Tahnoon Investment tied to Gracies Return a good thing?

Prince Tahnoon of Abu Dhabi has been rumored to have made a minority investment in the UFC. The sale of a portion of the UFC gives Zuffa a cash infusion to further expand their efforts in expanding the worldwide reach of the UFC. The investment from Tahnoon also ushered in the return, it seems, of a few of his favorite Gracies. Renzo Gracie has been tabbed for a return against Matt Hughes at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, while Rolles Gracie will face off with Mustapha Al-Turk at UFC 109. Both signing were announced prior to the news of Tahnoon's buy in but were obvious after effects of the Sheik's investment.

The Gracies are the first family of MMA and deserving of the utmost respect but the respective places in their career of Rolles and Renzo give credence to the notion that but for the Sheik's purchase they would be outside the Octagon looking in. Renzo will have been away from the MMA competition for three years when he steps back into the cage against Hughes and at 42 years old, is a bit long in the tooth to be making his Octagon debut as the kick-off to a rumored six fight deal. Rolles, on the other hand, is young in his MMA career with a 3-0 record, with his most recent fights being in another of Tahnoon's MMA dalliances, the China-based Art of War promotion that has put on events in Macau and Beijing.

Tahnoon's being a Renzo student and Rolles being involved with the ADCC and having a training base in Abu Dhabi seem to be the main impetus for their UFC inclusion, not their recent in-cage resumes. Quid Pro Quo is how deals get done but does it serve the sporting aspect of MMA? UFC Prez Dana White of all people is well aware of the hidden benefits of having billionaire friends, but having well-heeled chums shouldn't be a guiding factor on personnel decisions.