UFC 144 Results: Will Less North American Cards Help or Hurt the UFC?

International cards like UFC 144 are only a boon to the UFC: the more, the better. 

However, this is not to say that having UFC fight cards in North America is bad per se, just that international cards are better.

It's possible (however, unlikely) that the sport has reached a point of saturation in the United States. If the UFC's events on FOX fail to sway a significant number of people to the UFC's banner, then international expansion will be the only avenue of growth that the UFC has left. 

The brand has plenty of exposure and knowledge in the United States and Canada (which has become an unlikely hotbed for anything MMA and UFC related), so leaving wouldn't be detrimental to the UFC's popularity in North America at all. 

Thus, less North American cards is a good thing.

Also, the UFC not having cards overseas would mean they were ignoring their product's greatest strength: It can be understood by anybody. A knockout is a knockout, a submission is a submission, regardless of language, culture or geographical location. 

Bringing the UFC brand and product to overseas markets is inherently brilliant. It helps make the brand global and bring more attention to it. 

Instead of being distinctly American, it's now something the whole world partakes in. 

Eventually, having less North American shows may help to create Dana White's ultimate dream, which is a global version of The Ultimate Fighter. 

Such a thing would help the UFC's popularity rival that of the World Cup, all thanks to using North America as a launching pad to global success.

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