[JayPinno]

I dont know about you guys but I am getting impatient at the fact that MMA has not gotten the respect it deserves. Of course there are a few recent events that have brought this ignorance about.

First, you have a journalist Mike Freeman at CBS sportsline. I know must of you have already read this article and witnessed the sheer lack of knowledge people actually have towards MMA. The fact that this guy thinks MMA fighters are just thugs, is beyond me. The same way he is baffled by MMA I am baffled by his comments.http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/columns/story/10162545

Then, you have other athletes such as Floyd Mayweather Jr. bashing the UFC also. Calling fighters who could not make it in boxing. I have read the lastest news on this and I am glad to see he has at least apologized about the comments he said. He probably just didnt realize what kind of fanbase MMA really has.
Then jerkweed Jim Lampley from HBO was quick to try to throw in some comments when the De La Hoya/PBF fight was over. Stating that what they just witnessed was lightyears ahead of MMA. To our defense Max Kellerman quickly shushed his ass and stated he thinks many MMA fighters are just as skilled.

I could go on and on with dumb ass comments made by numerous people, but all in all it is the same shit. They all have no knowledge of the sport and just like to bash the shit out of something they know nothing about. The question is what can we do as fans to try to educate these people and get MMA noticed in the right light. How long do you think it is going to take before people stop using the bar room brawl analogies. When are they going to realize these comments are fucking insulting to real athletes who are dedicated to there sport. We all know the work these guys put in, and we know how much SKILL they really have. Just when the fuck is everybody else gonna realize this!

[Brace Face]

As long as the UFC (the MAIN MMA org in the world) continues running their org like a bunch of amateurs, catering to the SpikeTV, and Maxim magazine denmographic, they will never be taken seriously.

It's okay to cater to that demographic, but if you want to be taken seriously, you can't ONLY cater to that demographic. Otherwise, once that demographic gets older, they'll be gone from MMA.

You need to present it like a respectable sport, and not as a bunch of guys just brawling.

If Dana can figure this out MMA as a whole will be UNSTOPPABLE.

[USMCGixxer6]

Originally Posted by Brace Face

As long as the UFC (the MAIN MMA org in the world) continues running their org like a bunch of amateurs, catering to the SpikeTV, and Maxim magazine denmographic, they will never be taken seriously.

It's okay to cater to that demographic, but if you want to be taken seriously, you can't ONLY cater to that demographic. Otherwise, once that demographic gets older, they'll be gone from MMA.

You need to present it like a respectable sport, and not as a bunch of guys just brawling.

If Dana can figure this out MMA as a whole will be UNSTOPPABLE.

Good point, but Dana cant go away from that. he wants to market the UFC as extreme, so it will never be but a b level sport, harsh but true.

[Brace Face]

Originally Posted by USMCGixxer6

Good point, but Dana cant go away from that. he wants to market the UFC as extreme, so it will never be but a b level sport, harsh but true.

Well, in that case, UFC and MMA will be a fad in the states. In order to have staying power, it will need to be respected, and it wont be respected when all the marketed best fighters are only that way because they won a reality tv show.

Dana will smarten up once the PPV numbers start dipping more and more.

[MindTravel]

Well, at least it gets plenty of respect right here.

Haha, I just keep with my own.

[King Kabuki]

It's okay to cater to that demographic, but if you want to be taken seriously, you can't ONLY cater to that demographic. Otherwise, once that demographic gets older, they'll be gone from MMA.

You know what else about this point? Dana's also starting to book like any other greedy-ass promoter, under the disguise of "it's about finding the best in the World". Which is of course, why Hughes/Gracie, Shamrock/Ortiz III, and other such fights are being sold.

And it's not just the UFC.

[CrashStitches]

It's a new sport, it must go through growing pains. Eventually it will find equilibrium in the matrix of the sporting world. When there's no influence from "woah, XTREME! elements, then we will see where this sport truly stands. Right now it's a fad. In 10 years, it will be where it needs to be.

[Genghis Con]

MMA is just starting to get mainstream, it will take alot of heat from now on but it will die down after a few years. But thats just the nature of the beast...

Every new sport goes through this.

[Depth]

Yes

$$$$$ will equal respect.

[Brace Face]

Originally Posted by King Kabuki

You know what else about this point? Dana's also starting to book like any other greedy-ass promoter, under the disguise of "it's about finding the best in the World". Which is of course, why Hughes/Gracie, Shamrock/Ortiz III, and other such fights are being sold.

And it's not just the UFC.

That's very true. But I do feel Dana is making a conscious effort to get the best fighters in the world, as was made evident by him getting Cro Cop, Nog, Werdum, and the purchase of Pride.

It's just that money is more important to Dana than the best matches. And Dana feels he needs to hype the best since their not known to said SpikeTV, Maxim demographic, and when that happens, a wrench can be thrown into the whole thing, as we saw with Cro Cop and Gonzaga.

In my opinion, if you make the best fights possible, no hype is needed cause those fights will most likely be classics and people WILL see them, it may not be live, they may catch them later on, but when those guys fight anyone again, people will tune it.