Popularity of MMA

[IStillDoWhatIDo]

I'm a casual fan. From my perspective, the popularity of MMA (UFC in particular) was UFC100, which occured right after the release of the popular video game. Now it seems to me that the popularity of UFC is tapering off again.

I attribute this to the frequency of PPVs. It seems like every month, or every 3 weeks, there is a new advertisement for another one. if I come on here, I see the cards for events that are 2 in advance before the current one has ended. do you think the high frequency of PPVs harms or helps MMA? its hard to get up to watch a PPV if u know you'll have another one on deck (NBA complex, 82 game season)

[MC Fatigue]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I think they need to get a real network deal and get the stuff on NBC or CBS or something. They've moved past the need for full PPV and the mainstream is willing to accept MMA now. The UFC needs to get their product on a national network already; and perhaps save PPV for some really huge events. Kind of like wrestling does (or did - I don't know, I haven't watched wrestling since I was 12... but they had some really big wrestlemanias and stuff on PPV, and the rest on regular TV).

[Money99]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I think they need to get a real network deal and get the stuff on NBC or CBS or something. They've moved past the need for full PPV and the mainstream is willing to accept MMA now. The UFC needs to get their product on a national network already; and perhaps save PPV for some really huge events. Kind of like wrestling does (or did - I don't know, I haven't watched wrestling since I was 12... but they had some really big wrestlemanias and stuff on PPV, and the rest on regular TV).

I agree. And boxing would help itself if it did more on network TV too.

The issue is, I don't think you can make nearly as much money on NBC, Fox, etc. as you can PPV.
Dana White knows his sport is huge so I don't think he sees a need to give it away for free.

As far as boxing, they're too ignorant and full of themselves to believe anythings wrong.
If it weren't for Pacquio nobody would even care about the sweet science.

[Phillmattic]

Re: Popularity of MMA

It's because of the string of weak cards. Casual fans want names they recognize.

[goh]

Re: Popularity of MMA

Just as good as ever far as I can see. They had Brock on Sportscenter. GSP is on the shows here in Canada and was named the Canadian National athelte of the year for 2009,not Steve Nash,not Sidney Crosby,not Jason Bay...GSP.

[aholbert32]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I'm a casual fan. From my perspective, the popularity of MMA (UFC in particular) was UFC100, which occured right after the release of the popular video game. Now it seems to me that the popularity of UFC is tapering off again.

I attribute this to the frequency of PPVs. It seems like every month, or every 3 weeks, there is a new advertisement for another one. if I come on here, I see the cards for events that are 2 in advance before the current one has ended. do you think the high frequency of PPVs harms or helps MMA? its hard to get up to watch a PPV if u know you'll have another one on deck (NBA complex, 82 game season)

Doesnt hurt it at all. You cant compare this to the NBA because there are different fighters and fights at every PPV. At most you see fighters fight 3 times a year.

Also the popularity isnt tapering off, its just there havent been any big PPVs in almost 5 months because of injuries/movies. The sport is still growing and will continue to grow. Here are the top 7 most popular fighters in the UFC (No particular order):

Lesner
Silva
Rampage
Liddell
Penn
GSP
Couture

In the past 6 mos only 2 of those guys have fought. In the next 6, every single one of them is scheduled to fight. Lesner's return, Rashad/Rampage and the Abu Dhabi PPV will all be huge PPVs.

[aholbert32]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I think they need to get a real network deal and get the stuff on NBC or CBS or something. They've moved past the need for full PPV and the mainstream is willing to accept MMA now. The UFC needs to get their product on a national network already; and perhaps save PPV for some really huge events. Kind of like wrestling does (or did - I don't know, I haven't watched wrestling since I was 12... but they had some really big wrestlemanias and stuff on PPV, and the rest on regular TV).

Cant compare it to wrestling. Wrestling is on every week. The best thing they could do is have a similar format to Strikeforce. Give ESPN/NBC/ABC a big PPV worthy fight night every 3 months. Put the rest on PPV and Spike.

[Scoop_Brady]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I think the best thing would be for the UFC to get away from PPV's and get a major deal with ABC and ESPN. If they could get a deal that was big enough they wouldn't need to do PPV's and the exposure on those networks would increase their popularity tenfold. Grow it to the point where they could have their own channel like the other major leagues as well.

[IStillDoWhatIDo]

Re: Popularity of MMA

One thing I can say is that whenever I see the shows that promote the fight, it feels like I know the fighters more and makes me want to watch.

[JerseySuave4]

Re: Popularity of MMA

ive been a MMA fan since before its popularity took off but even i have been disappointed in some of the recent UFC PPVs. I only say UFC since theyre really the only big boys right now compared to those trying to catch up. I dont need a bunch of big names for a PPV to be good but ive looked at the cards of the last 2 PPVs before they happened and they just didnt interest me.

I might be going to UFC 111 and other than that the next UFC PPV i'll pay for is Rampage-Rashad because i'm a Rampage fan. I watch the rest of the PPVs on Sopcast.

Having a new PPV every 3 weeks can become expensive so i think what they need to do is put some new stuff live on Spike instead of just showing old stuff and utilize Spike more to get interest up. I understand that the Superstars need to be on the PPVs because its to make money but they used to have a lot more frequent live events on spike, now it seems they only show old PPVs on spike.

[aholbert32]

Re: Popularity of MMA

ive been a MMA fan since before its popularity took off but even i have been disappointed in some of the recent UFC PPVs. I only say UFC since theyre really the only big boys right now compared to those trying to catch up. I dont need a bunch of big names for a PPV to be good but ive looked at the cards of the last 2 PPVs before they happened and they just didnt interest me.

I might be going to UFC 111 and other than that the next UFC PPV i'll pay for is Rampage-Rashad because i'm a Rampage fan. I watch the rest of the PPVs on Sopcast.

Having a new PPV every 3 weeks can become expensive so i think what they need to do is put some new stuff live on Spike instead of just showing old stuff and utilize Spike more to get interest up. I understand that the Superstars need to be on the PPVs because its to make money but they used to have a lot more frequent live events on spike, now it seems they only show old PPVs on spike.

There are plenty of events on free TV though. In the past 3 months, we've seen a full UFC event (Couture v. Vera) and a Fight Night on Spike. In March, there will be 3 UFC events and 2 of them are on Free TV.

The only reason it seems like things have slowed is because of injuries. Without injuries, Silva/Belfort would have headlined 109 and most people here would have purchased it. Without injuries, Lesner/Carwin would have headlined 108 and everyone here would have purchased it. March, April and May will have 4 title fights and the Rashad/Rampage fight. This spring is going to be huge.

[mgoblue]

Re: Popularity of MMA

There are plenty of events on free TV though. In the past 3 months, we've seen a full UFC event (Couture v. Vera) and a Fight Night on Spike. In March, there will be 3 UFC events and 2 of them are on Free TV.

The only reason it seems like things have slowed is because of injuries. Without injuries, Silva/Belfort would have headlined 109 and most people here would have purchased it. Without injuries, Lesner/Carwin would have headlined 108 and everyone here would have purchased it. March, April and May will have 4 title fights and the Rashad/Rampage fight. This spring is going to be huge.

Yeah...the only reason I went to a bar for this last PPV was cause I was in the mood for it and had the night free. The past 6ish months hasn't really given me a "must see" PPV (at least for me), but now that the rash of injuries is past we should get some better PPV's.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I don't get the complaint of not enough free UFC on TV or enough name fighters.

In the past year, here are some of the guys that appeared on free cards:

Koscheck, Thiago, Hardy, Maia, Sonnen, Marquardt, Sanchez, Stevenson, Miller, Griffin, Diaz, Guida, Maynard, Couture, Vera, Swick, Bisping, Edgar, Kimbo, and Jones.

In March alone we have Jones, Vera, Dos Santos, Gonzaga, Kongo, Johnson, Florian, Gomi, Nelson, Struve, and Quarry fighting on free cards.

And once the UFC gets on Network TV, you will likely see Lesnar or GSP on the card.

[aholbert32]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I don't get the complaint of not enough free UFC on TV or enough name fighters.

In the past year, here are some of the guys that appeared on free cards:

Koscheck, Thiago, Hardy, Maia, Sonnen, Marquardt, Sanchez, Stevenson, Miller, Griffin, Diaz, Guida, Maynard, Couture, Vera, Swick, Bisping, Edgar, Kimbo, and Jones.

In March alone we have Jones, Vera, Dos Santos, Gonzaga, Kongo, Johnson, Florian, Gomi, Nelson, Struve, and Quarry fighting on free cards.

And once the UFC gets on Network TV, you will likely see Lesnar or GSP on the card.

I also dont think people understand the business. Free TV cards dont make as much money as PPV cards do because networks arent willing to pay to dollar for MMA event. The only reason Strikeforce is having cards on CBS is because Showtime (owned by Viacom which owns CBS) part owns Strikeforce and they are willing to take a loss to help the league grow. The UFC doesnt need to do that.

[allBthere]

Re: Popularity of MMA

I also dont think people understand the business. Free TV cards dont make as much money as PPV cards do because networks arent willing to pay to dollar for MMA event. The only reason Strikeforce is having cards on CBS is because Showtime (owned by Viacom which owns CBS) part owns Strikeforce and they are willing to take a loss to help the league grow. The UFC doesnt need to do that.

and maybe I'm weird, but I like the ppv's. I like knowing that pretty much every month without fail I will get a medium to huge ppv UFC event. The money to me isn't really an issue because you can either go to a bar or buy it...and most people spend a lot of money on a lot less worthy things or simply waste their money ...so.

The free events are nice treats that are sprikled in. The PPV's have the epic feel to them, they become true 'events' and they are easy to get excited about.

Free TV or network could hurt it a bit imo. You would get events that are as long with not nearly as many names in a given event.

I think UFC PPV's are the best thing going in television entertainment.

Every month I know there is going to be a PPV with lots of fights and usually lots of good/big name ones and I'm more than happy to actually plan for that. If it was weekly with lets fights per card for example I'd miss a ton of it and it wouldn't be as special or exciting.