The Decline in quality of UFC PPVs and events [POLL]

[Ares Black]

I don't have an exact start / finish date. But going back to the ufc 100 Era. So the cards before and after that. Google some of them.

Still a fan, but it was better back then.

I watched all of them.


Just Googled UFC 101.

It had Aaron Riley vs Shane Nelson on the main card.

 

[SJP_SevenLaker]

It's really tough when the starting position for this argument is that "300 was mid AF". Cause I thought that was a great card that would stand tall with the rest of the Fox era.

I think over time people often take the worst of one time period and compare it with the best of another. During the UFC on FOX days there was actually lots of negativity as we hit 170, 174, 177 etc. It could even be overwhelming. But today we might just bring up 189 or something to discuss how great it was.

Truthfully, I've really been enjoying 2024's PPVs, to the point that I would have guessed we're at another high point. You say 306 is lackluster, but I'm embracing the Wrestlemania of it all, and see nothing but a good time.

What does "Wrestlemania of it all" mean?

 

[fedorthegoat777]

I watched all of them.


Just Googled UFC 101.

It had Aaron Riley vs Shane Nelson on the main card.

Fair.
But that was right after ufc 100, an epic card.

And we still had Anderson Silva, Forest Griffin, Johnny Hendricks, Kendall Gove, Bj Penn, and Kenny Florian on that card.

 

[PeterGriffin]

If you are one of the die-hard brand-loyal fans, who absolutely feel compelled to legally pay and need to watch every single event the UFC puts on... it's a pretty fucking expensive sport to be a fan of.

That being said, I was around for UFC 1 (and pre- overseas fare) and dealing with the black boxes and descramblers way back in the day. Those really early UFC's were a spectacle more than a sport, and those were wildly, wildy entertaining events. I can remember having it play in multiple rooms at home because there were that many people who wanted to see it and everyone had to crowd in one house, very few bars around here played them back then. It was a fun watch and it was exciting, but again, more of a spectacle.

Food, drinks, socializing and a bunch of "WTF" moments. That was fun.

TUF, Spike TV, monthly PPV's, the occasional fight night, a lot more promo stuff (or at least it seemed so) directly from the UFC, Goldberg (yes, I ilked Mike Goldberg, he's my real life Pepper Brooks)... the UFC just seemed more alive and fun. Attended a few live events and the brand was electric. Still had group gatherings, or would all meet up at a local bar.

In my opinion, I think the Fertitta's were brilliant. They got in, got rich and got out, and their timing was impeccable. Dana's success came as a result of the perfect blend of timing, good friends with deep pockets, and he worked his fucking ass off and would bleed UFC.

Since Endeavor/WME/ESPN, to me, the UFC just seems to be becoming more bland and stale, more and more expensive and repetitive, and Dana is just going through the motions on autopilot. He went from being overly passionate about the UFC, to being just some opinionated fathead sellout. Either that, or he's really been muffled and told to stfu and keep a low profile by his real bosses. No more group gatherings, and a lot more meh's from the product.

Financially, the company and brand are worth way, way more, but it sure as hell isn't a better watch. PPV's are ridiculously overpriced, and the cards are watered down enough to the point, most are not really worth getting (in my opinion).

 

[IDGETKTFO]

I wonder how many of you shills actually have to pay $80 a PPV. You would be singing another tune if you had to. I can tell you one thing, If UFC ever figured out a way to completely block illegal streaming, It would be the final nail in the coffin for me. I might not have bought a PPV since they got rid of Cable TV PPV's, but i did pay for ESPN+ up until recently, so they were getting some money out of me. And honestly, if there was no way for me to watch PPV for free, i wouldn't have even bothered watching fight nights on ESPN+.
/Rant

 

[Alpha_T83]

I wonder how many of you shills actually have to pay $80 a PPV. You would be singing another tune if you had to. I can tell you one thing, If UFC ever figured out a way to completely block illegal streaming, It would be the final nail in the coffin for me. I might not have bought a PPV since they got rid of Cable TV PPV's, but i did pay for ESPN+ up until recently, so they were getting some money out of me. And honestly, if there was no way for me to watch PPV for free, i wouldn't have even bothered watching fight nights on ESPN+.
/Rant

I'd stop watching the sport. No question. The UFC need need to force their fighters to fight every 4-5 months instead of every 7-8 months (or more) which many top fighters are averaging.

 

[Danespina]

What does "Wrestlemania of it all" mean?

The spectacle. The high end production. And of course the fights. I’m actually planning to see this one in theatres with some friends which is something I’ve never done before. Should be a unique night.

 

[Psychojoe86]

Most of the ppvs have delivered this year big time. I say excellent.

However… that has been thanks to the fighters stepping up and taking numerous short notice positions.

 

[Ian]

UFC isn’t what it used to be. I agree there’s been a drop in quality since ESPN, but I’d argue that decline had already started. The sport has grown quickly and the roster ballooned. Long before ESPN came around I struggled to know every fighter on a card and I’ve been watching for over 20 years.

 

[Cooliox]

If you are one of the die-hard brand-loyal fans, who absolutely feel compelled to legally pay and need to watch every single event the UFC puts on... it's a pretty fucking expensive sport to be a fan of.

That being said, I was around for UFC 1 (and pre- overseas fare) and dealing with the black boxes and descramblers way back in the day. Those really early UFC's were a spectacle more than a sport, and those were wildly, wildy entertaining events. I can remember having it play in multiple rooms at home because there were that many people who wanted to see it and everyone had to crowd in one house, very few bars around here played them back then. It was a fun watch and it was exciting, but again, more of a spectacle.

Food, drinks, socializing and a bunch of "WTF" moments. That was fun.

TUF, Spike TV, monthly PPV's, the occasional fight night, a lot more promo stuff (or at least it seemed so) directly from the UFC, Goldberg (yes, I ilked Mike Goldberg, he's my real life Pepper Brooks)... the UFC just seemed more alive and fun. Attended a few live events and the brand was electric. Still had group gatherings, or would all meet up at a local bar.

In my opinion, I think the Fertitta's were brilliant. They got in, got rich and got out, and their timing was impeccable. Dana's success came as a result of the perfect blend of timing, good friends with deep pockets, and he worked his fucking ass off and would bleed UFC.

Since Endeavor/WME/ESPN, to me, the UFC just seems to be becoming more bland and stale, more and more expensive and repetitive, and Dana is just going through the motions on autopilot. He went from being overly passionate about the UFC, to being just some opinionated fathead sellout. Either that, or he's really been muffled and told to stfu and keep a low profile by his real bosses. No more group gatherings, and a lot more meh's from the product.

Financially, the company and brand are worth way, way more, but it sure as hell isn't a better watch. PPV's are ridiculously overpriced, and the cards are watered down enough to the point, most are not really worth getting (in my opinion).

10/10

 

[Cooliox]

UFC isn’t what it used to be. I agree there’s been a drop in quality since ESPN, but I’d argue that decline had already started. The sport has grown quickly and the roster ballooned. Long before ESPN came around I struggled to know every fighter on a card and I’ve been watching for over 20 years.

Same.

But to be fair, a lot of the prelims today feature fighters who don’t even have wiki pages.

This was unheard of during the golden days

 

[Kourtland]

The ppv's have been fine.

The fight night cards are starting to get better

 

[jjjjjjjjjjohnny]

Let's face it, the quantity of cards have certainly diluted ppv events. They make an effort every quarter to deliver a blockbuster. The issue is complex, but i would like them to sign more fighters and try to build them up with marketable effort. I have lost count of the up and comers now and it's hard to get excited about a card where you only may know of 2-3 fighters.

 

[CerebralKnievel]

Anyone who believes that UFC 300 was "mid AF on paper" isn't a fan of the sport, and their opinion is basically irrelevant.

 

[Luthien]

Way too many Imagulovs and Adrumanovs to keep up with for this cat @HI SCOTT NEWMAN

 

[arcadeperfect]

MMA fans should notice that there's a pattern for good cards.

International Fight Week - July
Abu Dhabu/Saudi Arabia - October
Madison Square Garden - November
End of the year/New Years Eve - December

Those are generally going to be guaranteed to be stacked with name value and ranked fighters.

As for the dogshit tier cards expect them to be held in either Brazil or Canada.

 

[Cowboy Kurt Angle]

I’d say Average but it’s dipping into the below average range, as I said a couple of weeks ago for every great card we get 299 300 etc, we have to sit through like 8 more shitty cards

Like the sphere card was hyped to be a love letter to combat sports and there are 2 relativity unknown fighters on the main card

 

[Istryker]

Anyone who believes that UFC 300 was "mid AF on paper" isn't a fan of the sport, and their opinion is basically irrelevant.

The same event that had Bo Nickle on the main card?

 

[DecisionSplit]

Either that, or he's really been muffled and told to stfu and keep a low profile by his real bosses. No more group gatherings, and a lot more meh's from the product.

Dana is the face of Power Slap, DWCS, the majority of UFC press conferences, and is all over things like TUF as well. He's seen more than any fighter on the roster in history at this point. He's the face of the sport and gets promoted more than almost anyone actually competing. You would think that he was a former champion or even active champion based on how often you hear his name.

How many average NFL fans even see its commissioner speak once a season? Let alone four times every week with press conferences and events. How many can even name the heads of the NFL or MLB? Or name the CEOs of whatever products they like to buy at the grocery store?

His profile could not be higher. Constant interviews. Tons of social media interaction. Even after the embarrassment of slapping around his wife he had the UFC's PR machine firing on all cylinders to clear his reputation. To the point where a significant portion of UFC fans seem to blame his wife.

Dana likes being famous more than he likes being rich.

 

[Cooliox]

Anyone who believes that UFC 300 was "mid AF on paper" isn't a fan of the sport, and their opinion is basically irrelevant.

I paid for the PPV. I’m entitled to my opinion on what I paid for.

I certainly felt I got my money’s worth at the end.


But a gimmick BMF fight co-main, and Poatan VS Jamahal Hill main-eventing a milestone event in UFC 300, was mid AF. Once again, Dana himself confirmed that the main was a last ditch effort after everything else fell apart.

I’m assuming you paid for this event since you’re a real fan, like me, right?

Real fans obviously pay to watch legally.

The a’holes who pirate events won’t understand people like us, cause they watch for free.
They don’t need to consider the fact that hard-earned money is being spent on this. For them it’s whether the card is worth watching… rather than whether the card is worth paying for.