Standing Out in Pre-Social Media UFC: A Challenge for Exceptional Fighters

Before social media was what it is now, you had to be someone exceptional to stand out from the other fighters in UFC. Yes, you could have amazing skill but many wanted to see character. With his Mohawk haircut, Japanese tattoo and that strong gaze he'd make every time you saw him getting ready for a fight was very exceptional and exciting. During his years with the UFC, he became the first combatant to be on the cover of the ESPN Magazine, and he made guest appearances on TV.

While it might seem ordinary to see fighters make appearances on late-night shows now, Liddell was one of the first to do it making the UFC more prominent on other television series rather than just the fights every once and a while.

Then there was Tito Ortiz he wasn't the first UFC combatant to shape himself into a character but his is one UFC fans will always remember. His rivalry with Liddell and his boss Dana White was big for the business.

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And as much notice as Ortiz gets for his individuality, he was a genuine prospect in the times hardest weight class.

Wanderlei Silva began working with the UFC in 1993 and retired at the close of 2016. During this time, he became prominent in the fighters who made it in the UFC and when they left the promotion. Wearing many distinct hats in addition to his matchmaker responsibilities. Seven months after retiring, Silva was respected with a place in the UFC Hall of Fame.

Name a big fight within the Octagon, and there's a considerable good likelihood Silva had something to do with it. His legacy has been somewhat tarnished because of repeated PED offenses, but the fact that Silva is one of the greatest and most dynamic fighters to compete inside the Octagon will always stand true. He was truly a beautiful thing to watch.

So the UFC has established its spot. Well, the next step is what? How about take a fighter from their biggest rivals the WWE? Although he might not be everyone's cup of tea, there's no denying Brock Lesnar's impact on the UFC. He destroyed Randy Couture to win the heavyweight title in 2008 with only three pro fights under his belt and instantly became one of the biggest draws in the sport's history. His time UFC is a complicated one and you can't ignore his problem at UFC 200 where he wins his fight but tests positive for performance-enhancing drugs, however, Lesnar will forever go down as one of the biggest draws in UFC history adding to its appeal to the mainstream.

Saint-Isidore, Quebec the birthplace of debatably the greatest combatant of all time. Not only has Georges St-Pierre (GSP) taken revenge on his only two losses, he is one of only a few fighters to win a title in two separate divisions. he's also among the uncommon combat sportsman who just might retire on a winning streak and as a champion. Very few in either boxing or MMA can assert that And unlike Lesnar, he doesn't have any PED deformity on his resume meaning the fights he won have been all him.

Although many men have been talked about we cannot forget about Rousey. She was the first woman combatant and UFC champion in the promotion's history. It isn't about Rousey's success as much as how she upheld her women's bantamweight belt. After claiming the title in 2012, she protected it six times. Rousey won her first 12 professional fights, 11 of which came in first-round Knockouts. Rousey became the face of MMA for multiple years based on her skill to triumph inside the Octagon and market herself beyond it. She trash-talked her opponents like no other. The evident Rousey scowl during combat introductions was obvious. Rousey also promoted the UFC while acting in commercials and doing movies and other public appearances. She brought many women into liking the sport and let it be known it was not all for men. Her overall legacy will take a strike because of how her career closed. She was knocked out twice and rejected to compete again in the Octagon, leaving the UFC and signing with the WWE in 2018. But despite her departure, Rousey altered the picture of woman fighters and flagged the way for generations of female fighters to come.

While many people have scolded the UFC for bending over backward to fix Conor McGregor's layoffs and legal issues, the fact is, no one in the history of the sport has drawn fans and produced revenue like The Notorious Conor. In an industry where money trumps and causes compromise, McGregor has all the leverage. Ronda Rousey during her prime didn't even move the needle the way McGregor does these days. He is the face of the fight game now and for years to come. McGregor is the straw that stirs the UFC's drink creating money every time he speaks. The notorious Irish man from the small town of Dublin paved way and became the highest paid UFC fighter in history. He brought spectators from everywhere even people that never heard of the sport before. Conor said "I will plow through this division" and he did. Fighting Aldo and beating him in a record 13 seconds the fastest finish in UFC history. being the first to hold two belts at one time after defeating Alverez. Revenging his loss against Nate Diaz. Going on to fight Mayweather in a boxing match. Having the top PPV fights in the history of the UFC. The guy was truly UFC's face from 2014 until now. Although the past years have not been nice to him Conor will be back and I would not be surprised if he sets more records.