5 UFC Fighters Losing Their Popularity

Success in today's mixed martial arts is often driven by popularity contests.

Each divisional landscape is fueled by ticket sales, international marketability and overall notoriety, especially in a promotion as prolific as the UFC.

The race to the top of superstar mountain is not always a fair and well-planned journey, but fighters need to wiggle their way to the front of pack to make it in this sport.

However, with progression comes digression.

Here are five UFC fighters who are slowly losing their celebrated lionization.

Clay Guida

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Clay Guida was once considered the UFC's version of The Ultimate Warrior.

Seen racing to the Octagon to bloody opponents with unlawful fists of rage and fury, the former lightweight contender was easily one of the promotion's most renowned competitors.

But since dropping to featherweight in lieu of sinking at 155 pounds, Guida has become a mostly tactically clad fighter, compiling a meager 2-2 record in the process.

He no longer resembles the violent caveman who once detached himself from his own body to overcome adversity.

Nowadays—and this remains a harsh reality for any true fight fan out there—The Carpenter is just another fighter.

Roy Nelson

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There's always going to be a spot in the world of MMA for a memorable figure like Roy Nelson.

As one of the only fighters in the world who looks like he doesn't belong inside of a cage, Big Country has been a heavyweight woodchipper during his UFC tenure.

But on the heels of another devastating defeat at the hands of a high-ranked opponent, Nelson has seemingly become a divisional gatekeeper with one-punch knockout power.

While his ability to finish fights will allow him to stay afloat moving forward, people are starting to realize that he'll never put it all together.

Fading after the first frame of every marquee fight is not a good way to pad a title run.

Michael Bisping

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It's astonishing that Michael Bisping has never fought for a UFC title.

Even in a once top-heavy division overran by Anderson Silva's dominance, The Count was unable to string together the wins needed to earn a shot at promotional gold.

That says something about his inability to cash in on a golden opportunity and his lack of aggression when it was needed most.

In any case, at an inescapable 35 years of age, Bisping's out-of-the-cage bark is starting to substantially surpass his in-cage bite, evident by his inability to win back-to-back fights since 2011, when he defeated Jorge Rivera and Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

Needless to say, Bisping's upcoming middleweight showdown with Luke Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 55 could be the last time we see him fight an opponent in the division's Top Five, let alone headline a main event.

Renan Barao

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Drastically losing a title will steer any former champion in the wrong direction, but missing weight for a fight to get that title back will cause an unavoidable accident.

That's what seems to be happening with former UFC bantamweight kingpin Renan Barao.

Since his bewildering beatdown at the quicker hands of current champ T.J. Dillashaw, the Brazilian has since missed weight, was forced out of a rematch with the Team Alpha Male standout and moved to the back of the line following Dominick Cruz's immaculate return to action.

Add in the fact that Urijah Faber will be ready and waiting should Cruz win back what's rightfully his by knocking off Dillashaw, setting up one of the biggest grudge matches in UFC history.

All of that puts Barao on the back burner alongside the likes of Michael McDonald and Raphael Assuncao.

Now that's not a bad spot to be in, but it's a long way from once being considered the very best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Vitor Belfort

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Vitor Belfort's fall from grace has not been a pretty one.

In the midst of a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) reform, The Phenom's journeyed career has seemingly wilted under the spotlight of public scrutiny.

Being sought after for current body pictures and answers to questions pertaining to past TRT use, current methods to overcome the ban and future athletic capabilities have all led to his once unflappable prestige to suffer.

While adversity is something that Belfort has overcome in the past—inside and outside of the Octagon—it's difficult to picture a budding future in the promotion should he lose to Chris Weidman next year.

It will be his first fight since November 2013 and an all-telling sample of what a naturally fueled 37-year-old middleweight is capable of doing.

Until then, Belfort's esteem will continue to wane.

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