"UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

[VanCitySportsGuy]

http://www.mmamafia.net/news/ufc/3396-dana-white-predicts-that-by-2020-the-ufc-will-dominate-the-world-as-a-sport.html

Based on his reaction from his latest youtube video, Dana White was being serious about that comment.

I'm a big fan of the UFC but to say it will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020 is insane. There's a 0 percent chance it will be more popular than Soccer.

He should know by first hand how there are still a lot of people out there that think the UFC is nothing more than a organized bar fight. I do think the UFC will continue to get bigger and bigger but there's a limit on how popular the UFC will become because the sport is based on fighting.

[goh]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

People didn't think it'd take over boxing or wrestling either when it first started. Wouldn't entirely rule it out but it is unlikely.

[Beantown]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

Yeah...I wouldn't rule it out because a lot could happen in the next ten years, and thinking about it, I'd put it as the sport with the most international appeal after Futbol as it blends the most nationalities and countries and there is a lot of "pride for the home country" in quite a few MMA fighters.

But, truthfully, there is no way it surpasses Futbol in the world, and very little chance it surpasses Football in America.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

Maybe he knows something that we don't. If it ever gets a big network deal, anything is possible. The growth of the sport has been explosive, one wonders if it will continue in the same way.

[Brian Gee]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

Not going to happen. It SHOULD remain popular, but who knows? A lot of people in my circle have been very bored with it the past 6 months and we went from ordering EVERY PPV, to cherry picking the last three out of six. All the fights are available online LIVE or after anyway...

Soccer is untouchable and football is an unkillable monster in this country. Dana White is about as professional a spokesperson as the Trix Rabbit. They are both morons.

And, due in part to injuries and in part to comings and goings, we are being fed subpar PPVs...

[aholbert32]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

Soccer is untouchable and football is an unkillable monster in this country. Dana White is about as professional a spokesperson as the Trix Rabbit. They are both morons.

And, due in part to injuries and in part to comings and goings, we are being fed subpar PPVs...

Dana is a promoter. He is not a spokesperson. He's not a commissioner. He is promoting his sport. I dont know why anyone would take his statements seriously when his primary job is to promote his sport.

[DaveDQ]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

There's nothing wrong with being ambitious and confident with your product. I agree with what he said too...

"Think about this: Right now in the United States, there is nothing bigger than the NFL. It is huge. But the NFL has been spending billions of dollars trying to break into other countries and it’s not working. You know why? Because these people in other countries don’t care about American football. They didn’t grow up playing it and they’re not invested in American teams."

That is very true. Why would anyone in England pull for an NFL team with an American City title? It's awkward. With the UFC, like boxing, you have fighters that are representing specific areas of the world. It's easier to draw a fan base when a popular fighter is from your area. With baseball and basketball, look at how some player placement works for foreign countries. We see fans cheering for players that are from their respective country, while they are on teams like the Houston Rockets and boston Red Sox.

I think this sport will grow. I do have issue with White somewhat calling out other sports along the way. You don't have to do that. Enjoy the success of your sport and celebrate the success of other sports. With the UFC, there seems to be a chip on the shoulder about how it always has more to offer. Fans of it are guilty too, calling out boxing and often comparing it to MMA. Just enjoy what MMA is. I think White and fans of MMA often have an inferiority complex of the very sport they are claiming is dominant.

[jb12780]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

There's nothing wrong with being ambitious and confident with your product. I agree with what he said too...

"Think about this: Right now in the United States, there is nothing bigger than the NFL. It is huge. But the NFL has been spending billions of dollars trying to break into other countries and it’s not working. You know why? Because these people in other countries don’t care about American football. They didn’t grow up playing it and they’re not invested in American teams."

That is very true. Why would anyone in England pull for an NFL team with an American City title? It's awkward. With the UFC, like boxing, you have fighters that are representing specific areas of the world. It's easier to draw a fan base when a popular fighter is from your area. With baseball and basketball, look at how some player placement works for foreign countries. We see fans cheering for players that are from their respective country, while they are on teams like the Houston Rockets and boston Red Sox.

I think this sport will grow. I do have issue with White somewhat calling out other sports along the way. You don't have to do that. Enjoy the success of your sport and celebrate the success of other sports. With the UFC, there seems to be a chip on the shoulder about how it always has more to offer. Fans of it are guilty too, calling out boxing and often comparing it to MMA. Just enjoy what MMA is. I think White and fans of MMA often have an inferiority complex of the very sport they are claiming is dominant.

Good point. MMA is also more global than the NFL. Theres going to be a card is Australlia in Feb/March. They have held fights in Germany, England. Do you think more people follow MMA or the NFL outside the US?

[DaveDQ]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

Good point. MMA is also more global than the NFL. Theres going to be a card is Australlia in Feb/March. They have held fights in Germany, England. Do you think more people follow MMA or the NFL outside the US?

Right, I think like White pointed out, look how much money the NFL has put into getting the sport outside of the US. MMA won't have to do that, specifically speaking, UFC. It just has a broader appeal than the NFL.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

I love MMA and its right behind football on my list. With that being said I can't see it ever topping football in America.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: "UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020" - Dana White

Unless they start putting up free quality cards every month, I don't see how they could ever be the biggest sport in the US, never mind the world. It's awesome and all - but come on, you get how many other sports games for free on cable tv, whereas you get a few cards on Spike, and they expect you to spend $50+ to get the rest. With that structure, I don't see how they can do it.