He was very popular and was thrown in there to creat a good headline. what they really didn't know was he was actually really good. he beat a hall of famer for the title. it doesn't matter how many fights a champion has had. if he could beat the guy who had the belt then he is legit.
Because the guy before him could have had 50 fights but lose that one and he is no longer champion. lets say a movie star became a boxer or something. they would set up the fight whoever versus the champion because it would sell a lot. if the guy beats the champion obviousely he is great.
UFC is not a joke because it takes more skill than boxing and once you get knocked down you don't have 10 seconds to get up. once you get knocked down the other guy is coming to pound your head in. boxing was good in the 50's. 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's before it stopped being good and their are only a couple fighters most american people know and the heavyweight divison is dominated by russians and stuff.
