UFC/ MMA will never be mainstream in the USA

I_WiDoWmAkEr_I · 08-27-2006, 02:11 AM

For now, UFC is the main MMA org in the USA, so it is the only MMA org that can influence America. However, after UFC 62, 61 and the past couple of UFNs, I can't picture MMA ever becoming mainstream at all in the USA.

I train in BJJ and am a big (not hardcore) MMA fan, so I can appreciate the entire aspect of MMA. But, after UFC 62's performance, you can't expect the average fan to get seriously involved in MMA.

I was with a group of 10 friends tonight (8 guys, 2 girls) where 3-4 of us knew MMA well, 1-2 kind of knew about it and the rest knew nothing about it. Needless to say, all 10 of us thought the entire night was a bust.

Now, I'm not debating which match sucked, or what they should do to improve the product, etc......but flat out........we weren't entertained!! It's as simple as that! What makes it more funny is that only one televised fight went to a decision! People want to see a KO, they want to see a rivalry, they want to see energy, etc. The Kongo and Liddel KOs were fantastic, all of us were focused squarly on the fights.

Bonnar/ Griffin rolls around and midway into the second round, no one of us are paying attention to the fight. We were all talking about miscellanous topics. It just wasn't exciting!

Yes, Franca won by submission, but for 12 minutes, he did nothing. One of the girls there said how bad "the Brazilian guy" was. I'm now laughing inside because I knew how good of a fighter Hermes really is. The problem is, because he was on his back for 10 minutes and not dominating the fight....the general public perceives him as a poor fighter.

I'm not saying I will stop being a MMA fan, but with these cards, you can't expect the general public to shell out $40 an event for these type of results. Maybe MMA won't even become mainstream, but so many people talk as if it's only a matter of time. The general public can't appreciate MMA, so they want to see someone get barreled over or KTFO. They only see two guys "humping each other" on the ground.

Now the flamers are going to come out and say how wonderful UFC 62 was and tell people how they should feel. That's great, you're an idiot. However, it doesn't address the fact that none of us enjoyed the night! You can't simply tell someone to enjoy it. Case in point....Griffin was booed after the fight. Why? BECAUSE HE WON A SHITTY FIGHT BY DECISION!!!!! People love Griffin, but he was booed for a bad fight. You can't refute that.

cartman · 08-27-2006, 02:12 AM

Quote:

UFC/ MMA will never be mainstream in the USA

according to some of the last PPV buy rates, i would disagree.

NiceGuy Eddie · 08-27-2006, 02:14 AM

Yea, the casual fans that I brought over for 62 were complaining lol

hahayousux · 08-27-2006, 02:15 AM

USA, if it bleeds it leads!

GSP in 2006 · 08-27-2006, 02:16 AM

I and the 13 people who had BBQ and beer at my house would disagree. We all had a good time tonight. Every fight had something, it was very enjoyable. Sorry you didn't have a fun night, my friends and I had a good time.

Punchdrinker · 08-27-2006, 02:17 AM

Well I'll just have to disagree with you..... from what I've seen in my day to day life (such as previously non-MMA fans talking about MMA now ) and how well the UFC is doing on Spike etc I'd have to say the facts just don't jive with your conclusion.

And I think Pride being on Fox Sprts has helped the exposure a lot too.

I_WiDoWmAkEr_I · 08-27-2006, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cartman

according to some of the last PPV buy rates, i would disagree.

Very true, but TUF will lose its luster someday, then the UFC will need something else to bulster it's PPV buys. How they go about handling that will be very important.

EKyello · 08-27-2006, 02:20 AM

I think it depends what you mean by mainstream. Will it be as big as Football, basketball, or even baseball or hockey, almost definately not. But I think it is at least as big as boxing now, and could become as big as boxing was at its peak.

Dj Impact · 08-27-2006, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I_WiDoWmAkEr_I

For now, UFC is the main MMA org in the USA, so it is the only MMA org that can influence America. However, after UFC 62, 61 and the past couple of UFNs, I can't picture MMA ever becoming mainstream at all in the USA.

I train in BJJ and am a big (not hardcore) MMA fan, so I can appreciate the entire aspect of MMA. But, after UFC 62's performance, you can't expect the average fan to get seriously involved in MMA.

I was with a group of 10 friends tonight (8 guys, 2 girls) where 3-4 of us knew MMA well, 1-2 kind of knew about it and the rest knew nothing about it. Needless to say, all 10 of us thought the entire night was a bust.

Now, I'm not debating which match sucked, or what they should do to improve the product, etc......but flat out........we weren't entertained!! It's as simple as that! What makes it more funny is that only one televised fight went to a decision! People want to see a KO, they want to see a rivalry, they want to see energy, etc. The Kongo and Liddel KOs were fantastic, all of us were focused squarly on the fights.

Bonnar/ Griffin rolls around and midway into the second round, no one of us are paying attention to the fight. We were all talking about miscellanous topics. It just wasn't exciting!

Yes, Franca won by submission, but for 12 minutes, he did nothing. One of the girls there said how bad "the Brazilian guy" was. I'm now laughing inside because I knew how good of a fighter Hermes really is. The problem is, because he was on his back for 10 minutes and not dominating the fight....the general public perceives him as a poor fighter.

I'm not saying I will stop being a MMA fan, but with these cards, you can't expect the general public to shell out $40 an event for these type of results. Maybe MMA won't even become mainstream, but so many people talk as if it's only a matter of time. The general public can't appreciate MMA, so they want to see someone get barreled over or KTFO. They only see two guys "humping each other" on the ground.

Now the flamers are going to come out and say how wonderful UFC 62 was and tell people how they should feel. That's great, you're an idiot. However, it doesn't address the fact that none of us enjoyed the night! You can't simply tell someone to enjoy it. Case in point....Griffin was booed after the fight. Why? BECAUSE HE WON A SHITTY FIGHT BY DECISION!!!!! People love Griffin, but he was booed for a bad fight. You can't refute that.

hmmmm...well I was there and people were going crazy for hermes franca....i dont know what you mean by everyone thought that he sucked..your aka general public...everyone was very into the fight...your friend was probobly some dumb blonde who didnt know what the hell she was talking about....i saw of few of those at the show....anyway..just throwing my point of view out there...

SilverHorizon · 08-27-2006, 02:22 AM

guarantee that half the people who post here will not have read your whole rant. Way too much work.