Did Conor Ruin The Sport?

[jsbx45]

Check the top PPV numbers in the UFC if you want lol. You can see which fighter is on there the most and what those numbers are compared to other fighters/ppv cards. People can hate Conor, but denying the numbers he brings in is foolish. Just one of his PPVs is more than multiple PPVs combined from other fighters.

His fights were the main reasons UFC/WME made profit that year. If you think UFC/WME isn't trying to replicate those numbers/results, then you don't really understand the fight game too much. It's still a business at the end of the day and it's fight entertainment. In order for the UFC to keep operating they need profits, and Conor's fights brings that in better than all the other fighters on the roster.

What the f*** are you on about mate? No one said anything about Conor not being a draw or questioning his numbers.

 

[NoSmilez]

He started fighters talking about pay publicly. We never heard of PPV points until he arrived on the scene.

 

[FIghtxIQ]

What the f*** are you on about mate? No one said anything about Conor not being a draw or questioning his numbers.

The why the f are you saying the numbers are off? You forgetting what you are typing dummy?

 

[DestinedAussie]

Since Conor's precipitous rise, we have seen the overwhelming increase of superfights (when Dana was reluctant to make them in the past, see Silva-GSP) even though you could hardly call a fight between 2 champions who haven't defended yet "super".

We have also seen the overwhelming increase of moneyfights (BMF belt, Conor likely getting a TS without a win at 155 in 6 years, etc) and immediate rematches w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶r̶o̶n̶g̶ ̶g̶u̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶n̶s̶ or w̶h̶e̶n̶ ̶D̶a̶n̶a̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶b̶o̶d̶y̶ ̶e̶l̶s̶e̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶t̶i̶t̶l̶e̶ ̶s̶h̶o̶t̶ or other completely justifiable reasons.

Not to mention, he's become a scapegoat for Dana still not paying fighters fairly, always falling back on ol' reliable: "If you want to get paid, learn how to sell a fight like Conor McGregor". Although the UFC has always been somewhat crooked, it seems to have been multiplied with Dana bending over backwards to appease McGregor.

This begs the question; did Conor ruin the sport?

Dana would have made gsp v silva in a second, but GSP would need to move up and he wasn't doing that under any circumstances.

Dana tried to make the super fights with the pride guys at times. I think Dana just does what makes him the most money.

 

[TheNinja]

Long before Conor, we had Brock getting a title fight with a 2-1 record, I think it was? Ridiculous matchmaking has always been a thing.

This. It's nothing new and it didn't start with Conor. Sure he took it more mainstream and got on the big shows like ESPN and all that stuff. But it has always been a bit suspect with matchmaking.

Way back when Tito was talking trash they gave him a squash match with Elvis Sinosic for example.

Vernon White lost to Horn, drew with Eastman, lost to Eastman, then somehow had to fight Chuck when the UFC was promoting Chuck in a huge way.

How many title shots did Faber get?

 

[Hotora86]

yes

 

[Hotora86]

Mma is not a sport. It’s fighting for money.

I hate this argument because it's simply untrue.

Any combat sport is "fighting for money" - it is still a sport tho.

Any sport on a high level is about the money - it is still a sport tho.

And in any sport title shots and finals are decided based on WINS and not CLOUT. Only in MMA we allow this BS.

 

[DoNoootin]

it ain't about Conor.
If it wasn't Conor it would be someone else.
It's about money.

I know you could, equally say... yeah, but... STILL, it's Conor
Yeah, in this instance, maybe,
But it's inevitable
In any capitalistic society or society which values VALUE and money and profit...

This will happen.

 

[MrPsychoticKane]

That little leprechaun just trash-talked, that's how He got rich. because He had the best boxing ability and says some quotable things. IMO He kinda did by almost costing other fighters careers and somehow caused Fan chaos.

 

[The American Eagle]

 

[MrPsychoticKane]

View attachment 911911

I got a gut feeling you're Colby, lmao.

 

[Dorkman]

He helped it from a marketability stand point no doubt, definitely fucked it up as far as athletic integrity.

 

[Ube]

I hate this argument because it's simply untrue.

Any combat sport is "fighting for money" - it is still a sport tho.

Any sport on a high level is about the money - it is still a sport tho.

And in any sport title shots and finals are decided based on WINS and not CLOUT. Only in MMA we allow this BS.

mma is not a sport. There’s nothing sporting about breaking someone’s arm on purpose or a follow up shot to an unconscious person on the ground.

fuck it. If mma is a sport than pornography is film.

 

[Hotora86]

mma is not a sport. There’s nothing sporting about breaking someone’s arm on purpose or a follow up shot to an unconscious person on the ground.

fuck it. If mma is a sport than pornography is film.

Well, it is. A very special sub-genre if you will - but still is.
(applies to both)

BTW in BJJ and boxing you have instances of "breaking someone’s arm on purpose or a follow up shot to an unconscious person". Are those not sports?

 

[markys00]

His haters ruined it much more