Here’s a very simple truth that doesn’t get acknowledged enough about competing in the UFC: finding consistent success, especially in the early phases of one’s career, can be rather challenging.
While there are occasional outliers that buck the trend and skew perceptions because they manage to work their way forward expeditiously, the vast majority of athletes that matriculate to the Octagon experience growing pains and setbacks. Combined with the fact that prospects are touching down on the biggest stage in the sport with less experience than ever before and it should come as no surprise to anyone when, even blue-chip talents, struggle out of the chute.