Having said that, most people are interested in Conor McGregor.

Right there is the proof that the sport isn't the problem here. As barbaric as MMA may look to the mainstream, it's nothing that star quality can't cancel out.

I know that there is only one Conor McGregor (lol) but there is some star quality in other fighters as small as it may be in comparison.

Bisping won't reach mainstream status in his country when he shares the main card with the likes of Tom Breese. Put some bigger fights on the UK/Europe cards and they will get more attention from the US and as a result they get more attention from the mainstream in their respective countries as well.

They don't give a shit about Bisping because they don't give a shit about the sport. Make them give a shit by putting up some star quality fights and enhance that aspect of the sport instead of just having some no names beating the shit out of each other enhancing the barbaric aspect of the sport.

There are countless popular celebrities with murder/manslaughter convictions and with rape convictions. I'm sure the mainstream can look past the "urgh cage fighting?!" if the UFC works harder to make their fighters into stars atleast in their own countries.