The UFC thrives on conflict and controversy, it is the very seed that was planted some two decades ago and it is the fuel that continues to feed the raging fire of interest, both positive and negative.
But the fire is burning, not out of control, but rather in multiple locations in the wake of the welterweight championship bout last Saturday in Las Vegas.
Canadian Georges St Pierre retained his title, defeating Johny Hendricks, at least in the eyes of the 3 judges.
In the eyes of almost everyone else who witnessed it, including UFC President Dana White who is most responsible for the UFC’s massive growth & appeal, Hendricks was better & should have been declared the victor.
So in one 25 minute span, the UFC is dealing with an inefficient judging panel, a deserving but uncrowned champion in Hendricks, and a massive pay-per-view cash cow in St Pierre who made overtures that he may want time off from the UFC for a variety of reasons.
This would be a disaster, certainly for many other sports and entertainment entities.
But for the UFC, whose stock in trade is promotion and publicity, positive or negative, this is simply another day at the office.
There will be another card, another hyped main event, and even if Georges St Pierre did depart, you know there will be another UFC star created and highly promoted in very short order.
I’m Fred Wallace