2. Drawing Power
While we're on the subject of the importance of superstars, let's take a look at Chael's drawing power. For the uninitiated, someone's drawing power is their ability to make money for the organization. Fighters like flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson are very talented, top of the food chain guys, but they don't have the necessary interest to carry a card by themselves. So when one of the lesser drawing champions headlines an event, it's usually stacked with other big names so as to insure that it does a decent buy-rate. Back in 2012, Dana White was already being quoted as placing Sonnen among the top five draws in the company at the time (along with Lesnar, GSP, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Rashad Evans). An analysis of his PPV numbers back this up. Let's take a look: UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen - 600,000 buys UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II - 925,000 buys UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen - 530,000 buys UFC 167 (Co-main event) - 630,000 buys The numbers don't lie. Fans turn out in huge numbers willing to pay to see "The American Gangster" do battle. With a lack of proven drawing stars on the roster, this doesn't bode well for UFC's business, at least in the short term.