Has UFC/MMA lost its luster for you too

[overeem chin]

I still like it but I was crazy about it up until around 2011. The combination of a rapid increase in # of divisions and cards, old stars fading and changes in the whole presentation/vibe killed a lot of my passion. Tbh part of it is probably just general apathy as I age too, lol. Sucks because i'd love to have the same kind of enthusiasm for it as I did 10 years ago.

So much nostalgia thinking about this time. Yeah the raw feel from the presentation was the best. Dumb commentary from Goldie. The PPV cards had names to it. The fighters wore unique gear. It was so raw, then it became so professional. Then the expanding was the tipping point. They found a way to kill the sport year by year with their genius ideas. They had gold.

If things stayed the same no matter how old I got. I would still be a big fan. The old formula worked. They got greedy and you can see the results. Shouldve stayed on spike longer.

 

[DOPEFIEND85]

Number 3, yes. The over-the-top style and nu-metal soundtrack was part of the product's appeal and the bland generic sports presentation is a step in the wrong direction.

Heavily promoting fights weeks away also detracts from events taking place in the meantime. They seem to be doing this a lot lately. You get excited for a fight next month and as a result lose all interest in the fights taking place next week. This can ruin the anticipation for an event.

 

[DOPEFIEND85]

At this point there is no reason why I'd watch UFC over Bellator or anyone else other than the caliber of the fighters. The brand means nothing if its just a generic sport with generic presentation and generic commentary.

 

[sweetviolenturg]

Not at all. I'm just as big of a fan as I've ever been. Bigger even & I've been a fan since UFC 1 in November of '93.

 

[Tugboat]

Funny you should mention it ts, been feeling the same for the same reasons.

Used to watch everything, now I could care less about most of the fights and just watch a few favorites.

 

[McGrubie]

Was thinking about this the other day... I honestly don’t even know what the last card I watched was. I’ve watched way more Bellator than UFC the passed few years. I honestly have no idea how to watch UFC anymore. ESPN+?

 

[nhbfan8080]

I used to have to watch every event up until about a year ago. Now I just have the Ill catch it if I can attitude. Or just even catch the highlights.
I believe a combination of things resulted in the decline of interest for me. Maybe some will agree but..

1) All the old stars have faded away or retired (Silva, JDS, Tate, Cain, Machida, Jones, Diazs etc)
2) Too many shows with no names (Makes it easy to skip over & lose track of whats going on)
3) UFC is now more focused on becoming more professional (Bland commentary, Reebok, presentation, stale)
...................

3) The problem is being professional but being LESS professional, and catering more to the mainstream who don't follow MMA and prefer to watch big marketed fights with WWE like storylines. Its the same story I've said many times, that the UFC for all of its clout doesn't put in enough to build and grow the sport, paying the mid-level and upper-mid level fighters more would help alot. They relied on plucking the top stars from other promotions which they bought over and its not sustainable. They don't have a proper system to rank their fighters and a fair matchmaking system so its more chaotic cash grabbing.

 

[Lint]

Its because trash like WMMA and CM Punk.

Last PPVs I bought were 218 ,214, and 211. Was going to buy Frankie vs. Holloway but it fell apart. Will probably buy 226.

I only buy a few cards a year now.

Your avatar kinda sums it all.

But really is not just WMMA, I think they've got too many fighters and divisions, it's hard to keep track over everyone even for professional fans.

Really weird this old topic is still up to date.

 

[Gutter Chris]

i think last time i really cared was around the diaz/silva fight, and i can't remember how long ago that was

almost 5 years

But really is not just WMMA, I think they've got too many fighters and divisions, it's hard to keep track over everyone even for professional fans.

back in the days I had a fighter that I rooted for in every divison. Now with more fighters and divisions than ever before I got 3 dudes I give a shit what happens to. Jones stipe and fergusson . If its not one of them fighting and something else comes up on saturday Im going out instead of staying in ya know?

I think something we are all over looking is we are all getting older and have seen our fave fighters come and go twice now and they are all younger than us and that does something to the magic of sports. I came in with chuck hughes big tim and arlovski just before the first season of the ultimate fighter and those guys seemed like real warriors.

I feel the same way about hockey. I miss pronger and osgood and yzerman and tkachuck and power forwards and beating the shit out of Colorado and the trap and its just not the same anymore . The magic wears off of things after a while

 

[Lint]

almost 5 years



back in the days I had a fighter that I rooted for in every divison. Now with more fighters and divisions than ever before I got 3 dudes I give a shit what happens to. Jones stipe and fergusson . If its not one of them fighting and something else comes up on saturday Im going out instead of staying in ya know?

I think something we are all over looking is we are all getting older and have seen our fave fighters come and go twice now and they are all younger than us and that does something to the magic of sports. I came in with chuck hughes big tim and arlovski just before the first season of the ultimate fighter and those guys seemed like real warriors.

I feel the same way about hockey. I miss pronger and osgood and yzerman and tkachuck and power forwards and beating the shit out of Colorado and the trap and its just not the same anymore . The magic wears off of things after a while

Yup, + time doesn't help, twice if you mind the getting used effect, looking the other way around tho fights do seem crappier

Still we had a kickass card on JJ vs Waterson, sadly not many people caught on as the main fight was kind of a shameless JJ vs Waterson.

 

[originalbadguy]

I used to have to watch every event up until about a year ago. Now I just have the Ill catch it if I can attitude. Or just even catch the highlights.

I believe a combination of things resulted in the decline of interest for me. Maybe some will agree but..

1) All the old stars have faded away or retired (Silva, JDS, Tate, Cain, Machida, Jones, Diazs etc)
2) Too many shows with no names (Makes it easy to skip over & lose track of whats going on)
3) UFC is now more focused on becoming more professional (Bland commentary, Reebok, presentation, stale)

I could go on but if they just

I'd like to see more focus on promoting the best fighters and trimming the shows in half. Make it must see tv again.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I still look forward to and watch every card. Then again I also watch shit like PFL, so I'm probably not the best example.

 

[originalbadguy]

I never missed a ppv from UFC 1 until Rhonda Rousey started main eventing. Woman’s MMA is the biggest reason now I don’t order most ppv I have seen 2 this year so far will be ordering the next couple for sure.

the next and very big reason is ppv aren’t stacked! You have 5 fights one woman’s fight so now u have 4 and usually 1 or 2 are interesting.
I don’t mind smaller cards not being stacked but usually 2-3 woman’s fights a bunch of meaningless fights with many fighters that aren’t gear and never will be only makes sense I’ll miss some of these.

another big reason is there is no direction or purpose to all of the fights the up and coming fighters don’t fight often enough and the lower tiered fighters sometimes win 6 times before they have a meaningful fight.
They really need regional titles Europe South America North America Asia etc


Also bellator is Un watchable there match making is the worst in the industry There talent pool at many weights is terrible and the old timer divisions are awful
The tournaments are nice but they drag them out people loose interest

 

[Gamer007]

almost 5 years



back in the days I had a fighter that I rooted for in every divison. Now with more fighters and divisions than ever before I got 3 dudes I give a shit what happens to. Jones stipe and fergusson . If its not one of them fighting and something else comes up on saturday Im going out instead of staying in ya know?

I think something we are all over looking is we are all getting older and have seen our fave fighters come and go twice now and they are all younger than us and that does something to the magic of sports. I came in with chuck hughes big tim and arlovski just before the first season of the ultimate fighter and those guys seemed like real warriors.

I feel the same way about hockey. I miss pronger and osgood and yzerman and tkachuck and power forwards and beating the shit out of Colorado and the trap and its just not the same anymore . The magic wears off of things after a while

I miss kobe

 

[PlayTheGame]

Long time ago.

I genuinely don’t remember the last time I’ve watched the whole main card. Don’t even get me started on prelims.

 

[Gambit MMA]

i dont like how people try to market themselves for a title shot instead of earning one. it hasnt been THAT long ago when you had to legitimately earn your title shot and go on a nice win streak. now its more about ducking fights and only picking the right matchup. take to social media and try to talk yourself up and talk your way into a title shot or "money fight". its not about who has the better skills anymore.

as soon as ufc made it known they would allow this sort of stuff everyone started jumping on the bandwagon and copying. 10 years ago dana would tell all these guys to fuck off and fight and earn your shot.

 

[sweetviolenturg]

I still look forward to and watch every card. Then again I also watch shit like PFL, so I'm probably not the best example.

Welcome to the diehard club. Apparently there are only about three of us on this thread. But that's OK, without the casual fans support there would be no MMA for us to watch. So, I'm very grateful to them.
Do you watch Bellator too? Unfortunately, that's the only other MMA organization that I have time to watch. I just don't have time to watch the PFL because I'm also a diehard boxing fan as well so between the UFC, Bellator & boxing my combat sports time allotment is full. My wife is a great sport, she doesn't complain that I monopolize the television all weekend long watching fights as long as she gets to choose what we watch during the week.

 

[TheLastStyleBender]

No way, it's finally gotten good again.

 

[BabyBlue_Bomber]

I still watch events as often as I did before...

But I don’t keep up with everything as much.

Back in the day I would watch countdown shows, Inside MMA, and look up news and rumors etc. and normally knew most, if not all, fighters on a card.

Nowadays there will always be names on a card I don’t recognize, and sometimes I won’t even realize there is a card change until the night of.

 

[strebitel86]

Tbh I prefer ONE and KSW over UFC right now.