Its Not That They Dont Understand

arda · 05-31-2006, 09:12 PM

When the fight hits the ground and the crowd starts booing the general perception is that the fans who dont understand groundwork are booing it. I dont think thats the case.

I think there are two reasons a lot of the fans boo. The first is that they dont like groundwork. It can seem very boring when fighters are moving through positions without really coming close to a sub or doing effective ground and pound. That doesnt mean they dont understand what the fighters are doing. I understand and enjoy MMA groundfighting fairly well (not like a BJJ tournament fighter but ok) and ADCC bores me to tears.

I think the UFC just needs to tell the fans to get over it. Every sport has boring parts. I am a huge soccer fan but there is nothing worse than a game where two teams need a draw

The second and one that doesnt get addressed enough is that the cage makes it harder to see what is going on, especially when guys are pressed up against it. I bet 70% of the fans have to watch the gorundfighting on the big screen and thats annoying when you have basically paid 200 to watch a big TV.

Jamie98s · 05-31-2006, 09:24 PM

yea, people who make the trip and pay alot of money for a ticket want to see some action,not lay and pray 101

shadowfox · 05-31-2006, 09:25 PM

I agree but a lot you have to blame on the ufc for tring to promote it as mainly stand up .When I watch it with people who have never seen an mma fight and are mainly boxing fans they love the stand up but hate the ground game where I like a good ol ground and pound.This is the type of fan the ufc is getting by going after the boxing fans who tend to be older and more set in thier ways.The ufc is tryn to go for a younger crowd also but not doing a very good job at it.

Joe Dirt · 05-31-2006, 09:27 PM

Usually people who go to live events have a hard time seeing what is going on when the fight is on the ground, therefore they probaby get anxious to see the fight stand up where they can get a better show. I go to the live events when they are by me in Atlantic City, but nothing beats the view I get from my couch.

REAR-NAKED JERK · 05-31-2006, 09:29 PM

it's MMA not boxing, there won't be slugfests every fight. People need to understand what the sport is all about. Educated fans would not boo.

Jitsuman · 05-31-2006, 09:33 PM

people who boo grappling are watching the wrong sport.

kflint · 05-31-2006, 09:36 PM

i personally love groundwork and ADCC. every time i can i hit up a grappling tourney. JJ Machado is the man. its weird because i cant see how a fight can be boring when it hits the ground. even arona, when he isnt stalling has me glued to the tube.

shadowfox · 05-31-2006, 10:11 PM

And as the fan base changes look for the fights to change as well.If your fan base wants stand up then the fighters that want big pay days look for them to do more stand up.Supply and demand the fans supply the money the fighters fight the way the crowds demand.But I love the ground game so hopefuly the ufc and other orgs try to teach more about the ground game.

**Bring On Fedor** · 05-31-2006, 10:39 PM

People bitch about fans booing all the time, but the majority of time, the fans are booing Lay and Pray, or ineffective ground and pound. I didn't hear anyone booing when Hughes took Gracie down and started pounding him. As a matter of fact, fans almost NEVER boo an active ground fight.

Fans reward effort to finish with praise, and boo stalling lay and pray artists. Why don't any of you understand this?

JohnGalt · 05-31-2006, 10:42 PM

In modern MMA groundwork isn't what it once was. A whole lot of the time the fights end up stalling on the ground given fighters' sub knowledge etc. I've been watching this shit forever, and I'll admit that I groan sometimes when I see someone drag the other one down and have no idea what they plan to do once they get there.