The direction of MMA

[Mr. IWS]

This thread really turned into a UFC bashing thread. I'm going to give the contrary opinion here and say that I like having more fight cards. The more the better- one UFC card per week is great even if it has a lot of debuting fighters and international fighters. More opportunities to wager the better. Plus of course we get another few televised or online broadcast cards each week with all the other promotions like Bellator, the WSOF, and several others both domestic and international. I don't know how you guys can call that a monopoly, especially compared to the situation with every other major sport league. How much competition does the NFL, NBA, MLB, the NHL have at this point in history?

I agree that there are some things that can be done better from paying fighters more, especially on the low end and taking an initiative to get better judging.

There are other things some of you guys are complaining about that I really don't see the issue. Why would the UFC stop the expansion of the TUF reality show into multiple international formats? It serves a function, spreads the UFC brand into other countries, fills slots on their online platform and Fox's multiple tv channels, it makes money and entertains people. Do you think they're going to do away with it just because some cynical fans are bored of it?

Jim, im curious. How long have you been watching MMA?

[MMA_scientist]

Ill always love the sport, but its just not the same for me. Its lost its luster with me and im not sure It will ever be the same. I know I talk shit on the women and small guys, but I do watch the fights and I dont mind them but when it was just the 5 weight classes, the cards were stacked and spread out every 6 week or so, the UFC was just magic for Me then. .

This is pretty much how I feel. I still like MMA, I still watch it, I still train. But back in like 2009, every UFC was an event, I would get together with ma boyz and eat some wings and bet on the fights and it was great. Occasionally I would hang out around here and chill with you losers, and it was still awesome because every fight was a decent matchup and we knew all the fighters. If you wanted to watch some random MMA with no real significance, there was HDNet fights on Fridays, or SF contenders or whatever, to fill in that gap. If you wanted to watch some fixed fights with pro wrestling promo and lose all your money on Sokodjou, you could watch Japanese MMA

[Luke]

This is pretty much how I feel. I still like MMA, I still watch it, I still train. But back in like 2009, every UFC was an event, I would get together with ma boyz and eat some wings and bet on the fights and it was great. Occasionally I would hang out around here and chill with you losers, and it was still awesome because every fight was a decent matchup and we knew all the fighters. If you wanted to watch some random MMA with no real significance, there was HDNet fights on Fridays, or SF contenders or whatever, to fill in that gap. If you wanted to watch some fixed fights with pro wrestling promo and lose all your money on Sokodjou, you could watch Japanese MMA

+1

The cards use to be special, or stacked . Now they are just meh.

Robert Whitaker-Stephen Thompson and Mike Pyle-TJ Waldburger were just on the main card of a PPV..........nuff said

[Luke]

This thread really turned into a UFC bashing thread. I'm going to give the contrary opinion here and say that I like having more fight cards. The more the better- one UFC card per week is great even if it has a lot of debuting fighters and international fighters. More opportunities to wager the better. Plus of course we get another few televised or online broadcast cards each week with all the other promotions like Bellator, the WSOF, and several others both domestic and international. I don't know how you guys can call that a monopoly, especially compared to the situation with every other major sport league. How much competition does the NFL, NBA, MLB, the NHL have at this point in history?

I agree that there are some things that can be done better from paying fighters more, especially on the low end and taking an initiative to get better judging.

There are other things some of you guys are complaining about that I really don't see the issue. Why would the UFC stop the expansion of the TUF reality show into multiple international formats? It serves a function, spreads the UFC brand into other countries, fills slots on their online platform and Fox's multiple tv channels, it makes money and entertains people. Do you think they're going to do away with it just because some cynical fans are bored of it?

.................................................. .....

[Luke]

Add the UFCs ranking system to the list of things that are a joke. Before the Maia-Rory fight Maia was ranked #6 and Jake Shields was ranked #7.....even though Shields just beat Maia

[edman5555]

I get how you guys feel about the cards not meaning much anymore. I think that is a combination of over saturation and the UFC just getting old. We've seen so many fights that I think that has to happen eventually. I do still get excited for some matchups. I can't wait to see Belfort versus Weidman.

There is one positive with all these cards. More betting opportunities if you want to make some money. I've been trying to take it seriously this year and I've won six nights in a row. I'd like to keep that going.

[Mr. IWS]

Maybe we are just have that old school mentality and we were comfortable the way the sport was, but the way it is growing now appeals to the younger generation and We obviously dont like it.

[MMA_scientist]

Maybe we are just have that old school mentality and we were comfortable the way the sport was, but the way it is growing now appeals to the younger generation and We obviously dont like it.

Nah, I am happy with change if it is good. I watched MMA even through the pre-zuffa dark ages. I was happy when things improved from 2005 on up until a couple years ago and then we started the decline.

[edman5555]

I will say i agree with others when they say it lost some luster after they cut fitch and okami. Ive always considered it a business and everything that comes with that but to me that was a day the ufc couldnt call itself a sport like the nfl or mlb. Fitch has lost some relevance but okami is still a top guy. Well fuck it, fitch beat erick silva and hes still a top guy so count fitch in the mix.

[MMA_scientist]

I will say i agree with others when they say it lost some luster after they cut fitch and okami. Ive always considered it a business and everything that comes with that but to me that was a day the ufc couldnt call itself a sport like the nfl or mlb. Fitch has lost some relevance but okami is still a top guy. Well fuck it, fitch beat erick silva and hes still a top guy so count fitch in the mix.

Worse to me is the refusal to sign a top WW like Askren or Cyborg. Cyborg is the #1 WMMA in the world. Askren is top 10 for sure. It may be that they are making ridiculous demands, but I it really seems like they just don't want to sign them because they don't like the style of Askren, and they don't want to loose the golden goose (gander) by having Cyborg dethrone Rhonda. It makes is worse when Dana goes around saying he won't sign Cyborg because of PEDS, when half the guys on the roster have been busted.

[Luke]

I don't even care about 90% of the bs. Don't watch TUF, never have.

The only thing I care about is the cards.......and they keep getting worse and worse.

[edman5555]

Worse to me is the refusal to sign a top WW like Askren or Cyborg. Cyborg is the #1 WMMA in the world. Askren is top 10 for sure. It may be that they are making ridiculous demands, but I it really seems like they just don't want to sign them because they don't like the style of Askren, and they don't want to loose the golden goose (gander) by having Cyborg dethrone Rhonda. It makes is worse when Dana goes around saying he won't sign Cyborg because of PEDS, when half the guys on the roster have been busted.

Agreed on the cyborg situation. Ronda is a huge star and cyborg would probably tko her. I bet they fight someday but it will be at least a year. Dana will milk ronda for all he can and give her some time to develope. Only when the cyborg fight is really being clamored for will he let it happen. You almost cant blame him from a business standpoint.

[JimGunn]

Jim, im curious. How long have you been watching MMA?

I had seen a couple of the early UFCs on VHS back in the 1990s and was aware of the Gracies and the UFC ever since then, but I used to travel a lot and not watch much tv so I didn't really give it much thought again until 2005 with the first season of TUF. Ever since then I started watching every UFC card, Strikeforce card, the old WEC, Elite XC and all the other promotions that were on tv.

[Mr. IWS]

I had seen a couple of the early UFCs on VHS back in the 1990s and was aware of the Gracies and the UFC ever since then, but I used to travel a lot and not watch much tv so I didn't really give it much thought again until 2005 with the first season of TUF. Ever since then I started watching every UFC card, Strikeforce card, the old WEC, Elite XC and all the other promotions that were on tv.

[Mr. IWS]

Don't watch TUF, never have.

Im not much of a TUF watcher myself. I check it out from time to time when Im bored, but the only season I ever watched every week was the one with Kimbo.

I saw season one off an on, but didnt watch it from beginning to end until a year or two later.