Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

[Wet Bandit]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

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.

But they've done that a lot. The Ultimate Fighter shows up-and-comers competing in a tournament to get into the UFC, and shows how guys train and prepare for the fights. The All Access shows and the Countdown shows both go behind-the-scenes with top fighters showing their insane training programs. They also make guys like Kenny Florian and Randy Couture available to networks like ESPN to talk about the sport and the fighters. They also spend a lot of time on broadcasts talking about the martial arts involved, particular techniques, etc. And Dana White is even going out and saying how he wants MMA as an olympic sport.

If you're going to ignore all that because you think Rogan sometimes acts like a 15-year-old, I mean, what can the UFC do, you know? It's not like they're ever going to not promote events like they're a spectacle, because that sort of promotion gets viewers.

But they haven't let that sort of promotion get in the way of treating the events like a sport. That's been a core point of their's as they've fought their way into the mainstream.

[goh]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

I thought I saw something like GSP lands 78% of his takedowns before the main event of UFC 94. If you just watched the 100 best fights thing you'd see they used to have an entry ramp and fire works and dancing too.

UFC is enough in terms of mainstream because it's the only one that's successful (in NA anyway,I guess Dream does well enough in Japan) and it'll probably stay that way. People probably aren't going to be shelling out for 2 or 3 PPVs a month. Overall no because fighters need places to start in so they still need the lesser stuff. I just saw a Canadian one the other day with a guy being built to be the next GSP. I forget his name and what organization it was but it was a lot better presented than that crap Lashley/Sapp was in.

[Sheamazin]

Re: Is the UFC Enough for Mixed Martial Arts?

There is alot of good MMA out there. WEC, Strikeforce, Affliction, and Dream. They maybe not as good or as mainstream as UFC. But Im a huge fan of the sport and I watch all of these when their on.