Daniel Cormier Says UFC Has A Star Power Problem After Low Selling Montreal PPV

Just several years ago me and my friends would gather at the bars to watch most UFC PPV's. Now it's rare to even check in to discuss them. I blame too many cards diluting the brand and most are not worth the steep price.

“There was a time in the UFC when champions were absolute stars,” said Daniel Cormier. That era, marked by icons like Anderson Silva, GSP, Brock Lesnar, Conor McGregor, and Jon Jones, made every title fight a must-see event. But as UFC 315 played out in a half-empty arena in Montreal, it echoed a growing truth—those days may be behind us.

Despite a stacked card featuring Valentina Shevchenko, Belal Muhammad, and a farewell to José Aldo, UFC 315 struggled. Only 60% of tickets were sold, making it one of the year’s weakest gates. Once a proud UFC stronghold, Canada’s lukewarm response signals a broader issue: fans aren’t connecting with today’s champions the way they once did.

Israel Adesanya didn’t mince words, noting on his YouTube channel that while rising stars like Navajo Sterling show promise, the UFC needs real headliners. Jon Jones remains the only active fighter with long-standing star power, holding the second-longest heavyweight title reign in UFC history. Meanwhile, contenders like Tom Aspinall wait indefinitely for a shot.

Daniel Cormier believes the decline stems from short-lived title reigns and a revolving door of champions. “You can’t just be a flash-in-the-pan champion,” he said. “To be a draw, you need longevity.” Fighters like Adesanya built momentum through sustained success, but even he has seen numbers drop since losing the belt.

Still, hope remains. Fighters such as Sean O’Malley, Ilia Topuria, and Alex Pereira carry star potential—but they must string together wins, defend titles, and connect with fans beyond the Octagon. Without sustained dominance, the UFC risks losing the very aura that made its champions larger than life.

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Source: Essentially Sports

Photo Credit: UFC