[DonFrye]

Well,

Zuffa sure owned it this time.

They sure aren't going to work with Frank Shamrock.

Karo was guaranteed to have a title shot and then went into a terrible matchup with Thiago (Admittedly on his part, should have fought Fitch).

Tito is very vocal.

Penn was stripped for leaving. He was not going to renew, title or not.

Pulver left over.......you guessed it, a contract dispute.

Were the guys mentioned as being in the circle truly top-tier fighters? Franklin? Couture? Tito? Liddell? I would venture to say that there were better fighters at each of these weights during their time as title-holders. Hughes is the only one I can't. Marketing is what made them household names. They are marketable. You hit that one on the head.

Shonie is a good ambassador for the sport but a bad ambassador for himself with his antics. However, there is definitely an inner-circle in my opinion.