Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

[snakerattle79]

http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/09/is-the-ufc-enough-for-mixed-martial-arts/

For years I have been one of the people who have been saying Mixed Martial Arts needs more than just the UFC to take that proverbial next step.

However, as the biggest night in the sports history nears, I find myself reconsidering my position on this subject and asking, “Does MMA really need anything other than the UFC to prosper?”

It has been my argument for many years that more organizations providing competition with the UFC the better it will make the sport overall. But if you look at the history of sports, that’s not necessarily the case.

What competition does the NFL have? The NBA? MLB? Golf, tennis and NASCAR – with a couple of minor exceptions here and there – have all of its stars competing under one major organization.

None of those sports appear to be struggling from the lack of “competition.” As a matter of fact, having all of their best competing against each other has helped those sports thrive into the huge sensations they’ve all become in this country.

Now let’s move to boxing. OK, what killed boxing more than anything besides the corruption in the sport? It was all of the different promotions creating 100 different championship belts, therefore making it almost impossible for the top fighters to compete against each other. Does the name Fedor ring a bell?

So would it really matter if we only had the UFC? When a top fighter like Fedor, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, etc is fighting for another promotion, what are MMA fans always saying? “I hope he signs with the UFC soon.” So, as far as fans go, wouldn’t it be better for us if all the great fighters were under one promotion to begin with?

Now, obviously this argument is more complex. Tito Ortiz and others would argue that this would hurt options for the already underpaid fighters. That maybe true but I’m looking at this purely from a fan’s perspective and from that point, perhaps the Strikeforces and Afflictions of the world are just watering down the sport.

If you ask me, I would much rather see their top fighters in the UFC, watch the best fight the best and be done with it. Seriously, what are we really accomplishing by having Fedor in Affliction and Nick Diaz in Strikeforce?

Like I said, this is a recent change in philosophy for me that happened when I was thinking about the new UFL football league. I have worked in the NFL and covered both college and pro football. Nothing will ever compete with either sport, so even trying is futile.

That scenario shifted my thinking to the UFC and how the company is celebrating the historic UFC 100. Strikeforce is a nice little promotion. Affliction has Fedor and a solid heavyweight division. But aren’t these guys just delaying the inevitable?

The UFC has become a giant and in my opinion taking them on in the world of MMA is becoming almost as much a losing proposition as other football leagues challenging the NFL.

Perhaps it’s time for others to step back and let the survival of the fittest take its course. Let the UFC have all the best talent and give the fans the best fights between the best fighters in the world. Instead of having a few different promotions, let the UFC become the NFL of Mixed Martial Arts. Would that be such a bad idea?

One final point I want to make clear. I am not suggesting we do away with regional MMA and things of that nature, just like I wouldn’t suggest getting rid of Arena Football. I am talking about any promotion in direct competition with the UFC. Regional MMA is an asset because it’s a tool to help young fighters get experience and become good enough to someday fight in the UFC.

In my opinion, promotions like Strikeforce are fighting a losing battle. They may stick around for a few years but in the end, they simply don’t have the money or the resources to compete with the UFC. All they are really doing is paying a couple of fighters above market value to keep them away from Dana White.

So as the UFC approaches its 100th event, I would like to hear your feedback on this topic. Do you feel MMA needs multiple promotions like I did for years or do you feel the UFC can survive as one power league like the NFL or NBA?

When we hit UFC 200, where do you think the sport of Mixed Martial Arts will be at that time?

I’m starting to think when people refer to Mixed Martial Arts as “UFC,” they really aren’t as misinformed as I once thought they were.

[SHO]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

This is like asking if Golden Boy Promotions is enough for Boxing.

[DTX3]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

Boxing is dead, but I agree Noble.

[Juice Malone]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

I main problem is the presentation of UFC events personally. I think that air of **** fighting is still prevelant. Pride had much more brutal rules (stomping on peoples heads, knees to the head on the ground), but it was more pallatable because it was presented as a true sport. Not really because of the ring, but because of the atmosphere, and most of all the presentation. When is the last time you saw a graph pop up on a UFC broadcast that displayed indepth statistics such as the percentage that a fighter spends on the ground or standing? The answer is never.

The UFC needs to make an effort to educate potential fans through presentation or other means. The organization is legitimate enough now to the point that they don't need to only rely on the "we are so hardcore, if you are in your 20s you will ****ing love us" image. Put a graphic letting people know that a guy favors the armbar and has a devastating right hook. Vary the music for your promos a bit. Maybe this way the crowd won't erupt in boos the second someone gets taken down.

I think the MMA orgs of the world need to accept WAMMA as the governing body too, yes even the UFC. Boxing never had one and suffered for it in the long run. A little bit of cooperation between orgs isn't a bad thing, especially if it leads to the fight of the century. WAMMA can also take alot of burden off of orgs by providing staff for their events and offering services and representation to fighters that benefit both the organization and the fighters, eliminating the possibility of another Tito Ortiz incident, or from Dana White holding personal grudges against and black balling fighters that had the audacity to sign with another org after he wouldn't give them ****.

I don't believe MMA orgs can function like the NBA. There are alot more levels of responsibility andf authority. You have David Stern, owners, teams gms, coaches, and then players that belong to a player's association. In the UFC you have a fighter answering to a match maker and Dana White. There is no fighters association and the owners that bought the UFC are pretty hands off, they let Dana and the boys take care of things in the trenches.

At the end of the day the UFC is simply a promotion.

[Wet Bandit]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

I really dislike the presentation of UFC events personally. I think that air of **** fighting is still prevelant. Pride had much more brutal rules (stomping on peoples heads, knees), but it was more pallatable because it was presented as a true sport. Not really because of the ring, but also the atmosphere of arenas, and most of all the presentation. When is the last time you saw a graph pop up on a UFC broadcast that displayed indepth statistics such as the percentage that a fighter spends on the ground or standing? The answer is never.

Actually, Goldberg has been bringing up stats like that constantly for at least the past year. They don't have stat overlays for that stuff yet, but it's coming. Rogan also does a solid job explaining the basics of jiu-jitsu and the groundwork during the fights (even if he always gets too excited for an omoplata). And they've always had stuff like the fighter's strengths showing up when they're coming to the ring.

Besides, it's gotta be hard to claim that Pride's presentation was more professional and treated the fights as more of a sport considering they allowed guys to come to the ring in costume and break into choreographed dance routines.

[aholbert32]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

I main problem is the presentation of UFC events personally. I think that air of **** fighting is still prevelant. Pride had much more brutal rules (stomping on peoples heads, knees to the head on the ground), but it was more pallatable because it was presented as a true sport. Not really because of the ring, but because of the atmosphere, and most of all the presentation. When is the last time you saw a graph pop up on a UFC broadcast that displayed indepth statistics such as the percentage that a fighter spends on the ground or standing? The answer is never.

.

Actually the UFC had stats like that prior to the Machida/Evans main event. I remember seeing a stat about how often Machida had been taken down.

[Juice Malone]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

Actually, Goldberg has been bringing up stats like that constantly for at least the past year. They don't have stat overlays for that stuff yet, but it's coming. Rogan also does a solid job explaining the basics of jiu-jitsu and the groundwork during the fights (even if he always gets too excited for an omoplata). And they've always had stuff like the fighter's strengths showing up when they're coming to the ring.

Besides, it's gotta be hard to claim that Pride's presentation was more professional and treated the fights as more of a sport considering they allowed guys to come to the ring in costume and break into choreographed dance routines.

I don't want to turn this into Pride vs. UFC. It's been done to death. I have no problem with UFC commentary, didnt mention it. I'm talking strictly presentation, as in things you see.

The dancing and costumes, is a cultural difference between North america and Japan. I was not taking that into account. Not all fighters did that though and despite that it didn't cheapen the experience. I was thinking more along the lines of the way interviews were conducted, the broadcast presentation, and the overall atmosphere.

My point is that the UFC does not do nearly enough to educate fans which is why those new to the sport (or those returning from the old days) seem to boo damn near everything except a brutal knockout.

[SHO]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

Besides, it's gotta be hard to claim that Pride's presentation was more professional and treated the fights as more of a sport considering they allowed guys to come to the ring in costume and break into choreographed dance routines.

When you're as much of a badass as Genki and Gono, you can come down to the ring anyway you choose.

[Scoop_Brady]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

I main problem is the presentation of UFC events personally. I think that air of **** fighting is still prevelant. Pride had much more brutal rules (stomping on peoples heads, knees to the head on the ground), but it was more pallatable because it was presented as a true sport. Not really because of the ring, but because of the atmosphere, and most of all the presentation. When is the last time you saw a graph pop up on a UFC broadcast that displayed indepth statistics such as the percentage that a fighter spends on the ground or standing? The answer is never.

I see graphs all of the time highlighting things such as takedown percentage or time spent on the ground. I will agree that they could do more of that for the non-main event fights but it's definitely there.

The UFC needs to make an effort to educate potential fans through presentation or other means. The organization is legitimate enough now to the point that they don't need to only rely on the "we are so hardcore, if you are in your 20s you will ****ing love us" image. Put a graphic letting people know that a guy favors the armbar and has a devastating right hook. Vary the music for your promos a bit. Maybe this way the crowd won't erupt in boos the second someone gets taken down.

I think they do a good job during the entrances of speaking about and graphically representing the fighters strengths and weaknesses. I also think Joe Rogan does a fantastic job of keeping the audience aware of these stregths and weaknesses during the fight as well as point out what is going on when the fight hits the ground. I don't thing the crowds erupt in boos the second someone gets taken down either. They start to boo when there is not much happening while it's on the ground or when there's not much going on while it's standing.

I think the MMA orgs of the world need to accept WAMMA as the governing body too, yes even the UFC. Boxing never had one and suffered for it in the long run. A little bit of cooperation between orgs isn't a bad thing, especially if it leads to the fight of the century. WAMMA can also take alot of burden off of orgs by providing staff for their events and offering services and representation to fighters that benefit both the organization and the fighters, eliminating the possibility of another Tito Ortiz incident, or from Dana White holding personal grudges against and black balling fighters that had the audacity to sign with another org after he wouldn't give them ****.

I don't believe MMA orgs can function like the NBA. There are alot more levels of responsibility andf authority. You have David Stern, owners, teams gms, coaches, and then players that belong to a player's association. In the UFC you have a fighter answering to a match maker and Dana White. There is no fighters association and the owners that bought the UFC are pretty hands off, they let Dana and the boys take care of things in the trenches.

At the end of the day the UFC is simply a promotion.

I'll agree that one governing body would be a good thing.

[SHO]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

Actually the UFC had stats like that prior to the Machida/Evans main event. I remember seeing a stat about how often Machida had been taken down.

Yup, they're getting better about stat overlays as of late. I love it.

[Juice Malone]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

When did they start the graphics and stat overlays? It must be a recent addition. I don't recall seeing any at all while watching UFC 96 (the last ppv i bought and watched, i watched highlights of 97, 98, and 99 online) except the usual such as the fighters records.

I take my statement back if things have changed.

[SHO]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

When did they start the graphics and stat overlays? It must be a recent addition. I don't recall seeing any at all while watching UFC 96 (the last ppv i bought and watched, i watched highlights of 97, 98, and 99 online) except the usual such as the fighters records.

I take my statement back if things have changed.

Yup, it's been a very recent addition. They typically display noteworthy stats prior to the fighters entrances and then touch on them again during the fight. The first time I saw it IIRC was UFC 97.

[Juice Malone]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

Yup, it's been a very recent addition. They typically display noteworthy stats prior to the fighters entrances and then touch on them again during the fight.

Alright, then ignore the first half of my first post.

[Wet Bandit]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

I don't want to turn this into Pride vs. UFC. It's been done to death. I have no problem with UFC commentary, didnt mention it. I'm talking strictly presentation, as in things you see.

The dancing and costumes, is a cultural difference between North america and Japan. I was not taking that into account. Not all fighters did that though and despite that it didn't cheapen the experience. I was thinking more along the lines of the way interviews were conducted, the broadcast presentation, and the overall atmosphere.

My point is that the UFC does not do nearly enough to educate fans which is why those new to the sport (or those returning from the old days) seem to boo damn near everything except a brutal knockout.

Come on, man, you're talking about treating the fights like a sport, and you're knocking the UFC because it hasn't shown enough stats (instead "merely" saying them) but you're letting Pride get away costumed fighters and choreographed entrances?

You're trying to have it both ways. You've got your point, and you're trying to knock some square pegs into some round holes to try and support that point.

Both organizations did some good things to educate fans and give proper respect to the fighters and the sport, and both organizations did some things that were more about entertainment than the sport. Let's not cherry pick in order to pretend otherwise.

[Acedeck]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

Come on, man, you're talking about treating the fights like a sport, and you're knocking the UFC because it hasn't shown enough stats (instead "merely" saying them) but you're letting Pride get away costumed fighters and choreographed entrances?

You're trying to have it both ways. You've got your point, and you're trying to knock some square pegs into some round holes to try and support that point.

Both organizations did some good things to educate fans and give proper respect to the fighters and the sport, and both organizations did some things that were more about entertainment than the sport. Let's not cherry pick in order to pretend otherwise.

Coming from someone who's not bias toward neither Pride nor UFC, I think the UFC really needs to focus on developing its image as a legitimate sport. It still has that feel of a hyped of promotion rather than a legitimate sport. I view MMA as a legitimate sport, so that makes it even crazier how the UFC still comes off as not being one at times. As much as I love Rogan, I really feel he hurts the image of UFC when it comes to becoming a legitimate sport. I wish I could figure out what it is about him, but I can't quite narrow it down. Maybe it's because it seems like he's got that "awww sh!t, that was SICK!" aura/persona going on when excitement starts. It seems like he's talking to the drunk guys at the bar at times, rather than people who take the sport seriously.

Regardless, I'll be watching UFC 100 tomorrow at my buddy's place. I don't hold it against them. I'll still watch it. I just feel they have room to improve when it comes to their image and focusing becoming a legitimate sport. There's a difference between becoming a legitimate sport and becoming a hugely popular promotion.