With there being no return date in sight, Dana White is reportedly determined for Conor McGregor to buck his concepts up and make his UFC return.
Whereas the expertise pool is undoubtedly the perfect it has ever been in blended martial arts, the UFC is arguably at its worst when it comes to star energy. For probably the primary time in trendy historical past, the corporate would not have one champion able to promoting large pay-per-views—with their largest attracts being Islam Makhachev and a Jon Jones on the verge of retirement.
Although he should not be your first supply of data relating to the UFC, Brendan Schaub made a powerful level concerning the UFC’s present state.
“UFC’s in some bother, man,” Schaub stated throughout an episode of The Fighter and The Child podcast. “Title their huge star.”
“Belal [Muhammad]? I like him [but he’s not a star]. [Magomed] Ankalaev? What number of pay-per-views is he promoting? Two. His mum and his uncle.”
“[Alexandre] Pantoja, 135. We do not give a f***. 125, who else you bought? Merab [Dvalishvili]? Nah, not taking place… We’re speaking about pay-per-view stars, bud. Massive distinction. No person.”
“At middleweight, [Dricus Du Plessis] has an opportunity, he is most likely probably the most thrilling. [Islam] Makhachev. Makhachev might be their largest star.”
“[Alex] Pereira continues to be their most pay-per-view man however Makhachev’s their largest star. Pound-for-pound and, , he is thrilling.”
Associated: Nate Diaz lashes out at ‘Ewok’ Islam Makhachev
Turning his consideration to fighters of Russian descent, Schaub insisted that outdoors of Islam Makhachev, they don’t seem to be thrilling fighters.
“Who’s their most fun fighter? Islam. Exterior of Islam, who? Ankalaev?… I like Merab, he isn’t a finisher, although. You are not promoting pay-per-views off that.”
Conor McGregor is featured in the primary occasion of 8 of the UFC’s 10 most purchased pay-per-views in historical past.
McGregor’s reputation helped Khabib Nurmagomedov, Nate Diaz, and others acquire extra credibility from the informal fan, however now there is not anyone remotely near his degree of fame.
Brendan Schaub’s co-host on his podcast, Bryan Callen, later weighed in on the dialogue.
“They’re dying for a Conor [McGregor], Callen stated. “Additionally, [the Russian fighters] will not be talkers. They don’t seem to be talkers, they only get their job achieved. They’re troopers…”
“We would like the unhealthy boys, we would like the Irish, we would like the Ian Machado Gary’s.”
Test it out beneath.