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2nd February 2018
03:59pm GMT

"Look at the UFC, they're struggling. They're talking about $400 million for a broadcast deal - they can't get anywhere near it."https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/status/935289640650788866 His statement that Conor McGregor has got their 'balls in a safe right now' also appears to be accurate. Dana White has continuously said that 'the Notorious' has held up the lightweight division for too long by being inactive. Remarkably, no one knows what belt Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov will be competing for in UFC 223's main event. The president claims the undisputed title will be on the line, but McGregor has been yet to be stripped of it. When White was asked to clear up the confusing situation for a third time at a recent press conference, he bluntly replied, 'Next question.' https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/959373581733031936 His next point was about the star power, or lack thereof in the UFC. The future of the two main attractions in 2017's top PPVs, Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre, is uncertain. Jones is waiting to hear his fate after testing positive for steroids and GSP immediately relinquished the middleweight strap due to illness. Nate Diaz is unproven as a draw on his own and has also been inactive since his second fight against McGregor. Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey, two of the UFC's biggest ever PPV sellers are both with the WWE.
"Tell me the stars of the UFC. Conor McGregor. Tell me another one. No. Ronda Rousey? She's just gone to WWE. It's a real interesting dynamic. I'd love to know what happens behind the scenes with Conor, Dana White and the UFC. Right now, UFC is still huge business, but it doesn't have the pull with the broadcasters that it did do certainly two years ago when McGregor was the flagship."https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/957913406933258242 The most poignant thing Hearn said was about the UFC's desperation in creating new stars.
"In every sport, you need the superstars. You need those flagbearers. Right now in the UFC, I think they're playing catch-up to try and develop the new stars."The record low numbers these Fox Cards are pulling in are indicative of the lack of stars in the UFC right now. 2016 was a phenomenal year, but in 2017, there was 55% decline in total PPV buys. Right now, there's a dearth of stars and the worryingly frequent number of superfights appear to be a desperate way of making up for that. McGregor really does have their balls in a safe.
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