It's popular amongst young males, but realistically that is only a small segment of the population. How many middle aged people are into UFC? I look at the UFC audience as an extension of the WWF one. They grow up watching it, love it but as they get older want something real where they immediately fall into the UFC demographic. Mostly suburban males with satellite TV, and access to PPV. The production values are identical - flashing lights, heavy metal, and sweaty men with big muscles rolling around with each other. I don't have a problem with MMA by the way, I think they are very good at what they do.
As I say, watched the early VHS when I was just starting senior school, and used to smoke copious amounts of skunk round the estate watching Eurosport, Pride and K-1 :yep Got really into it about a year or so ago. EDIT: Nah it'll be longer tha that now, since just before GSP-BJ II.
That's fair enough but I didn't post the thread in here ;-) I like a lot of combat sports, even if boxing is my 'favourite', that's all :good
MMA's not just a fudge-packer fest (very homo) its serious athletes (apart from Roy 'Big Country' Nelson) pitting thier wits and chosen discipline against opponents with the same or different skill sets. To see how its evolved when it first started out the 2 big stars were probably Dan Severn a distinguished wreslter and Brazilian Ju-Jitsu God Royce Gracie, both would struggle in todays form of MMA as they would be too 1-dimensional. Look back through boxing history and the Ali's, Louis', Robinsons' etcetc would hold thier own and some. UFC and MMA are getting it right and boxing needs to learn from it. Christ even Bob Arum and FW has accepted as much. To say MMA is just rolling around the ground in your Calvin Kleins is like when MMA fans say a) boxing is just 1 element of MMA (errr it aint Striking is, MMA fighters dont 'box' or their leg would be kicked to ****) and b) You only have to worry about hands in boxing (so footwork, styles and all other variables have nothing to do with it maybe i'll lace em up its that easy) Dont be naive check it out, if it isnt for you fair do's but most people who slate MMA have seen a couple of mins of a **** fight and assume thats what its all about And yea to OP 5 did replay of events but I'm sure no live UFC shows have been on the freebie channels
you could throw vitor belfort, anderson silva and GSP in there too although none come close to manny in terms of success and symbolism, if manny wasnt around MMA would quite literally be shitting on boxing across the pond
I like both...but probably not wise to talk UFC on a boxing forum. Boxings purists find it hard to appreciate any combat sport outside of boxing. :good
Scarily not far off. GSP is HUGE in canada, 50000+ people turned up for the Shields fight althought relatively a potential GSP-Silva superfight probably isnt as big as Manny-Floyd would be. 1st generation of guys like Couture and Liddell have big following too and theres young stars already in Jon Jones, Jose Aldo and Velazquez is the right side of 30. Key is the UFC, especially after buying strikeforce and Japan losing interest in the sport since Pride diminished have the potential to make the massive fights that fans want to see without hinderances of protected records, corrupt organisations and greedy promoters/fighters. You dont wanna fight your teammate for the title? Stay midcard then
Iv always watched some mma, Ie the old UFCs and PRIDE but since 2006 iv rarely missed seeing an event. The UFC has exploded and taken over the mma landscape putting on more events than ever and consistently selling more PPVs than boxing. The thing I like about UFC cards is they usually have a bit of depth as theres usually 3-4 fights on the card that your looking forward to watching. Boxing is usually a main event and not alot else.