Convoversial - but interesting gate figures and they make some good points: Why Mixed Martial Arts has superseded Boxing in Australia At the post-fight press conference for UFC 127 on Sunday afternoon, UFC Marketing Director of International Development, Marshall Zelaznik announced the events attendance as 18,186 fans for a 3.5 million dollar gate. The event held at Sydneys Acer Arena sold out in just half an hour while last years UFC 110 sold out in two hours for an attendance of 17,831 and a gate of 2.5 million dollars. The Australian media and public primarily focus on Anthony Mundine when it comes to boxing, who repays the notoriety by headlining shoddy cards against no-hopers. Australian boxing finally jumped in December of last year when one of Mundines handpicked opponents, ex-Rugby League player and the winner of Australias Contender series, Garth Wood knocked Mundine out in an ugly bout. for more....http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/03/0...d-boxing-as-australias-premiere-combat-sport/
The recent Donaire-Montiel fight could only draw 4800. The St Pierre-Shields UFC card in Canada in April sold out a 55,000 stadium in 30 minutes or so.
The same can be said regarding any Klitschko fight in Europe drawing 50,000 + nearly every single bout, or the 2 Pacman fights doing near 50,000 in Texas.
MMA will never have a mainstream superstar like: Ali SRR Tyson ODLH Pacman The sport is still considered barbaric and it's likely to stay that way in the eyes of the majority of the general public..... I personally don't mind the sport and watch it.
You can't say that as the sport is only approx 20 yrs old. Who really knows how sports will progress in the next 50 to 100 yrs.
Kicboxing came and went and came back again. Boxing came and went and came back again. MMA will do the same.Its the way it goes. Sometimes some watch a sport just for a particular fighter and when they retire some lose interest. MMA is a good sport and so is boxing,there is plenty of dollars for all but when the UFC monopoly subsides it will be better. Arum and King will swallow their pride and work together but Golden Boy have openly expressed wanting a monopoly on Boxing after seeing the UFC strategy.That is not a good thing and should be opposed. A sport as young as MMA cannot produce a true Heavyweight title at the moment because UFC want it signed 100% in their favour. Dont judge either sport just from the U.S market either.The last time I checked we lived on a round planet. remember Euros are worth more than $USD.
I personally think the emergence of MMA is a good thing. More than likely heads will roll at HBO and the new guys will attempt to put on better shows... I'm pretty sure the first thing they'd do is put together Arum and DLH and explain that the need to work together for the best interests of the sport. As I've stated, I don't mind MMA. I enjoy plenty of the fighters and their personalities. But give me 12 rounds over 5 rounds any day. If they ever do manage to put together Pacquiao v Mayweather, it'll do numbers PPV numbers that Dana White will envy.
That's **** all Frankie we get one of the local kids to box a decent Dane and that puts 50,000 + arses on seats no probs .
I personally think UFC/MMA has just about peaked, if i was a share holder of the UFC i'd be looking to cash out in the next year or so because it will have a down period shortly with over saturation..... believe me it will happen just like the share market has it's up and downs ala the tech booms, the dot coms booms etc etc It will then be a question of whether it can pick itself up off the canvass.
Agreed boom and bust cycles apply to most things Beaver, but IMO UFC hasn't peaked yet, and the inevitable bust is a long way off.
Not so sure, I still think it has a year or so to go but i did hear the arabs did offer over a billion dollars recently to UFC, now that's crazy money in anyones language.
Shows confidence from both parties that UFC will continue to ride the wave its currently on - the Arabs for offering the $$$ and the current custodians for knocking it back.