All time low interest point - Anyone else?

[gosuasus]

I'm a late millennial and I've been involved in this sport for over 20 years, since early Pride days and K1. Seen so much wild shit that I cannot be surprised by anything. Every fight I watch these days I'm fucking cynical over, because nothing impresses anymore. Apart from Max Holloway, I haven't grown a sympathy over any new fighters either. I still root for those older action fighters like Tim Means, Jim Miller, Matt Brown, Dustin Poirier who are soon to be gone. And when I discuss MMA with people around me who have also been watching for a long time, our conversations always circle back to the bygone eras—whether it's Pride, Zuffa UFC, or even the legendary NHB era.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Long time UFC consumers and long time BMW consumers have similar complaints about their respective product. Few will understand.

Sure the tech is better and the cars are faster now. But the QUALITY, the tuning, the feel and the LOOK were just better.

A lot of it is likely Rose tinted nostalgia too though. I don't recall armies of people being fans of Forrest Petz, Daniel Roberts, Ricardo Funch, Claude Patrick, Matt Riddle, Charlie Brenneman, Rich Attonito or any of the other parade of average guys that were around 15 years ago.

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

A lot of it is likely Rose tinted nostalgia too though. I don't recall armies of people being fans of Forrest Petz, Daniel Roberts, Ricardo Funch, Claude Patrick, Matt Riddle, Charlie Brenneman, Rich Attonito or any of the other parade of average guys that were around 15 years ago.

Yea those are totally the representatives of that era that mma fans remember

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Yea those are totally the representatives of that era that mma fans remember

They're an example of fans remembering the fun fighters and characters and forgetting about guys that aren't. In another 10 years from now people will talk about memorable fighters of this era and complain about the average ones of that time.

 

[Iroh]

Ehh.. reading the OP just made me think we have it pretty good. The problem is just all the excessive cards that are just filler in the yearly schedule.

 

[Ludwig von Mises]

They're an example of fans remembering the fun fighters and characters and forgetting about guys that aren't. In another 10 years from now people will talk about memorable fighters of this era and complain about the average ones of that time.

 

[Brendan The Hybrid Schaub]

these contractually obligated apex warehouse cards have to go, I can't see derrick lewis vs fat and anthony smith versus roidman brazilian for a main event again

 

[Senbonzakura]

I'm gonna guess mid 30s and over on average.

Yeah most fans I come across started their journey in the early FOX days from (JDS/Cain 1) and more considerably the FX/fuel tv era when McGregor was making his rise up the ranks.

I myself am 34 but started out with the early UFC's and Pride events. I remember the first fight I ever saw my brother popped in a VHS of UFC 3 and it was Keith Hackney vs Emmanuel Yarborough. One of those david vs Goliath matchups.
I was hooked as a kid lol

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Any advance on an emoji?

 

[Senbonzakura]

A lot of it is likely Rose tinted nostalgia too though. I don't recall armies of people being fans of Forrest Petz, Daniel Roberts, Ricardo Funch, Claude Patrick, Matt Riddle, Charlie Brenneman, Rich Attonito or any of the other parade of average guys that were around 15 years ago.

The fact I remember these mid card fighters so vividly in my head over the hundreds on the roster now is a reason why the product struggles for me now.
I think it all has to do with the size of the roster and commitment to dates. If they scaled back and focused on a roster half the size we could see familiar faces more often and build a relationship more.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

The fact I remember these mid card fighters so vividly in my head over the hundreds on the roster now is a reason why the product struggles for me now.
I think it all has to do with the size of the roster and commitment to dates. If they scaled back and focused on a roster half the size we could see familiar faces more often and build a relationship more.

I think it just varies depending on your interest level at the time. Possibly because I gamble on the sport but I know all these fuckers because I watch every card. If people don't watch every card then of course people they haven't seen before are going to pop up.

 

[CasualBot]

High school 25 years ago? Holy shit. What's the average age of a sherbro?

High school was 25 years ago.

 

[Adamant]

UFC chose to push the brand over making individual stars. There are stars, but it's not like it used to be way back in the days of Chuck, Tito, Couture, Hughes, GSP, etc. where those guys were pushed hard as superstars.

 

[blaseblase]

Sounds like you're just growing out of the sport.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Any advance on an emoji?

Looks like you made a valid point.

 

[Aurelian]

A lot of it is likely Rose tinted nostalgia too though. I don't recall armies of people being fans of Forrest Petz, Daniel Roberts, Ricardo Funch, Claude Patrick, Matt Riddle, Charlie Brenneman, Rich Attonito or any of the other parade of average guys that were around 15 years ago.

This is exactly it. People just get older and always think things used to be better back in "their time".

As far as the divisional quality, there's always been fluctuations in talent. LHW and HW could be awesome in 5 years. MMA is more accessible now than it's ever been and there's like 3 cards a month. That's just UFC.

 

[Superior]

I’m in a very similar spot and I agree, I still watch all the events but now i mostly fast forward to the fights i care about which are getting more and more few apart.

For me its the lack och unique fighters and personalities, its all so bland and vanilla.

 

[Aurelian]

Looks like you made a valid point.

Imagine thinking you're being masculine while using emoji's like a 10 year old girl.

 

[CroCopsLHK]

I think for the most part life gets in the way

Saturday night is prime time for a lot of us and we all can't make it to that party on time. There will always be fights though

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

My interest level peaked around 2008-2011 and its never really been the same since. The closest was that 12 months or so from Ronda/Holly to Ronda/Nunes where we had multiple Conor fights and UFC 200. 2019 with Jorge becoming a massive star out of nowhere and Izzy and Usman reaching main eventer status was pretty good too.

Right now its a bit of a dead period i'd say. Poatan is cool though.