Is the UFC a Fad?

Since it began airing on Spike TV over two years ago the UFC has been like a non stop locomotive headed straight to the top of mainstream sports. In the past few months however, it seems like that locomotive has been slowing down, and it now appears to be at a standstill. With so much negativity surrounding it as of late, is the UFC a fad? Let's take a look at three reasons why the UFC could be in decline.

1. Way to many upsets: Upsets make sports fun. They make betting fun and they give us a reason to watch. But the UFC has seen a wild amount of upsets in the past year. GSP's loss to Serra, Liddell's losses to Rampage and Keith Jardine, Cro Cop and Shogun getting beat, the list goes on. It's hard for the UFC to promote its best fighters when their losing. Too many upsets also keep us fans from seeing the fights we want to see. Unpredictability is good, but when there's too much of it how do you determine who fights who, and more importantly how do you determine who gets a title shot? Just look at the light heavyweight division. How are you supposed to figure out whose next in line for a shot at Rampage after all the recent upsets?

2. Championships are in Limbo: Three out of the five weight classes have major problems. Heavyweight champ Randy Couture retired, and it doesn't look like he'll come back. This looks really bad on the UFC for many reasons, but more importantly how will they determine who fights for the belt, and will the eventual winner even be worthy? The Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is arguably the best fighter in the UFC and in a league of his own. No one else in that weight class is even worthy of fighting him, and no fight with any current fighter in that division makes sense. And finally onto the Lightweight Championship. Since winning the belt well over a year ago Champion Sean Sherk has only defended his title once. Because of two reasons- an injury, and a failed steroid test that's being disputed. The Lightweight division is the opposite of the Middleweight division. There's probably 4 or 5 guys out there that would be worthy of a title shot, but things are really getting held up. The bottom line is that there needs to be some stability in the championship ranks.

3. Is too much of a good thing bad?: it seems to me that there's way too many live fight cards now. There's a Pay-Per View pretty much every month and a few live events on Spike every few months as well. And rumor has it that the UFC is trying to negotiate a deal with ESPN after their deal with HBO fell through. There just isn't enough talent to go around. What's the point of broadcasting fights between below average fighters? I know every fight can't be a championship bout, but there are way too many lackluster fights as it is. Too many fights will make the UFC watered down. Rashad Evans vs. Michael Bisping in the main event of this months PPV? I think that proves my point. There's no way they should be headlining a PPV event. Seven or eight PPV’s a year would be great! The fight cards would be more stacked, which in the long run would draw in more viewers.

Every sport has its ups and downs and the UFC will be no different. They’ve learned to deal with ignorant people in the media who look at their sport as human cockfighting and they’ll learn to deal with this. Randy Couture’s resignation seems to be their biggest issue at this time, but the recent signing of Brock Lesnar will help fill his void. I’m a fan of the UFC; I just don’t want to see them make mistakes that will costs them current and potential fans. Is the UFC a fad? I hope not, but it still has a long way to go.
-Joe Osborne

As always, tell me what you think. Am I out of line to even bring up such a subject, or do you think the UFC will be gone in a few years?