Why is MMA more popular (*in the US) than boxing?

First of all boxing is my favorite sport ever so I don't wanna seem like a pure mma lover....but ne ways it's not bigger ten boxing and it will never be..second mma is a great sport and it very exciting and a pleasure to watch not boring at all..you just problably just have trouble appreciating it cause u don't understand all the skill and awareness needed in this sport..mma fighter in the grand scheme of things are the most danderous dudes in the world..maybe you should take part in some mma sparring in your gym and get the love for it..

 

Just go to an MMA class and see when someone takes you down how not simple it is. It might be boring but there's a lot more to it than might appear.

 

Cuz the younger generations appears to like it more. I don't think it's more popular than boxing but the younger generation do like to watch it more.

 

It takes more intelligence to appreciate boxing.

 

As a fan of all combat sports, sometimes it takes no intelligence at all to appreciate combat sports in general. Some people are drawn purely to the violence, or are fans of certain fighters based almost entirely on their nationality, or relation.

A deeper appreciation required an understanding of what is really going on in the ring, or cage, as you get to appreciate and recognize the skill, natural ability, talent etc.

Just as there are nuances in boxing, there are just as many, if not more nuances in other combat sports, be it a bjj match, judo match, or MMA match. That you do not appreciate a certain type of combat sport, once you are into one, may have to do with personal taste, but I think in most cases it has to do with ignorance (I mean lack of understanding when I use the word ignorance).. Not intelligence.

 

Because you don't understand the science behind it. It does look gay but if implemented on you then you would not have a ****ing clue what to do about it.

I had 2 mates who were not interested in it until I went through full guard, open guard, half guard, butterfly, single leg take down, double leg take down, submissions etc Now they like watching MMA. They aren't in love with it but you never know.

 

it is not more popular, there is 5 times the amount of boxing on cable tv than MMA, in the USA, you have, HBO,Showtime,ESPN,Fox sports net,Telefura,Telemundo, HBO PPV as well and you other independ PPV show as well like that top rank does like Latin fury

What does MMA have UFC 16 PPV shows a year and couple of UFC shows on versus and the other couple of show a year with the other org UFC has for fighters below 155, and showtime strikeforce which has about 10 shows a year and a couple on CBS and a tv show on spike. does spike TV even do free UFC shows anymore or only replays of there PPV's, there would 5 times the amount of shows on TV than MMA,

People stop believing Dana White and the **** that comes out of this idiots mouth

 

Yep gotta agree, even before getting to your response i thought the subject matter was misleading........... boxing is still a long way in front.

 

I personally love boxing and always have. But the problem is. boxing for many people particularly young fans who don't have a lot of cash, is that it has become the invisible sport.

Boxing has been taken away from young people. And it is now the preserve of all the well off older people who can afford the PPV the satellite whatever.

I've got to be careful what I say here, but let's just say certain things are more available than others, and things that young people like seem to be more available hence the spread and popularity.

 

If that statement is correct,boxing has know one to blame but itself.They have had a couple hundred years head start.:deal

 

Just because you find something horrible to watch doesn't mean others have to concur.
I find football, Nascar, and baseball as boring as **** and can't understand why anyone would watch them. But many, many people do.
I don't feel the need to bash other sports just because I don't like them.
When a hardcore MMA fan says he dislikes boxing, I tell him the exact same thing.

And I don't agree MMA is necessarily more popular. When boxing has a really big fight, with superstar names, it draws the bigger audiences. MMA (or realistically UFC), has more consistency in the way it delivers it's product and has carved out a very specific niche.

 

What is undeniable, however, is that the UFC is way more ingrained in the conciousness of the youth, and casual sports fan right now.

One good test is to bring up fighting next time your with a chick...since they have no idea generally about sports...I bet u will find that they go to bars to watch UFC PPV's and could probably name at least three fighters.

Bring up boxing, you will get a blank stare. This is true for most guys under the age of 25 that i come across as well, unfortunately.

 

This is the truth in my experience. Whilst some people may have a group of friends that are into boxing, most of them would probably not be suprised if I told them that Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson were fighting a rubber match for the 'world title' next week. They wouldn't have a clue. Where as with MMA, I know quite a few people that are into it, some who you would not expect e.g. petit girls that look like they would scream if a fight broke out.

As a fan of boxing, I feel a little defensive when our sport it critised, but let's be honest - boxing is simply not mainstream anymore. If everything that matters is on PPV, and is in second place with the youth, it's only a matter of time before it loses yet more ground.

Yes, boxing may be able to generate the most money and the biggest fights at the moment, but that is the nature of the game - it is not effectively a monopoly like the UFC (which I appreciate is not all of MMA). Boxing is a like a free-market economy in comparison to the guiding hand used to control the UFC, so it is bound to be somewhat more lucrative at the top end.

If people think that MMA is going to go away, or is just a fad, then I think they are setting themselves up for dissapointment. I think the inevitable progression of MMA is that when the sport is well established, has developed its own rich history, I think the number of fighters will increase and so will the standard of the events. Eventually competitors to the UFC will gain ground and the sport will become fragmented like boxing (with governing bodies being the equivalent) and the top events will generate more money but be more expensive to watch. It's probably just going to end up being exactly like boxing...

 

Fewer weight classes
Fewer champoins
Less Ducking

Its what boxing use to be.