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Yes the UFC has a reality show, but look at the ratings over the last 4 or 5 seasons. They're only attracting hardcore fans. Those shows aren't making stars. The weekly highlight shows are filler for Fuel TV which no one watches and aside from the major Fox cards, which have been hit or miss in terms of ratings, their other t.v. cards do worse numbers than wrestling.
Just my opinion but, there's only so much MMA the mainstream public will tune in for and it will take dynamic "faces/heels" and/or stacked cards to bring them in. The UFC will never be on pay with the NFL/NBA/MLB just due to the fact that the graphic nature of the sport won't appeal to everyone, but the "event" like status of certain fighters and cards will still allow it to be must see t.v. on certain occasions. And I don't see how having a "bad boy" like Nate Diaz hurts the growth when him and his brother are one of the most popular fighters on the roster. The reception he got shows that and part of the reason why this matchup was so appealing was because he was the challenger. I agree that fighters like those guys should be few and far between, but not everyone in the mainstream wants a good guy like GSP to cheer for either.
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