The Return of Fans will Mark the Return of the UFC’s Biggest Stars

(youtube.com/UFC)

With Covid-19 vaccinations making themselves available across the country, we are seeing multiple sports leagues begin to fill their arenas again. Covid testing, masks, and registration for those vaccinated are required to go to the event, but arenas are now starting to be filled to full capacity. With this now being an option, the UFC wanted to be first. Uncle Dana always wants to be first. The UFC announced 2 stacked PPV cards to kick off their first two shows with fans in attendance. UFC 261 in Jacksonville, Florida features 3 Title Fights and will be headlined by Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal 2. UFC 262 will be in Houston, Texas with a Main Event for the Vacant Lightweight Belt. Charlies Oliveira and Michael Chandler will fight for the gold, while Nathan Diaz and Leon Edwards will compete in the first ever 5 round non-title co-main event. The UFC has made it evident they are going to bring the fans back in style. Both these cards are incredibly stacked from top to bottom.

(tapology.com)

Fans filling the arenas again means the UFC has to sell tickets. Obviously. This means they will be making more revenue per event, which in turn means they will be able to pay their top level fighters more money. Top stars like Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, Nathan Diaz, and many more have struggled with the UFC in contract disputes. Jon Jones is currently asking for around $50 million to fight Francis Ngannou. These contract disputes, along with the lack of revenue due to empty arenas, made it hard for the UFC to use their biggest stars. Jon Jones fought zero times in 2020, Conor McGregor fought once, Khabib fought once, Nathan Diaz fought zero times, Weili Zhang fought zero times, Max Holloway fought once. You see my point. There wasn’t enough money, or intrigue, to get these massive names into the octagon on a consistent basis.

(Jon's Crazy Ass Twitter)

Fans and more revenue will lure these fighters back in. Lets go back through the list I just gave. Jones is now in line to fight Ngannou, McGregor is finishing his trilogy with Poirier in July, Nathan Diaz has a fight with Leon Edwards, Weili has a fight with Rose Namajunas at UFC 261, and Khabib is a coach now. These massive stars are beginning to come back. This should be an incredible time for UFC fans. Dana and the Brass are making up for lost time and lost opportunities with their stars. The next few months are loaded with huge fights, and the pop of the fans will be the sweetest of sounds.