Well that's just your opinion. I could easily say:
"if you can't see how rules affect the entire dynamic of a fight, then I have to wonder what you are really a fan of".
90% of em-em-ayyee 'fights' have devolved into a pseudo-sport of shit-boxing+amateur wrestling, and most athletes are more concerned with winning rounds and scoring points instead of fighting. It no longer resembles anything like free-fighting.
If you come from an athletic background, you might find this acceptable. But for those who watch this for combat, this is not interesting.
So yeah, even if the fighters are 'sub-par' like you say, it is more interesting to watch a free-fighting competition than a pseudo-fighting sport.