So, look at what’s going on in mixed martial arts these days. Change feels practically baked in. Suddenly, the names people keep talking about sound less like legends and more like this new crowd; it’s as if the sport’s own spotlight won’t stop sliding to the next group of competitors. Promotions to the UFC at the front of the pack, though not the only ones—seem to be tweaking their game plan every few months, chasing international crowds and those broadcast deals from Madrid to Perth.
Iconic fighters Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, a couple others hard to say their star is gone, but they don’t quite fill the stage like before, and newer faces have kind of surged forward.