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IMO the UFC is trying to make it over the hump. Get past third teir sport and into second teir. That's going to take a load of cash and being highly organized. Right now Dana White has them on the right track and The Ultimate Fighter was a stroke of sheer brilliance. If the best fighters will just stick it out for a few more years in the UFC so they can solidify that second-teir sport status I think they'll all get paid just fine. I can see the UFC replacing boxing in the next 5 years. Boxing is in such a state of disarray it's ripe for being picked off.
Also, I think the rules in the UFC are there to protect the fighters. The UFC can't afford a skull fracture or God forbid a ring death right now. The few striking rules they have seem pretty sane to me.
IMO you'll eventually see MMA as the new boxing, with three or so championship belts. The UFC belt, the Pride belt, etc. You'll see fighters trying to combine the belts. I don't think that is what's best for the sport but I think that's where it's headed.
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