The seemingly unstoppable juggernaut that is UFC is finally slowing down. Recent returns for UFC 106, which aired November 21, indicate that only 330,000 people bought the pay-per-view. Compare that to the 1-million-plus that paid for UFC 105, which was a week earlier. Hmm, can’t imagine why people didn’t shell out $50 on back-to-back weekends, especially after UFC 105 featured Randy Couture and UFC 106 featured guys that I’ve never heard of. But the mixed martial arts outfit might have a bigger issue than overexposure–credibility.

Over 500,000 people paid $50 to watch a guy get robbed of a title and a win. Even worse, over 1 million people watched arguably the wrong guy win a fight on the judge’s scoring card again at UFC 105. Take recent fights on The Ultimate Fighter into equation, and you have a scenario where you are expecting people to pay $50 to watch fights that are coming down to bad decisions. More than exciting fights or star power, [C]redibility counts more than anything else when promoting your sport. The UFC has lost a ton of credibility recently and that is exactly why casual fans are passing on the UFC. –Eric Gargiulo, Camel Clutch Blog.

You also can’t look at the sudden drop without discussing the sudden withdrawal of Brock Lesnar, UFC’s heavyweight champ who was scheduled to fight on that card against Shane Carwin. Lesnar pulled out before undergoing minor surgery for some intestinal infection thing called diverticulitis.

Would people have dished out cash for that fight? Maybe. But the numbers don’t lie. MMA will have to navigate through These Trying Economic Times just like everyone else.