Media Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn on the UFC "The problem is with UFC, I feel like they always want the brand to be bigger than that of the fighter"

[SalvadorAllende]

Don’t forget the obvious goat vs goat matchup that we never got either

Silva vs GSP? Different divisions pre-MysticTap era...

I actually liked that more. "superfights" are overrated.

 

[honzo]

Just last weekend Eddie was told to piss off by his boxers opponent because Eddie was trying to make it all about himself.

 

[Lee Danger]

his sport's best fights of the last 5 years have all been bankrolled by the saudis.
come @ me when you have a business to keep running without oil money handouts

lol, and before mafia's money... wait a moment... it's the reason PRIDE used to exist and put incredible shows and the same reason UFC became the monopoly and the premiere organization in the sport of MMA!

that said, the real problem about boxing is too much orgs: imho is the only one that can be fixed, other issues are impossible to solve and are in the nature of prize fighting like fighters being too expensive or ducking the fights that fans want.

 

[Tracav]

I agree with Edward on that, on top of that I also feel the quantity of UFC events is just too high, hence watering those down

I also think Boxing has a much more mature fanbase, so when a figther lose, he is not considered a can

 

[SuperNerd]

Eddie wishes he could do that and is attempting to shame the guy winning.

 

[Ginja_Ninja]

The UFC has its stars but no, they are not bigger than the organization itself.

Lebron is not bigger than the NBA
Otani is not bigger than MLB
McDavid is not bigger than the NHL
Mahomes is not bigger than the NFL

 

[TimeToTrain]

If Pride FC had better business practices, the UFC wouldn’t be as big today. I remember when reality TV shows were on the rise in 2004, I had an idea that they should come up with an MMA reality show. Then TUF was created, I did not like that. I wanted Pride to be that show instead but with English speaking fighters to cater to the U.S.

 

[markantony20]

It’s true only two people have outgrown the UFC brand yet there are many boxers who are known the world over by people that never watched boxing

 

[Chayanne]

Love them or hate them, they are 100% right.

 

[HavokHarmon]

While this is true, boxing has the opposite problem where the sport is fragmented and top guys won't fight each other

Yeah is he just now figuring this out? That’s part of the formula, it’s not new at all and it’s definitely intentional.

 

[ElLunico]

Lol I was a much more into boxing than MMA in my younger years. You're fucking crazy if you think boxing's model of business is better for the fans. I literally am barely following boxing right now because of how difficult and rare it was to watch the 2 best guys in there weight class fight each other. Boxing politics and shady shit with promoters turned me off.

UFC for the most part will make the best fights. It was r

 

[method115]

While this is true, boxing has the opposite problem where the sport is fragmented and top guys won't fight each other

Exactly say what you want about the UFC but I've seen what happens when the fighters are bigger than the promoter and it's even worse.

 

[El Fernas]

Current? Thats how MMA operates...in general, uniforms in combat sports are the clearest thing about this, is impossible to think cross promotion fights would happen in MMA.

 

[daydrinking]

What a controversial take

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

While this is true, boxing has the opposite problem where the sport is fragmented and top guys won't fight each other

Correct. I mean boxers have more control over who they fight, in the end the fans lose out because fights like AJ v Fury don't happen until one or more are over the hill.

 

[Crash Lance]

While this is true, boxing has the opposite problem where the sport is fragmented and top guys won't fight each other

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting to watch the MMA fight between Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones.

I'm also waiting to watch the MMA fight between Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson.

Also, I'm still waiting to watch the MMA fight between Alessio Sakara and Jorge Rivera. I'm waiting to watch Justin Gaethje vs. Dustin Poirier 3.

Also, I'm still waiting to watch the MMA fight between Maurício Rua and Rashad Evans. Plus, I'm waiting to watch Maurício Rua vs. Lyoto Machida 3.

Also, I'm still waiting to watch Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader 3.

Furthermore, I'm still waiting to watch the MMA fight between Michael Chandler and McGregor.

 

[markys00]

Im a fan of combat sports. I personally think naming 5 UFC stars is easier than 5 boxers for the average person

 

[Dr Fong]

Im a fan of combat sports. I personally think naming 5 UFC stars is easier than 5 boxers for the average person

The reality is that the average person could do neither, so one can't be easier than the other.

 

[PurpleDrank]

The star conversation is weird to me, because I think the UFC actually does produce stars quite often and has a higher quantity of more popular fighters.

I wouldnt call Payton Talbott a star but compared to a boxer his level, he is way more popular with much more engagement. There are countless of examples of even non ranked ufc fighters being way bigger names than their boxing counterparts. The average for the UFC starpower is much higher, while boxing may have the biggest single figures, like a Canelo, Joshua, Garcia.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Im a fan of combat sports. I personally think naming 5 UFC stars is easier than 5 boxers for the average person

There are WAY more famous boxers than famous UFC fighters.

I see this type of reasoning on Sherdog that goes "UFC under cards we know who they are!" and its like....this is an MMA forum and people here watch MMA. Thats why you know whos on a UFC undercard lol.

The average person could name several boxers in nearly every country. Almost every country has a boxer that is well known among its populace. The most famous MMA fighter of all time is Conor McGregor. His fame is nothing compared to Ali, Tyson, Foreman, Pacqiao, Mayweather.