Quote:
Originally Posted by Pink Butterfly
Really? Companies like K-1 can't pay the same or better? MMA is a lot more mainstream in Japan. Hell KID is sponsored by Reebok. Akiyama has Nike. Caol Uno has his clothing brand through Nike. What Joachim Hansen, Fedor, Tito and Randy said about UFC seem to be true
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very good points you bring up pink butterfly, please allow me to expand upon them....
Lets take Boxing for example (since its most often compared to MMA).
What team does Calzaghe train with? How about Pernell Whitaker? What team he with? Who is his coach?
I have no clue either. I can tell you, however, the team affiliation of most fighters appearing on big shows in MMA. They train with dozens of others. The bigger fight teams, and they are just that, teams, have 50-60 members.
Should these "team" brands have jerseys and gear that sell, as opposed to a UFC emblazoned t-shirt? I don't see "Top-Rank" shirts in JC Penney's, and worn by hoards of fans. Likewise, when I go to an NFL game, I don't see 1000's of fans in grey t's with "NFL" plastered on the front or hats adorning the "league" logo. I see player merchandise, and player gear.
You think an EASports would be interested in making a video game where the public could fight Fedor Emelianenko against Gina Carano? Big John McCarthy against Phil Baroni? Couture against Kimbo? I think they would be highly interested in such a game. What stops this from occurring, I wonder......
Every other sport does this, why should MMA fighters give away 90% of their potential monies, when it is their very likeness generating the revenue?