Over the years, the UFC has undergone a significant shift from being primarily an entertainment-based organization to a more sports-focused one. In the early days of the UFC, fighters such as Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, and Randy Couture were more than just champions in the octagon. They also had a considerable amount of star power and charisma that drew fans to the sport. However, with stars such as Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey taking a break from the sport, the UFC has struggled to find a new superstar to fill their shoes.

The brand of UFC has become significantly bigger now. This is why the need to have a huge star has lowered over time.

Chael Sonnen speaks about the changes in the UFC

Recently, former UFC fighter and current ESPN analyst, Chael Sonnen, appeared on a podcast with True Geordie. Here, they discussed the current state of the UFC. Sonnen lamented the fact that fighters today are not marketing themselves and making themselves stars as they did in the past. He also commented that UFC President Dana White, would not recognize the current state of the business if he were transported back in time to 2007.

One of the main points Sonnen made was that the UFC’s brand has become bigger than the fighters themselves. While the early days of the UFC were all about building up individual stars, the focus has shifted toward the promotion as a whole. This is largely due to the massive growth of the sport in recent years, with the UFC becoming a multi-billion dollar business.

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“It drives me crazy. 2022 from a business stand point, we have never had a year like that. 2022 Dana White would be kicked out of the office by 2007 Dana White. It was a very different approach. We weren’t really building the stars, and we weren’t really getting behind em, and promoting the fights in the same way.”

Chael Sonnen about UFC 282

While talking about the unexpected profitability of the UFC, Sonnen talked about UFC 282. “And then you look at the gates. We are going 4.1 million for what was supposed to be Procházka vs Glover part 2. They ended up changing it in the last second, Ankalaev gets through, they still did a 4.1 million. I mean, some of these gates are just remarkable. They are selling out absolutely everywhere they go.”

Jiří Procházka and Glover Teixeira were originally expected to headline the event. However, due to a shoulder injury that required surgery, Procházka pulled out of the fight. The main event was shifted then was Jan Błachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev. The fight ended in a draw. Despite this change, the UFC still managed to draw a massive crowd. The event generated 4.1 million dollars.

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The event also saw several exciting fights, including Paddy Pimblett‘s win over Jared Gordon, Dricus du Plessis‘s victory over Darren Till, and Ilia Topuria‘s win over Bryce Mitchell.

Do you agree with what Chael Sonnen discussed on this recent podcast? Please share your opinions below.