For me, as a foreigner, it's fascinating how americans buy something just because a name is there (Conor, Brock, GSP, Roussey)
In 2017, there were 2 cards who sold big
- DC vs Jones
- GSP vs Bisping
And both were good cards, no doubt about it. But they sold because of GSP and because of Jones (more exactly, the Jones - DC feud)
Aldo vs Max 2 was also a good card, but it sold like shit.
Conor vs Nate 2 was not such a good they. It had Rumble and Cowboy and that's it. But it sold great.
And 225 was a great card:
- the best strikes in the MW division - championship fight
- Colby (hated) vs RDA (interesting fighting style) - interim
- 2 HW fights with Reem (veteran) and Tuivasa (brawler)
- Bektic vs Lamas
- even fucking CM Punk who should be popular, I don't know why
And it sold like shit
And now you have 226 with:
- Stipe vs DC - 2 champions -ok, it will probably be a boring fight
- Ortega vs Max - championship - Ortega should be a rising star, wtf
- black on black crime
- Saki
- Costa
- Platinum
And it will probably sell like shit
People need stars.