How long have you been a fan of MMA and how did it happen?

Golem · 05-29-2007, 12:17 AM

I have seen a lot of threads where people talk about having been a fan since the early days of the UFC (14 years ago) or they criticize people for being a TUF Newb (0-2 years).
I am curious, how long have people on here really been a fan?
I have been a fan since sometime in my last year of University (almost 4 years ago). I originally didn't like it the first time I saw MMA (too much time spent on the ground) but when I finally came around the pace of ground fighting had picked up, the level of striking amongst grapplers had improved, and some of the better strikers had gotten good at sprawling.
There is no way I could have been a fan since the early days. I would have been all of ten years old. My parents knew I loved martial arts, but they never would have let me watch that let alone pay for me to see it.

Shogun_101 · 05-29-2007, 12:20 AM

Watched a bunch of highlights with Vitor Belfort and Chuck Liddell and started watch the PPV's from UFC 40 (Ortiz vs Shamrock I)

GoldenDomer · 05-29-2007, 04:16 AM

Son, some of us actually have been fans since UFC 1.

drgonzoatmpls · 05-29-2007, 04:22 AM

was a huge boxing fan when i was younger and thought they were the toughest men on earth, until 1993 ufc 1 when i realized how wrong i was, and have hardly watched boxing since
WAR MMA!!!

Tony Bones · 05-29-2007, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenDomer

Son, some of us actually have been fans since UFC 1.

No bullshit here!

Agreed.

I started watching the UFC back in 93-94

Before MMA was even a term.

CabbageFace · 05-29-2007, 04:25 AM

I don't know how long it took for UFC 1 to be released on VHS, but I remember seeing it back when it was a new tape.

Fell out of touch with the sport when UFC was having problems, and stumbled upon Ken Shamrocks highlight video here on Sherdog. Saw Sakuraba's highlight and started buying Prides, and have been hooked since.

redpits · 05-29-2007, 04:26 AM

ufc 4 , been a sherdoger way before my sep 2002 join date. and still a white belt and proud of it.

MartinLav · 05-29-2007, 04:29 AM

Only couple years... but I've instantly became a big fan... Got the whole Pride / UFC dvd collection at first, then explored the smaller orgs too and started going to galas ;)

I love this sport !

Extremesyko420 · 05-29-2007, 04:33 AM

I've watched it since it first started. I was taking tae kwon do and I had just seen what brazilian ju jitsu could do, and I quit taking tkd and karate after I saw Royce dismantle karate experts and shit.

TheSpartan · 05-29-2007, 04:35 AM

UFC 17. My pops used to have an illegal DirecTV satelite reciever. Unlocked every single channel. Free PPV's. Watched it, loved it, and have been training since 2001. Not sure when UFC 17 was though. 96? 97?