They had two solid opportunities to get a great American Heavy weight and it didn't go their way.
I know the old argument that ppl don't care as much for which country a fighter comes from, but how he fights instead, and it's true to a certain degree.
Thing is, there hasn't been a great American HW fighter or fights for that matter since the days of Tyson. Great Heavy weight fight has been lacking on the american market for more than 10 years (In boxing it's all about Europe for the heavies atm).
Also, in the end its far better to get a million ppv buys for someone like Lesnar, than 40 million viewers in Brazil watching JDS on free tv. I bet you if given a choice, Zuffa would have loved to have an American HW champion who they could promote to a Tyson esque status like they tried with both Lesnar and Cain after they first got their titles, and being able to fill that void that boxing left on the market. There are some pretty big cash to be made.
I was even more certain of this after watching all the pre fight shows for Cain/JDS and seeing how it looked like 70% of the promoting was dedicated to hyping and talking about Cain. It was nothing but Cain this and Cain that everywhere.
Now the UFC is faced with what will likely by a very tough year in 2012, with their two (by far) largest ppv draws in GSP and Lesnar being gone (GSP for most of the year anyway).
Perhaps Dana had a good reason to feel sick during the press conference last night.
I wouldn't count Cain out with one loss an the Ufc will have plenty of opportunities for a top hw since they are the new career for most NCAA wrestlers.
Shit they already got an American HW under contract, and not named Cain, who has the potential to be that next guy.
12/11/11
They've already got their future Tyson in the man known as Jon "Bones" Jones. Give it a few years with mainstream exposure and this man walking through opposition like he does and people will take notice.
But was Cain really an "American" champion?
rookie29 - 12/11/11
rookie29 - 12/11/11
Thanks for proving that membership time doesn't mean shit. And here I thought that these kind of shitty points only were made on Sherdog.
<blockquote>Chino3 - But was Cain really an "American" champion?</blockquote>
Promoted to US citizens paying for US PPV's (no matter their heritage).
You can't really argue against that they would have made loads of more money by having Brock and Cain at the top instead of another Brazilian and a new dude from Holland no one expect hardcores know about. Especially after losing such a big draw as GSP for such a long period of time.
Now the UFC is faced with what will likely by a very tough year in 2012, with their two (by far) largest ppv draws in GSP and Lesnar being gone (GSP for most of the year anyway).Just not a smart comment. 2 fighters don't make or brea the UFC. 2012 starts the year of network TV. the UFC is only getting bigger, whether you like it or not.
Wasn't Brock and Gsp the number 1 and 2 PPV draws ? Yeah this sucks for them quite a bit I could see the Reem becoming pretty popular since he comes to fight win or lose which is always a very good trait in fighters. I'll give Brock that much he did come to fight too bad he did have to fight the best out there at the moment or his career could have lasted longer than it did. 
<blockquote>Bukkake - <blockquote>Now the UFC is faced with what will likely by a very tough year in 2012, with their two (by far) largest ppv draws in GSP and Lesnar being gone (GSP for most of the year anyway).<br /></blockquote>Just not a smart comment. 2 fighters don't make or brea the UFC. 2012 starts the year of network TV. the UFC is only getting bigger, whether you like it or not. <br /> </blockquote>
I didn't say that they made the UFC, but they make the most money for them by a large margain. No one gets close to selling them as many PPV's as those two, and Im not entirely certain of this but I'm pretty sure that this year had a decline in ppv's sold for them.
^ it did, but the network tv deal leads to increased media revenues, increased sponsorship revenues and most important to the UFC, increased viewership and an increased broader audience.
Sephiroth - I wouldn't count Cain out with one loss an the Ufc will have plenty of opportunities for a top hw since they are the new career for most NCAA wrestlers.
Shit they already got an American HW under contract, and not named Cain, who has the potential to be that next guy.
Who?
I'm thinking but I cant think of it, oh wait, you didnt say UFC, ok so its Cormier.
it sucks even worse when one of the top PPV draws retires with no notice
Yeah there is an American heavyweight who once wore the UFC belt and will wear it again: JOSH BARNETT.
The guy is the best heavyweight in the game - from any country.