable larger view. Call it the year of ambition. Call it the year the UFC peacocked. Call it the year they simply got lucky, if you wish.