It is a great period in MMA history. Really.

[Dick Niaz]

With all the bitching over the past few years (Reebok, Dana, Conor, GDR, USADA, etc.) are we taking for granted that this may be a potentially special time in MMA?

There have been complaints of lack of promotion and new talent, but now we have some serious star potential coming up through the ranks: Adesanya, Zabit, Dern, Sage, etc.

We have all-time greats still competing (if not nearing the end of legendary careers): GSP, Cormier, Silva, Condit, Fedor, Mir, etc.

Love him or hate him, Conor has lifted the sport to new levels of popularity and financial opportunities for the fighters.

LW maybe a cluster fuck, but when is the last time that division had that much talent at the top? Maybe never.

We have great champions in most divisions: Stipe owns the HW defense record; Mighty Mouse owns the all time defense record; DC is rightful champ and is a better LHW than anyone ever...except the likely GOAT who happens to be coming back soon; Woodley May be prickly, but he has set himself apart in a tough division; Dillishaw took his belt back in dramatic fashion, but that division has multiple deserving contenders who could challenge him; MW will work itself out soon, but Bobby Whitaker will be hungry to unify when he gets back; Cyborg is likely the female GOAT; Rose just took the throne and cemented her place at the top (at on 25 years old).

We have a HW tourney in Bellator giving us some exciting matchups and Pride-esque nostalgia.

There are always things we can complain about, but IMO this is a great time to be a fan and the next few years will be quite a ride.

 

[sparkuri]

Fedor being back just kinda brought my heart back; there's such a lack of integrity permeating throughout the sports.
Most of that is because of Dana, Ronda, Conor, etc., so it's a poor tradeoff as far as Conor.

Carlos Newton, another legend of the sport, is a primary reason for this too, in that the lawsuit wouldn't have materialized and changed the landscape of the sport, thus giving Scott Coker, a man of integrity & martial artist the opportunities he now has.

With the emergence of Rizin and their entire roster, as well as other rising stars, including MVP & Aaron Pico, it really is a great time.

I also attribute this to efforts by @ErikMagraken , Leslie Smith, and a slough of veterans in and around our sport that shouldn't have been silenced in the first place.