Rugby doesn't attract much talent. They are low paid bums mostly. MMA 'fighters' are not low paid because of the Ali Act or due to monopolistic practices of the UFC. They are paid according to what they are worth, which isn't much. I'll give Dana White credit for the marketing machine behind the UFC though, they've convinced millions their sport is a real one.
Rugby has some of the best athletes on the planet, and a talent pool thats VASTLY larger than boxings in spite of pay. Its in the school systems etc. Fury, AJ, Joyce, Whyte etc are supposed to be some of the best HWs yet theres as many HW sized athletes on a single rugby team as there are active pro HW boxers in the UK. Theres literally a position in rugby for people of Furys size. For all this attempting to flex about pay, boxings talent pool is actually pretty tiny. The difference in size between MMA and boxings talent pool is miniscule compared to the gap between boxing and major ball sports. So either they're both "real sports" or neither are. Again, if MMA fighters are not worth much what does it say about boxers that they'd struggle to make it out of the first round against them? what does it say that these MMA fighters are often bigger stars than the boxers who get paid more? how does Triller and BKFC giving washed up MMA fighters who cant cut it in the UFC anymore career high paydays factor into your pay = legitimacy argument? Basically, you, like a lot of boxing fans, are just struggling to come to terms with boxing going from being the only game in town to losing a lot of the spotlight to another combat sport, one that lets face it is superior in many ways. Simple as that.
LOL @ this too. So they're not even fighters now even though they compete under a ruleset that is much more like an actual fight than boxing. Got it. Why are you even in the MMA section if you have such a low opinion of it?
Rugby athletes are not anywhere near the level of athlete in soccer, baseball, football or basketball and and is reflected in their low pay. You don't seem to understand the role that money plays in attracting talent. If MMA wants to be considered a real top level sport their salaries have to reflect the money in top level sports. Simple as that
Hahaha so you're telling me you think a baseball player can run faster, jump higher, lift heavier and has better conditioning than a rugby player? You're telling me Lionel Messi would be the best athlete on the New Zealand All Blacks? And yet, as we've already established, boxing has a tiny talent pool even compared to a lot of sports that pay much less. You're conveniently ignoring that I pointed that out for you. You're also conveniently ignoring what I said about Triller, BKFC etc giving career high pay days to 40 year old MMA fighters who have been cut from the UFC. So by your logic, does BKFC have a higher level of talent than the UFC? And again, as I said a few posts back...how exactly are you quantifying the level of skill or athleticism in MMA? Volkanowski is unskilled compared to what? Izzy is unathletic compared to who?
I was gonna say if you want an answer to why MMA has gotten popular just look at that card just now.....and then the ****ing main event ended early with an injury. Incredible card before that though. I'm a football fan too so I am aware. Its hardly some unseen new level of speed compared to what you will see in the speed positions of rugby though. I reckon someone like Jason Robinson was probably faster than both, and Carlin Isles definitely is, by a lot.
UFC is gaining major popularity because fighters will walk into the octagon with the flag of their home country.
Because of several reasons: 1. The best fighters are actually fighting the best fighters and so we're getting the BEST fights while in boxing you have all that crap and BS with guys avoiding each other for years. 2. The UFC has signed some really interesting characters recently like Paddy or Chimaev and even casuals following their careers. 3. The UFC is really doing a lot of social media stuff while boxing clearly lacks that part. Compare UFC social media with some promoters social media. Levels. 4. The whole product is just a lot more entertaining than dry boxing. I mean look at the events. It's basically a PARTY. If you attend a boxing event look at the first few rows outside the ring. Joke compared to the UFC. 5. You'll see a lot more highlight reel KO's in the UFC with spinning stuff, crazy submissions or insane shots with small gloves. The fights are also shorter and it's more action packed. 6. MMA is growing as a sports overall while boxing is declining. UFC / MMA > Boxing
Yes, it is true even though it is the most popular, and fastest-growing, sports organization in the world. Whoever is a fan of MMA, BJJ, boxing and any other kind of martial arts must know about the UFC. Because UFC is the largest platform that organizes the best and largest fights all over the world.
Being a new and attractive sport, surely quickly gained popularity. But if there's one major MMA organization it can be tricky and lead to a decline. I don't find UFC that attractive as like few years back, not even the fighters. But to the topic why UFC is gaining popularity, saying it shortly (and repeat myself): because the MMA is a new way of fighting (not calling it a sport not because it isn't, but because the rules may vary and we can't call it the same sport in such case, but similar) and because now UFC is the most attractive organization for. But I think it's about to face a lot of problems because of the salaries and this can lead to lower lever fighters overall.
