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[QUOTE="JAXCUSE, post: 3226178, member: 516"]
Not an MMA fan either, but agree with the above - MMA fighters are matched aggressively by the promotional enterprises.  But, one promoter (UFC) “owns” most of the top talent...  Dana White doesn’t need to negotiate with an MMA version of a Haymon, Arum, Oscar or Hearn to put McGregor in the cage with Kahbib.

I think there is more to the issue/problem, though.  I term it the “Mayweather” effect - a belief (by the promoters and younger fighters) that the “0” in the record matters more than fighting the best competition out there.  
I miss guy’s like Marvin Hagler - who, when he was an up and comer, would willingly go to a top contender’s home town and fight them for just expenses.  Just to get them into the ring.  He cleaned out Russell Peltz’s stable of fighters in Philly.  Didn’t win them all, but gained experience, resume and improved.  He was one of the most avoided boxers in the sport but built himself into a Champion by doing what he had to do - fighting the toughest opponents, in their backyard, for basically nothing.  He sacrificed to achieve eventual greatness, fame and riches.  
But today, allot harder to do.  Sanctioning bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF) are powerless to force matchups thru titling and rankings and such now.  These promoters are monopolies and the real power brokers of the sport.  They “buy” up all the talent and you only fight others under the same promotional umbrella.  Or not at all...
I’m hopeful that “public clamor“ will eventually cut thru some of this.  Wilder and Joshua are under different promotional banners.  If Wilder beats Fury early next year, the “noise“ for an eventual match with Joshua will be overwhelming.  Hopefully Crawford/Spence too.  I too look forward to 2020.  Allot of good fights can be made.
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