“There was a time in the UFC when champions were absolute stars. They were blockbusters—must-see attractions,” said UFC legend Daniel Cormier last year on Good Guy/Bad Guy. “It was Anderson Silva….was Jon Jones. It was Conor McGregor. Every guy that held that belt made you pay attention. Brock Lesnar. Cain Velasquez. BJ Penn. So many great fighters you had to watch.” Cormier wasn’t just reminiscing—he was sounding the alarm on a growing issue: the UFC’s dwindling star power.

And now, as we step into 2025, his words are starting to ring louder than ever. UFC 315 marked the promotion’s highly anticipated return to Montreal, a city once synonymous with electric crowds and blockbuster cards. But something felt off. Despite a lineup featuring a bloody welterweight title clash between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena, a women’s flyweight showdown between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot, the final fight of featherweight legend José Aldo, the buzz just wasn’t there.

Canada, a longtime UFC hotbed, has hosted some of the sport’s most iconic events. UFC 83 introduced Montreal to the Octagon with Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Serra, and UFC 129 still ranks among the promotion’s top 10 live gates, raking in a record-setting $12 million. But in 2025, the numbers are telling a different story. Senior journalist Damon Martin reported that only 60% of tickets were sold ahead of UFC 315. Worse yet, leaked data suggests the gate could rank among the lowest of the year for a UFC pay-per-view—an unsettling sign for Dana White & Co.

Weighing in on the UFC’s current star drought was former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Speaking on his YouTube channel this week while discussing his protégé Navajo Sterling’s fight against Ivan Erslan, the Nigerian-Kiwi pulled no punches:

“I’m excited for this fight, and this might launch him into the top 15 depending on how he wins. But again, I just think—don’t push Navajo. Let him go at his own pace. He’ll know when to push. He’s very, very smart at this. So I trust his judgment. I trust Eugene’s pacing for him and the UFC, ’cause again—the UFC needs stars right now. Oh Jesus Christ—calm down. Breathe.”

Still, the situation isn’t entirely bleak. While ‘Bones’ remains largely absent and Conor McGregor appears more invested in his business ventures and political aspirations than a fighting comeback, the UFC hasn’t given up on its star-making engine. A fresh wave of talent—backed by established names like Ilia Topuria, Sean O’Malley, Alex Pereira, Jon Jones, and Israel Adesanya—continues to push forward, trying to reignite that lost spark.

Yet, despite their efforts, none of them—aside from Jon Jones—has been able to maintain a title with the same level of dominance. This raises the question: why is the UFC struggling to generate star power in this new era? For that, let’s turn back to Daniel Cormier.

What Is the reason behind the decline of star power in the UFC?

With 12 title defenses across two weight classes in his 16-year UFC career, Jon Jones stands alone as the fighter who has truly seen it all, battling against a range of opponents from different generations. Even now, ‘Bones’ continues to assert his dominance, particularly in the heavyweight division. Fans are anxiously waiting for the announcement of a potential fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, with some suggesting that the New York native is allegedly “ducking” the rising star. Aspinall has now gone over 500 days without a title shot, despite holding the interim championship belt, yet the UFC doesn’t seem in any rush to make the fight. Why?

According to UFC veteran Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones is the only fighter left in the promotion who holds true star power. He represents the last of a generation capable of sustaining long, dominant title reigns, much like MMA legends Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, and Demetrious Johnson did in their prime. Currently, ‘Bones’ holds the second-longest undisputed heavyweight title reign in UFC history at 785 days, trailing only Cain Velasquez’s 896-day reign from 2012 to 2015.

However, DC points to the shorter title reigns across the UFC as a key factor in the decline of star power. Take Belal Muhammad, for example. His 10-fight win streak, combined with the hype surrounding his training with Khabib’s “untouchable” team, created a lot of buzzes. However, at UFC 315, Australian fighter Jack Della Maddalena abruptly put an end to that momentum. This shift highlights the broader trend of diminishing UFC star power in recent years.

Daniel Cormier shared an insightful perspective on this issue during his podcast: “A long title reign is very difficult. It’s what’s needed to become a real draw. You cannot just be a flash-in-the-pan champion. Unfortunately, [Israel Adesanya] was a draw because he held that belt for a long time, but since he lost the belt, the number isn’t as great…the reigns aren’t as long [now]. I was talking to some of the guys on the weigh-in show… what would you consider a great championship reign today? For me right now, I think defending that belt three times.”

What are your thoughts on Daniel Cormier and Israel Adesanya’s statements? Do you believe the UFC’s live gates have suffered due to the lack of star power within the promotion? Share your opinion below.