I think what everyone is forgetting is the UFC is in the entertainment business. Not loyalty business, not grappling competition but entertainment. How entertaining is it to have Benson who at 1 point went 4 years without finishing a fight, walking out to church music, giving very minimal interviews or online social commentary to add hype to his fights.
If your not knocking dudes out, breaking arms, or hypeing/promoting your fights then you are expendable. Just like in all the other major spots, NFL forget about the running game, ppl want big throws big catches and high scores. NBA 3 pt shoots everywhere, forget about the boring slow big men. NHL just did a 3 on 3 all star game.
UFC is in the same boat, trying to compete for the audiences attention, and Bendo I luv ya as a fighter but your not that exciting of a fighter to watch. You need guys like Pettis and Edgar to market your fights and make you exciting to watch. Since hes been out of the 155lb division has he been missed? Are we sitting here saying we gotta see a RDS vs Bendo rematch. Nope, and now what salary do you think Bendo is asking for, what he would get paid prolly could pay for 10 Sage's.
Thats why there is no union in MMA or UFC, the old, past prime fighters wouldn't want to give up their future earnings for the better of the sport and the young fighters. Like in NBA, if there was no cap or union Lebron or Curry could ask and get 50m a year and would be worth it based on marketing they bring. But when you got lower tier players that need to make a living you gotta take less for the greater good of the other athletes. U think a Diaz brother will take less money so a youngin on his 2nd fight can make a decent wage......