Over-saturation of the UFC.

[krelianx]

I think this is heading for disaster. The two biggest stars in their roster, GSP and Anderson Silva, are gone, at least for a good while.

Jones and Ronda are their big cash cows now; but the UFC is generally sorely lacking big draw powers. Cards cramped with no names, who no one cares about, is only going to get people tired of watching so many fights, particularly considering the monotony of the presentation.

Weidman, as good as he is, has the personality of a blank canvas. Aldo doesn't speak English, is small, and hasn't been putting many stellar performances. The ladies and smaller weight classes, in general, do not appeal.

Barao vs. Cruz is an amazing fight, but again, people are not highly drawn on the lighter weight classes; not to mention Barao simply draws nothing.

Teixeira vs. Jones won't do great, but has potential in Brazil; the rematch with Gustaffson might do very well, but I still see it around thr 650k mark.

They have expanded considerably into the Brazillian market, which was huge. But their talent roster is simply not there.

I don't see ANY fight scheduled for 2014 breaking the 700k mark in PPVs. Of course, this is less significant considering FOX's broadcast, but the truth is their numbers on those shows have been steadily declining as well.

 

[nintey]

I'd like to see the ufc make a minor league just for organization, win 3 in the minors you move up to the majors. Then after after loses depending how high you are in the rankings you can drop back down to the minors.

Something like that. Kind of like how strikeforce did strikeforce challengers.

 

[The Batman]

Over-saturation = I know about five fighters, why are they not on every card?!

All MMA is good MMA.

 

[Degen Gambler]

The UFC is introducing its brand to new markets by acting like a small regional promotion in these markets where it hasn't established itself. Its not for you and they don't give a fuck if you don't watch it. Its not even televised in the US. Your complaint is like a baseball fan complaining about there being too many Triple-A games.

 

[Mau]

It's not about what I recognize. It's about the fact they they have been doing so much expansion that they're bringing in a bunch of low level talent and filling all of their cards with it. How many cards do you need full of tuf competitors from tuf Brazil, smashes, and soon enough the Canada-Australia season. Cards were stacked at one time. Now we're shit cards.

The time when Joe Stevenson was a headliner?

 

[Kalmah]

It's not about what I recognize. It's about the fact they they have been doing so much expansion that they're bringing in a bunch of low level talent and filling all of their cards with it. How many cards do you need full of tuf competitors from tuf Brazil, smashes, and soon enough the Canada-Australia season. Cards were stacked at one time. Now we're getting shit cards. Not to mention this Singapore card is absolute dog shit.

Cards were stacked at one time? What a shitty argument. That is relative to now, at the time there were people like you asking "who are these nobodies, and why should I watch this?".

Why is it so hard to understand that these cards, which I should mention are free aren't meant for the market that you're in. They're meant to develop talent in regions that aren't as developed. WHY CAN YOU NOT SEE OR UNDERSTAND THAT? They don't give a fuck if 10 people from North America watch this.

 

[sony]

It is expanding much faster than the talent. That's the problem. I hate expansion in all sports, but with talent thin sports, it really bugs me.

MMA is best as a fringe sport. That is all it will ever be. UFC is testing the waters, to see how far they can push it, but the market will always bounce it back to a fringe sport area, no matter what.

If I were the Fertittas, I would be looking to sell in the next 2-3 years. MMA has clearly maxed out, and they won't be able to fool people about that fact much longer.

I agree. In a way, The UFC reminds me of the X-Games genre of the late 1990s! It had a major boost in popularity, ESPN was covering it, Live coverage on television, Video games, the top guys became millionaires while the rest....not so much, and the fans of the sport would swear up and down that the sport will never go away.

The rise of the UFC is eerily similar to the X-games if one thinks about it. The X-Games genre is still ticking, but it is nowhere near as popular as it was over a decade ago. Barely ever see coverage about it, if any at all. Can't even name any of the top guys no longer. Never followed the sport, but I was able to name some of the players...Dave Mirra (BMXer), Tony Hawk (skateboarder), ect.

Not saying the UFC is going anywhere, but just like the the X-Games genre, it may take a step back and remain a fringe sport.

 

[Kalmah]

ITT: "The UFC is dying!"

 

[theanticool]

It's not about what I recognize. It's about the fact they they have been doing so much expansion that they're bringing in a bunch of low level talent and filling all of their cards with it. How many cards do you need full of tuf competitors from tuf Brazil, smashes, and soon enough the Canada-Australia season. Cards were stacked at one time. Now we're getting shit cards. Not to mention this Singapore card is absolute dog shit.

All stars started as no name fighters on prelims. Some stick around, some don't. Your "low-level talent" one day grows into contenders. Did you look at UFC 105 and say "who the fuck is Alexander Gustafsson and why should I care?" More than half of the guys from that event's preliminaries don't fight in the UFC anymore.

 

[TH1RTE3N]

I don't see the problem. TV cards for mainly for the lesser known and up and comers with a few big events sprinkled here & there. PPV cards for the big names. What's there to complain about? If you don't like the card, you don't have to watch it.

 

[babalufan_916]

The time when Joe Stevenson was a headliner?

Everyone knows exactly what that card was. It was them getting the belt on bj penn after he had only fought once after returning to lightweight, and it was because sherk popping for steroids at that time.

I'd counter that with an event like ufc 73.

 

[Mau]

Frontrunners are the worst fans, this thread is full of them.

 

[Mau]

Everyone knows exactly what that card was. It was them getting the belt on bj penn after he had only fought once after returning to lightweight, and it was because sherk popping for steroids at that time.

No, do your research, then come back.

 

[Degen Gambler]

I agree. In a way, The UFC reminds me of the X-Games genre of the late 1990s! It had a major boost in popularity, ESPN was covering it, Live coverage on television, Video games, the top guys became millionaires while the rest....not so much, and the fans of the sport would swear up and down that the sport will never go away.

The rise of the UFC is eerily similar to the X-games if one thinks about it. The X-Games genre is still ticking, but it has nowhere near the popular as it was over a decade ago. Barely ever see coverage about it, if any at all. Can't even name any of the top guys no longer. Never followed the sport, but I was able to name some of the players...Dave Mirra (BMXer), Tony Hawk (skateboarder), ect.

Not saying the UFC is going anywhere, but just like the the X-Games genre, it may take a step back and remain a fringe sport.

Its nothing like the X-games. ESPN came up with the X-games and rammed it down people's throats. The UFC had to struggle for years to get a network TV deal based on its own merit because they built a product popular enough that it finally couldn't be denied a TV deal.

 

[sony]

Frontrunners are the worst fans, this thread is full of them.

Really? I thought it was MMA fans in general who were the worst fans. Most come across as know it all elitists when seen at the bars.

 

[Jimmy Jumper]

I can't help but think that everybody that makes topics like these are fucking stupid.

 

[Mau]

Everyone knows exactly what that card was. It was them getting the belt on bj penn after he had only fought once after returning to lightweight, and it was because sherk popping for steroids at that time.

I'd counter that with an event like ufc 73.

You are crying because you don't know people at a minor event. They were poor from forever, it's nothing new.

 

[Cagecide]

I'm not a fan of the division of channels. I wish there was a UFC channel with all the shows.

I agree.

 

[Kalmah]

Really? I thought it was MMA fans in general who were the worst fans. Most come across as know it all elitists when seen at the bars.

Yep. Just keep on generalizing Mr. X Games.

 

[sony]

Its nothing like the X-games. ESPN came up with the X-games and rammed it down people's throats. The UFC had to struggle for years to get a network TV deal based on its own merit because they built a product popular enough that it finally couldn't be denied a TV deal.

It had its elitist fans just like the UFC has them now. it wasn't crammed down anybodys throats because it was being watched, allowing it thrive for a short time. There is no denying the other similarities that were listed.