Is Dana the only thing holding MMA and the UFC back?

[Th3 Gr38 1]

Dana used to put on fantastic cards, and at one point really seemed to have the best interests of the UFC in mind, as well as MMA in general. The best time to be a fan was 2015-2019, by far. MMA was legalized in New York, ppvs were selling like hotcakes, and major cards were getting a lot of mainstream attention. I remember standing in line at Home Depot and hearing some white girls behind the register talking to each other about UFC 202. Folks at work would watch big cards together.

Today, it feels like MMA is back to where it was in the late 90's. PPVs are selling so badly that the UF has stopped releasing the numbers. No one really watches fights anymore. They didn't let Conor fight, Jones hasn't fought in forever, and they aren't trying to promote Dricus vs. Izzy even though there is major heat.

I get the sense that Dana thinks that he is bigger than the company and the sport. I suspect that he is a delusional narsscist who feels that he can unmake what he made, and doesn't consider himself beholden to the fans, the shareholders, or anyone else. He's running the company into the ground and I worry that MMA will be ruined if he isn't replaced by someone who actually wants to promote fights.

 

[jko1355]

Without Dana the UFC wouldn't exist today

 

[Foghorn Leghorn]

Curious, when did you start watching? Sherdog join date of 2015, talking about 2015-2019 being the best time, was it around that time? Not hating if that is the case, just for context sake for understanding your pov.

That was definitely a good era, I've been watching for a long time. I enjoyed a bit earlier era more than that one, for example. Maybe it was the point I was at in my life, maybe it was the fights.

This is a long way of saying: I don't think Dana's really changed all that much as a person with regard to the sport. I think the UFC as an organization has, and I think to continue doing the job I'm sure he loves doing, he has had to say or do some things he'd rather not do but can't just come out and say that.

"I suspect that he is a delusional narsscist" - fair suspicion, for someone in his position

 

[StonedLemur]

Without Dana the UFC wouldn't exist today

Yeah the $50 million the Fertittas put up was nothing without Dana lol

 

[Th3 Gr38 1]

Curious, when did you start watching? Sherdog join date of 2015, talking about 2015-2019 being the best time, was it around that time? Not hating if that is the case, just for context sake for understanding your pov.

That was definitely a good era, I've been watching for a long time. I enjoyed a bit earlier era more than that one, for example. Maybe it was the point I was at in my life, maybe it was the fights.

This is a long way of saying: I don't think Dana's really changed all that much as a person with regard to the sport. I think the UFC as an organization has, and I think to continue doing the job I'm sure he loves doing, he has had to say or do some things he'd rather not do but can't just come out and say that.

"I suspect that he is a delusional narsscist" - fair suspicion, for someone in his position

I started watching in 2012. Found my way here in 2014 and decided to join a year later.

I've never seen the UFC in worse shape. Some years ago I read a book called "the Reckoning", about the history of the American auto industry. One detail that struck me was that Henry Ford Sr. eventually got old and crazy and more or less tried to deliberately run the company he had built into the ground out of jealousy and spite towards his son, whom he HATED. He very nearly succeeded in destroying Ford Motor Company, but died before it collapsed. I feel like that's what Dana is doing now. How else to explain the UFC's anti-growth model and their lack of PPV sales?

 

[mixmastermo]

I started watching in 2012. Found my way here in 2014 and decided to join a year later.

I've never seen the UFC in worse shape. Some years ago I read a book called "the Reckoning", about the history of the American auto industry. One detail that struck me was that Henry Ford Sr. eventually got old and crazy and more or less tried to deliberately run the company he had built into the ground out of jealousy and spite towards his son, whom he HATED. He very nearly succeeded in destroying Ford Motor Company, but died before it collapsed. I feel like that's what Dana is doing now. How else to explain the UFC's anti-growth model and their lack of PPV sales?

Do you have any data to back up these claims of anti-growth? Last I heard UFC's 2023 performance far exceeded 2022 and was one of their best years ever...

Also, are you trying to argue that Dana wants to make LESS money, and be LESS successful?

UFC’s success pushes TKO Group's 2023 revenues up to US$1.7bn - SportsPro

The MMA promotion increased its annual earnings by 13 per cent YoY to US$1.3 billion, thanks to increases in all segments.

www.sportspromedia.com

UFC’s success pushes TKO Group’s 2023 revenues up to US$1.7bn​

The MMA promotion increased its annual earnings by 13% YoY to US$1.3bn.

​

Confirmed:​

• The UFC netted a record annual revenue total of US$1.3 billion, which was a 13 per cent increase on 2022
• The MMA promotion’s revenue for Q4 2023 totalled US$282.8 million, which was higher than the US$271.7 million it made during the same period last year

.....

TS- did you just have a brain fart and decided to post it here?

 

[Baby Hanma]

Dana used to put on fantastic cards, and at one point really seemed to have the best interests of the UFC in mind, as well as MMA in general. The best time to be a fan was 2015-2019, by far. MMA was legalized in New York, ppvs were selling like hotcakes, and major cards were getting a lot of mainstream attention. I remember standing in line at Home Depot and hearing some white girls behind the register talking to each other about UFC 202. Folks at work would watch big cards together.

Today, it feels like MMA is back to where it was in the late 90's. PPVs are selling so badly that the UF has stopped releasing the numbers. No one really watches fights anymore. They didn't let Conor fight, Jones hasn't fought in forever, and they aren't trying to promote Dricus vs. Izzy even though there is major heat.

I get the sense that Dana thinks that he is bigger than the company and the sport. I suspect that he is a delusional narsscist who feels that he can unmake what he made, and doesn't consider himself beholden to the fans, the shareholders, or anyone else. He's running the company into the ground and I worry that MMA will be ruined if he isn't replaced by someone who actually wants to promote fights.

Don't blame it on Dana. Whether or not Dana has the best intentions for MMA is irrelevant if fans complain while still watching UFC.

MMA is ruined for one simple reason: Fighting has become demystified. All competent coaches with enough employees and resources are capable of producing top tier fighters with enough talent. Everyone is now a McGregor and a Jones.

 

[mixmastermo]

Dana used to put on fantastic cards, and at one point really seemed to have the best interests of the UFC in mind, as well as MMA in general. The best time to be a fan was 2015-2019, by far. MMA was legalized in New York, ppvs were selling like hotcakes, and major cards were getting a lot of mainstream attention. I remember standing in line at Home Depot and hearing some white girls behind the register talking to each other about UFC 202. Folks at work would watch big cards together.

Today, it feels like MMA is back to where it was in the late 90's. PPVs are selling so badly that the UF has stopped releasing the numbers. No one really watches fights anymore. They didn't let Conor fight, Jones hasn't fought in forever, and they aren't trying to promote Dricus vs. Izzy even though there is major heat.

I get the sense that Dana thinks that he is bigger than the company and the sport. I suspect that he is a delusional narsscist who feels that he can unmake what he made, and doesn't consider himself beholden to the fans, the shareholders, or anyone else. He's running the company into the ground and I worry that MMA will be ruined if he isn't replaced by someone who actually wants to promote fights.

Damn bro, why'd you abandon this thread?