When the UFC was sold to new owners led by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta in 2001, the promotion held a total of five events featuring 80 fights per year. As of the end of 2023, the UFC had held 43 events for a total of 520 fights, including 21 title fights, from January to December.
The growth of the UFC obviously means an expansion in the size and scope of its events, but also the sheer number of fighters on its roster. Dana White's Contender Series regularly adds dozens of fighters each year, as well as reality shows such as: ultimate fighter And now, the total number of athletes under contract has ballooned to more than 650 in recent months, with additions simply needed to fill the large number of events with cards running almost weekly.
Matt Brown, a UFC welterweight who joined the roster in 2006, remembers what it was like when he got the call to join the most prestigious MMA promotion in the world. Just calling himself a UFC fighter was an accomplishment for him.
Of course, that's still important, but Brown said the test to become an ace has become much easier for many fighters today to earn a passing grade to qualify for the UFC. I can't help but notice that it looks like this.
“It's not that I don't necessarily have any respect for today's players, but the barrier to entry is a lot lower now,” Brown explained on the show's latest episode. Fighter vs. Writer. “When I was growing up, the UFC was a dream. It was the Super Bowl. If you go to the UFC, you're an asshole.
“Now, it's not a small thing, it's not a small feat, but if you're an athlete and you're interested in MMA and you train hard, you're going to get a chance in the UFC.” The opportunity to go to the UFC was huge. I feel like everyone has an opportunity now.”
Even though Brown coaches fighters in his own gym, he still offers the same advice to today's athletes that he would have given just a few years ago, when making it to the UFC was his ultimate goal. I'm having a hard time.
“Now I don't even know what to say to up-and-coming fighters,” Brown explained. “They're like, 'I want to do four or five fights and then go to the UFC.' A few years ago, I would have been like, 'Don't be stupid!' Now I'm thinking, yeah, maybe you can do that. ”
In fact, as the number of events seems to increase each year, Brown knows more fighters are qualifying for the UFC to fill roster spots. The problem is that many of those fighters aren't really ready for that level of competition and get kicked out after just a few fights.
When that happens, it becomes difficult to put in enough effort to actually get back on track.
“I really don't know what to say to them,” Brown said. “It's not like you'll be ready after four or five games. Of course, you have those anomalies too. [ready], but it's a completely different world. ”
With so many new fighters joining the UFC every year, it becomes very difficult to really perform well and set yourself apart from the other stars.
A huge number of new fighters are getting a chance to prove themselves in the UFC, resulting in many events throughout the year being graced by inexperienced athletes. For example, his upcoming UFC Vegas 89 card will feature his 12 fighters with four or fewer fights inside the Octagon, including five of his fighters with that resume on the main card.
Brown admits that in the early days when the Fertitta brothers took over the UFC, everyone wanted more events, but these days it's nearly impossible to keep up.
“Now, I can’t say it’s necessarily a bad thing, but we don’t really give it as a ***,” Brown said. “Like these [UFC] I got one APEX card last weekend. I didn't even know it was happening until I thought some people were texting me like, “Oh, this person did this.” It was like he didn't even know there was a fight tonight. I'm just relaxing at home watching an af****** movie.
“We wanted to play every weekend! Why do we have to wait another two months to see this game? Now we have it.”
As the organization continues to grow, Brown said his concerns will only be met by signing more fighters to the roster who probably aren't really ready for the UFC. I understand.
That's why he tries to offer advice to young fighters that can better prepare them for a chance to stay in the UFC and not just make a few appearances.
“People ask me what advice you have for young fighters,” Brown said. “One, I've been asked this question a billion times before, so I have a long list of things I'd say, but one is, if you're really serious about it, you need to get experience. It's about competition.
“You need to know how to compete. The weirdest thing I see is that they always come in and want to fight straight to MMA. They've never done boxing or kickboxing or jiu-jitsu and , I'm like, “I want to fight MMA.” So you want your first competition to be the most dangerous competition with the most serious consequences? That makes no sense, right? You don't know how to compete. ”
Brown also advises the next generation of fighters to understand what they're doing when competing in a grueling sport like MMA. Even the most talented martial artist in history has faced tremendous adversity, including the risk of being knocked out cold in front of millions of spectators around the world.
The harsh realities that come with this sport are perhaps another lesson Brown most hopes to impart to those looking to join the UFC.
“One of the steps is to know yourself,” Brown said. “First of all, this isn't true for everyone, but secondly, no matter who you are, if you go out, you're going to be exposed. You're going to be exposed at some point.
“If you're not happy with that exposure, if you're nervous about it, you're going to have a big problem at some point.”
