Was at the pub on Sunday (no, really) watching Vics fight and had the chance to catch up with a few guys from the forums and the local scene. A good time was had by all, and we stayed on to watch the replay of Gonzales-Sorjaturong when the feed suddenly died out after the third round. So we sat there a bit annoyed when I noticed the UFC was on live on one of the smaller teles. Why not put it on the big screen I thought? I went up to the manager who I knew through my previous "promotional" work and was stunned by the response. Before I continue, yes I know, the UFC has sold out a live date in Australia within hours. Well done. Anyway, their response was a flat no. Verbatim, heres how the conversation went. "Why not, you're only showing a local ODI match which no-ones watching yet theres 10-15 people here that want to watch UFC (Bare in mind as much as I appreciate UFC, I'm not a fan.) "No, we have instructions not to show it." "But its on MainEvent which means you paid for it" "We can't put it on the big screen" "Well how about one of the normal screens" (was presently showing half screen sharing a tv with TAB dividends) "The owner has ordered us not to show it, as we don't want the crowd it brings" Finally I talked them into putting it on a normal size screen in the back corner where maybe 6-8 people settled in to watch, including a couple of girls who seemed to have come especially for the BJ Penn fight. Conclusion: UFC may be winning the home market but there is a long way way to go on the pub market. Have heard from some other places similar tales. One thing I've always maintained about UFC, the scariest part of it is the crowds it brings. Booing a fight 30 seconds in doesn't sit well with me. Be interested to hear other peoples experiences.
10 seconds of punching then the rest of the round rolling around on the floor looking like they are trying to **** each other! I'm sure its a tough sport, it seems brutal at times but I just cant get into it.
I started watching last year now im hooked, love the sport. My workmate wants me to go with him to the show in Sydney next year and am thinking about it. Its a fast growing sport and clubs are popping up everywhere around the country
Hmm... Its a tough sport to watch.. Very dramatic and painful.. most action does last the obligatory 10 seconds just as ESB's new victum has testified. Perhaps it resembles a raw pub brawl to drunken eyes that Bar Managers might worry about?? JM... I hope you've paid attention to the last few months of safe viewing.. lol.. Just remember, we might all seem pretty friendly at first... lol A home truth, I met Phil Austin one night (TRUE) and I went home with vomit on my shoes.
No, there is no money in it, the sport is called MMA, UFC is a promotion company, they make Don King look like a school boy, forget about with this sell out there show, there selling a event, 90% of people will not have a clue who is fighting, they just won't to see blood. it is new and bad, unlike boxing which has been around for years, The fans need match with good fighters, just boxing at this date will not cut the the mustard, this what mainly the UFC has had in the last 3 years in the USA, but it is starting to change, people won't match up now if there going to hand over there money for these PPV event, just saying UFC and some number doesn't get it done all UFC PPV number are down in since UFC 100 because the card are not that good and people are not just going to buy it because dana white said it is the best thing of all time, the fan has become more educated about the sport. it will be the same in OZ to start of with it is an event, new and shiney, but in time the fans won't a good product or they will go else where.
Leon probably knows that I'm a huge fan of the sport and I pay for every UFC PPV for two reasons. First, 9/10 of the cards are quality cards with a handful of really good fights and you get your moneys worth. Secondly, like Leon said, the crowd that watches these events at a pub can be a bit off putting to say the least. The last time I went to a pub to watch it there was the usual 10 or so guys really into the fighting and then a few of the regulars walked in and the conversation went like this: Regular Drunk: Get off the floor and go toe to toe you pussies! MMA Fan Drunk: Shut the f**k up c**t! The two got into a fight and it turned out the MMA fan also trained a bit and got the better of the fight before it was broken up. The drunk dude came back with a few of his mates and I decided that watching I wasn't going to be watching Liddell vs Rampage there. To top a wonderful day off, I get home and someone has left me an message on MSN telling me who won the fight before I could download it. Fun times!
Thats basically my point, it does pull a different crowd than boxing. I've been to a few packed houses the last few years and theres been no hint of trouble, even with both fighters vocally supported. One guys loses, everyone moves on and its all good. The impression of the UFC fan has to change before the venues give it more support. Maybe ban the Affliction & Tap Out T shirts and have a limit of one barb wire tattoo per person and you might start making some headway.
Yepp good enough reason for me too For the Green card im not sure which shirt to wear?? Should i wear the Bernard Hopkins Executioner Affliction shirt or Raging Bull Team Darchinyan shirt (especially if Vic is on the undercard)??
MSN message to AFF... "Unbelievable, Green just KO'd B.Hop in round 7.. the pubs going bananas" Now you dont need to worry about Green vs B.Hop.
youve also raised the subject that pubs are a **** place to watch sport. places that put on a front to look like a sports bar, then you go up to the *** wearing a pink shirt and sweat band at the bar, or dumb euro-asian bar girl to change it from fashion channel, to the footy.. they dont know what the **** you're talking about. its impossible.
Not necessarily. Where I watch the boxing its a permanent fixture every card, whether that means 3 people show up or 500+, and I've been a part of both. They also ran UFC the day Mayweather fought Marquez. I checked the people watching UFC, at its peak around 6 vs 400+ for the boxing. And that is my argument, wgile they are killing the home market, they have a long way to go in the pub/club stakes.
