Media Are these the best fight posters of all time?

[BJJ4Tone]

This ones pretty good too

 

[BJJ4Tone]

I did always really like this one.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

If the UFC made a mistake when they bought PRIDE (they made plenty, but...), it was not keeping the PRIDE promotional team on the payroll. UFC event posters are basically always fucking terrible, they have like 3 variations they just reuse, swap out different heads staring at each other, whatever.

Japan has always been the class when it comes to this. DREAM and RIZIN both also did and do make superior event posters, kinda effortlessly.

 

[InThySight]

If the UFC made a mistake when they bought PRIDE (they made plenty, but...), it was not keeping the PRIDE promotional team on the payroll. UFC event posters are basically always fucking terrible, they have like 3 variations they just reuse, swap out different heads staring at at other, whatever.

Japan has always been the class when it comes to this. DREAM and RIZIN both also did and do make superior event posters, kinda effortlessly.

However, while being, from an objective perspective, clearly superior, would it have worked in the American market? When I think about it, then probably so, but also that the rewards probably wouldn't be worth the effort. I genuinely despise the presentation of the UFC, but also grudgingly admit that Dana is competent and probably had the right idea.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

However, while being, from an objective perspective, clearly superior, would it have worked in the American market? When I think about it, then probably so, but also that the rewards probably wouldn't be worth the effort. I genuinely despise the presentation of the UFC, but also grudgingly admit that Dana is competent and probably had the right idea.

It's a sharp philosophical difference. The UFC is mostly to the point, they're marketing the main (sometimes co-main) events, usually with loud, eye catching color schemes, and with focus on the faces of the fighters. PRIDE and DREAM would at times not even have a fighter on the poster at all, they'd use an eye catching scene that makes you wonder and think and ask questions, using intrigue to draw you in. A lot of thought put into the scene.

I think it probably would have worked. Granted, we are the true fans here and most of us with it back in the 00s loved PRIDE anyway, but this thread is made once or twice a year and the concensus is always the same, that PRIDE was the GOAT when it came to this. Whether that translates to Average Joe "Fan," idk, but maybe. Most of us here are westerners, and we seem to like them well enough.

RIZIN's are different philosophically even from PRIDE and DREAM. They throw damn near every fighter on the card on their stuff, they let you know exactly what to expect. They're not as artistically sound as their ancestors, but they're still pretty cool.

 

[InThySight]

It's a sharp philosophical difference. The UFC is mostly to the point, they're marketing the main (sometimes co-main) events, usually with loud, eye catching color schemes, and with focus on the faces of the fighters. PRIDE and DREAM would at times not even have a fighter on the poster at all, they'd use an eye catching scene that makes you wonder and think and ask questions, using intrigue to draw you in. A lot of thought put into the scene.

I think it probably would have worked. Granted, we are the true fans here and most of us with it back in the 00s loved PRIDE anyway, but this thread is made once or twice a year and the concensus is always the same, that PRIDE was the GOAT when it came to this. Whether that translates to Average Joe "Fan," idk, but maybe. Most of us here are westerners, and we seem to like them well enough.

RIZIN's are different philosophically even from PRIDE and DREAM. They throw damn near every fighter on the card on their stuff, they let you know exactly what to expect. They're not as artistically sound as their ancestors, but they're still pretty cool.

View attachment 995565

Unfortunately, PRIDE was before my time. Doesn't stop me to love it however, and likewise with Rizin, though I only occasionally watch it since my main attraction to MMA is the highest quality fights. Yeah, I also believe it would have worked; it is the case that UFC did venture to do PRIDE-like productions, and, as far as I know, to no detriment. But it's an effort to be made and, I believe, contradictory to Dana's nature; PRIDE had fighters walking elevate above the crowd, celebrated almost like gods, whereas the UFC has them escorted to the ring by security, as if they were criminals. I'm certain Dana by far prefers the latter, letting the fighters know their place. In the end, the Japanese not only had better aesthetically ideas, but also more respect towards the fighters and fighting itself.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

Unfortunately, PRIDE was before my time. Doesn't stop me to love it however, and likewise with Rizin, though I only occasionally watch it since my main attraction to MMA is the highest quality fights. Yeah, I also believe it would have worked; it is the case that UFC did venture to do PRIDE-like productions, and, as far as I know, to no detriment. But it's an effort to be made and, I believe, contradictory to Dana's nature; PRIDE had fighters walking elevate above the crowd, celebrated almost like gods, whereas the UFC has them escorted to the ring by security, as if they were criminals. I'm certain Dana by far prefers the latter, letting the fighters know their place. In the end, the Japanese not only had better aesthetically ideas, but also more respect towards the fighters and fighting itself.

Japan isn't without their faults, they're sly businessmen themselves, but I'd say, all said and done, my perception is at least that they generally treat fighters better. They definitely create gods out of their talent.

 

[InThySight]

Japan isn't without their faults, they're sly businessmen themselves, but I'd say, all said and done, my perception is at least that they generally treat fighters better. They definitely create gods out of their talent.

Likewise. They have their faults, as all humans do, but the one thing that certainly made them favorable to the management of MMA is that their culture already had a great respect for martial artists as venerated men; where in contrast, the West is burdened with the conception of prize fighters and "gladiators," being uncomfortably close to prostitutes. Also just great appreciation and acknowledgment for form in general, which I believe is the foundation for all higher culture.

 

[Johnnny]

This ones pretty good too

 

[Bobby Boulders]

Likewise. They have their faults, as all humans do, but the one thing that certainly made them favorable to the management of MMA is that their culture already had a great respect for martial artists as venerated men; where in contrast, the West is burdened with the conception of prize fighters and "gladiators," being uncomfortably close to prostitutes. Also just great appreciation and acknowledgment for form in general, which I believe is the foundation for all higher culture.

Well thought out, bud. I appreciate your perspective.

 

[InThySight]

Well thought out, bud. I appreciate your perspective.

Thank you. One thing that has stuck in my mind, watching a JRE podcast with Bas Rutten years and years ago, is him emphasizing that the Japanese would being to cheer for the losing part, provided they showed great fighting spirit. It instantaneously clicked with me. Fighting is first and foremost about spirit, triumphing over your own weakness and lesser self, and anyone that does so should be honored, regardless whether he wins or loses; then secondly about the artistry of fighting techniques; and at the very last, about psychicality. Or so I like to believe, and likewise like to believe that this is something the Japanese gets.

 

[AmonTobin]

This one always fires me up, even though Gane performed like a fart in the wind and Shevchenko’s face is unrecognizable.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

 

[SeattleFightFan]

And this gif should be a poster, but isn't.....

 

[Tornikidou]

The Ferguson-Cerrone unofficial one, can't find it, I'm sure someone knows which Im talking about.

Spectacular.

 

[wildchild88]

EDIT: Anyone posting UFC posters is a can.

 

[octagonation]

 

[Rorschachxx]

 

[Siver!]

PRIDE NEVER DIE!!!!!!

They're weird and quite arty, which would be striking on a billboard I guess, but they're not really for me.

They feel like a companion piece to a real poster.

The UFC put out so many events (and therefore posters) that they all sorta seem generic, but that doesn't make me pine for something obscure like a woman beating up a top fighter for 'reasons'.

That said, a little more ingenuity could certainly be factored into cookie cutter "vs" UFC posters.

 

[the ambush]

UFC 75

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/UFC_75.jpg