I disagree, I think Lesnar was a pretty big part of the success the UFC has had, not even current fan favorites can draw the crowds like he did, he was good at it since he did the exact same thing for years in the WWE. Dude was professionally trained to know how to stir shit up.
I do agree with you about the drama, especially in the TUF house, but again, the producers figured out that shit draws crowds.. More people = more money. I love it when the two fighters show ultimate respect for each other before the fight, or especially if they show mutual respect in the cage in the middle of the fight. I've even seen a few fights where the two guys hug each other before they start the 3rd or 5th round because they put on such an awesome show! Or when one guy knows he lost the fight, he'll raise the other guys hand at the end, I love seeing that stuff. It shows character. I think the UFC could be just as successful if they focused on that aspect of it instead of emphasize the drama.
Also, the fighter entrances, I've always hated that. I don't give a fuck what music the guy plays, who he's walking out with, or what he's wearing. I came to see the fight, they should stop showing those. I get the idea behind it, and it is better to see that than another goddamn Budlight or ARMY commercial, but fuck... Those have definitely been getting more and more like the WWE as time goes by.
I meant his presence was good for the sport because it expanded, more people became fans, more people became fighters, the diversity increased and it became recognized as a legitimate sport in the eyes of a lot of opponents before him. 10 years ago, there were grown men who felt it was "modern day gladiators", and other such bullshit.