Tyron Needs Time
It's no secret that UFC is short on star power. Ronda may be gone. Conor is definitely on hiatus. Jon Jones is suspended, and calling him a major star was a stretch to begin with.
UFC, which operates more like a pro wrestling promotion than a sports organization, is taking a tried and true tact: they are trying to create new stars.
Creating new stars isn't easy, or even simple. One reason is obvious: nobody knows who the public will embrace. Another reason is less obvious: people who aren't Chosen can get jealous.
Tyron Woodley appears to be a chosen one for UFC. He accompanied Dana White to the Super Bowl and he has gotten panel time on UFC studio shows. In many ways, it makes sense. He wants to be a star. He doesn't mind hyping his fights. He is explosive. His public persona is not reckless.
Woodley also has the good fortune of being in the right weight class with the right set of competing Champions. The Welterweight division has a reputation for promotable fights that deliver. Miocic, Cormier, Bisping and the rest of UFC's active Championship cabinet are far from media darlings. If UFC is going to try to promote someone into a star, Woodley could be the right guy at the right time.
Woodley's business results have been less than stellar. His lone main event shot was his title win over Robbie Lawler at UFC 201, and that show drew the fewest pay-per-view buys of any Welterweight Championship main event of the modern era. His title defense against Wonderboy was used to add depth to UFC 205, but the result was Conor McGregor drawing fewer pay-per-view buys than his previous two outings.
Choosing Woodley could also have unintended negative consequences throughout the rest of the roster. Other fighters may have noticed that Woodley was given a co-main event slot under Conor, thus ensuring Woodley a seven figure payday. On one hand, UFC is trying to spread the wealth to Champions who probably wouldn't make as much money on top. On the other hand, the squeaky wheel is getting the grease.
Thus far, any rub Woodley got from appearing on Conor's undercard has not translated to business. Woodley's next headlining show, UFC 209 on March 4, has tickets at UFC's lowest price scale for Las Vegas. Yet, thousands of tickets remain unsold and the price of some upper level tickets was dropped this week.
Time will tell whether Woodley can be a difference maker for UFC. Obviously a couple more successful title defenses would help his cause. UFC allowing more time for his push to take hold might help just as much.
UFC, which operates more like a pro wrestling promotion than a sports organization, is taking a tried and true tact: they are trying to create new stars.
Creating new stars isn't easy, or even simple. One reason is obvious: nobody knows who the public will embrace. Another reason is less obvious: people who aren't Chosen can get jealous.
Tyron Woodley appears to be a chosen one for UFC. He accompanied Dana White to the Super Bowl and he has gotten panel time on UFC studio shows. In many ways, it makes sense. He wants to be a star. He doesn't mind hyping his fights. He is explosive. His public persona is not reckless.
Woodley also has the good fortune of being in the right weight class with the right set of competing Champions. The Welterweight division has a reputation for promotable fights that deliver. Miocic, Cormier, Bisping and the rest of UFC's active Championship cabinet are far from media darlings. If UFC is going to try to promote someone into a star, Woodley could be the right guy at the right time.
Woodley's business results have been less than stellar. His lone main event shot was his title win over Robbie Lawler at UFC 201, and that show drew the fewest pay-per-view buys of any Welterweight Championship main event of the modern era. His title defense against Wonderboy was used to add depth to UFC 205, but the result was Conor McGregor drawing fewer pay-per-view buys than his previous two outings.
Choosing Woodley could also have unintended negative consequences throughout the rest of the roster. Other fighters may have noticed that Woodley was given a co-main event slot under Conor, thus ensuring Woodley a seven figure payday. On one hand, UFC is trying to spread the wealth to Champions who probably wouldn't make as much money on top. On the other hand, the squeaky wheel is getting the grease.
Thus far, any rub Woodley got from appearing on Conor's undercard has not translated to business. Woodley's next headlining show, UFC 209 on March 4, has tickets at UFC's lowest price scale for Las Vegas. Yet, thousands of tickets remain unsold and the price of some upper level tickets was dropped this week.
Time will tell whether Woodley can be a difference maker for UFC. Obviously a couple more successful title defenses would help his cause. UFC allowing more time for his push to take hold might help just as much.
I think UFC 209 will be telling. If he can even be at the level of Johny Hendricks, I think that's a good starting point.
ReplyDeleteHe needs an opponent that people care about, like one of the Diaz brothers, GSP or even McGregor to get people to take notice of him. He gets that spotlight, I think he's one of the few guys that has potential to be a breakout star.