UFC's best days are long gone

[JimmyJumper]

I soo agree TS. It's not even like a fight anymore, it's just 2 men pitter patter punching each other trying to look good for the judges

despicable.. i miss the days when real fighters like dan severn and don frye would throw down

 

[trott]

The "fighters" today are whats making the sport lose steam. The guys today are really more professional athletes competing in a combat sport. They are way more calculated in their approach in the way they fight, and seem less hungry in the way the fight. Some of the older fighters like forrest, and chuck came off as brawlers who would be homeless and would fight for free if they had to and people ate that shit up. The ufc/mma back then was kind of seen as some bad ass underground thing that almost shouldnt even be on televison. Another thing is back in the day where fighters were less well rounded and people saw a wrestler fuck up a striker, people thought of ufc fighters as invincible and fans loved that ufc fighters are the baddest human beings on the planet and tito otiz would fuck up mike tyson etc. People really seem to not care about that much anymore. The sport has lost its popularity.

All that said though I do kind of miss the one disipline days though where it seemed like fighters were defending their art form like fighters in gis, those karate suits etc. I thought that was interesting as hell.. but I did enjoy a very technical fight today like jj vs gus. Gsp hendricks, bendo rustam etc.

 

[mkess101]

You need to start to realize that this is no longer an isolated phenomenon where just a few scattered people feel like the sport is getting less exciting. This is a growing trend, and affects the enjoyment of long time fans, like myself, who acknowledge the quality of technique is ever evolving, and yet that of the product is decreasing.

Nobody is saying the sport should go back to the 'dark ages', or is moping for the good old Pride days. That's not the end of the story.

If you enjoy the sport as much as ever, then great for you. But a lot of people feel like the sport is losing steam, due to a variety of factors, not all of them related to what happens inside the ring. And you come across in this patronizing tone, as if your unconditional enjoyment for the sport, was a sign of an intellect that appreciates technique and nothing else.

It doesn't work like that. People get tired of watching the same routine over and over; the sport has become exceedingly monotonous in presentation and content, and its ever escalating frequency just makes this worse and worse. Cards abound, there's more divisions, cards, and fighters than ever. The quality of the cards this year has been substantially inferior overall than in the last few years. I have elsewhere made a thread on this.

It has become quite difficult to follow the divisions and fighters, since everything is very scattered, moves rather quickly. Big household names have retired temporarily or for good, and many of the current stars have not been developed in a similar way. The presentation, hype, publicity, and just saturation is at an all time high. The ensuing professionalization of the sport has made point fighting more ubiquitous than before, and although a reflection of smart game planning, it is also an exploiting of a rule system that often is used to avoid fights.

I am not alone on these sentiments. There's a huge segment of the fanbase that shares these sentiments, as someone who trains and has many friends who follow MMA. This is not an isolated incident of a few bad events. It could just be a bad year, but it seems a trend, and it is important to call to attention.

I don't agree with everything in this post.

That said, this guy gets it, and this post describes many of the challenges the UFC currently faces in a very eloquent way.

My wife ( a girly girl for sure) even was interested when TUF started, and loved the Randy/Chuck days. When I was watching the event a couple weeks ago, she sat there reading a book, not paying attention at all.

I don't believe MMA is dead. I think this is one step in the progression of the sport, and if the powers that be in the UFC have the foresight I hope they do, they will realize tweaks need to be made and adjust accordingly.

It wasn't too long ago that they talked about selling out the new Cowboys stadium and doing ridiculous ppv #'s with either Silva/GSP or Jones/Silva. Now, I don't think there's a fight out there that the general public would deem an "event".

The talent is there, inside the cage. But remember how huge Silva/Sonnen II, Lesnar/Mir II, Chuck/Randy II, or Hughes/Gracie (as silly an actual fight as it was) were? What potential current fight could be that kind of "event"? Maybe Jones/Cain? Maybe, with some serious marketing. Otherwise, basically everything is "just another card" to the casual fan. And the casual fans are the ones who have made it worthwhile financially for guys to aspire to be UFC champs.

 

[OAR]

maybe you guys were never fight fans?


you just watched because other people watched?

 

[Tylerlikesmma]

Lucifer Alpha is such an unlikable poster.

 

[filthynumber1]

These fucking gyms teaching these guys how to defend themselves is ruining the sport.

Lol, funny thing is, it's true

 

[mccallievols]

You need to start to realize that this is no longer an isolated phenomenon where just a few scattered people feel like the sport is getting less exciting. This is a growing trend, and affects the enjoyment of long time fans, like myself, who acknowledge the quality of technique is ever evolving, and yet that of the product is decreasing.

Nobody is saying the sport should go back to the 'dark ages', or is moping for the good old Pride days. That's not the end of the story.

If you enjoy the sport as much as ever, then great for you. But a lot of people feel like the sport is losing steam, due to a variety of factors, not all of them related to what happens inside the ring. And you come across in this patronizing tone, as if your unconditional enjoyment for the sport, was a sign of an intellect that appreciates technique and nothing else.

It doesn't work like that. People get tired of watching the same routine over and over; the sport has become exceedingly monotonous in presentation and content, and its ever escalating frequency just makes this worse and worse. Cards abound, there's more divisions, cards, and fighters than ever. The quality of the cards this year has been substantially inferior overall than in the last few years. I have elsewhere made a thread on this.

It has become quite difficult to follow the divisions and fighters, since everything is very scattered, moves rather quickly. Big household names have retired temporarily or for good, and many of the current stars have not been developed in a similar way. The presentation, hype, publicity, and just saturation is at an all time high. The ensuing professionalization of the sport has made point fighting more ubiquitous than before, and although a reflection of smart game planning, it is also an exploiting of a rule system that often is used to avoid fights.

I am not alone on these sentiments. There's a huge segment of the fanbase that shares these sentiments, as someone who trains and has many friends who follow MMA. This is not an isolated incident of a few bad events. It could just be a bad year, but it seems a trend, and it is important to call to attention.

agree with this completely.

it's getting harder and harder to win people's dollars and time but their sole approach seems to be "more is better".

 

[Unbreakabull]

You need to start to realize that this is no longer an isolated phenomenon where just a few scattered people feel like the sport is getting less exciting. This is a growing trend, and affects the enjoyment of long time fans, like myself, who acknowledge the quality of technique is ever evolving, and yet that of the product is decreasing.

Nobody is saying the sport should go back to the 'dark ages', or is moping for the good old Pride days. That's not the end of the story.

If you enjoy the sport as much as ever, then great for you. But a lot of people feel like the sport is losing steam, due to a variety of factors, not all of them related to what happens inside the ring. And you come across in this patronizing tone, as if your unconditional enjoyment for the sport, was a sign of an intellect that appreciates technique and nothing else.

It doesn't work like that. People get tired of watching the same routine over and over; the sport has become exceedingly monotonous in presentation and content, and its ever escalating frequency just makes this worse and worse. Cards abound, there's more divisions, cards, and fighters than ever. The quality of the cards this year has been substantially inferior overall than in the last few years. I have elsewhere made a thread on this.

It has become quite difficult to follow the divisions and fighters, since everything is very scattered, moves rather quickly. Big household names have retired temporarily or for good, and many of the current stars have not been developed in a similar way. The presentation, hype, publicity, and just saturation is at an all time high. The ensuing professionalization of the sport has made point fighting more ubiquitous than before, and although a reflection of smart game planning, it is also an exploiting of a rule system that often is used to avoid fights.

I am not alone on these sentiments. There's a huge segment of the fanbase that shares these sentiments, as someone who trains and has many friends who follow MMA. This is not an isolated incident of a few bad events. It could just be a bad year, but it seems a trend, and it is important to call to attention.

this'll do just fine

 

[skombolis]

Some people change their entire outlook based on the last card or two they see. A few lackluster cards and suddenly the entire MMA world is caving in. What about the Matt Brown card that was free no less with 7 knockout finishes? In what other sport is every game exciting as shit? In the four majors it seems like half the games the guys are just going through the motions waiting for the playoffs. You gotta take the good with the bad. So long as there are cards I really enjoyed I am not gonna get too concerned about the boring ones. I would much rather have that than like one card a month. It is a rarity when the whole card from prelim to finish is pretty boring. Although there has been a few stinkers lately. But next great card and people will be hyped up again. Just the nature of the sport I guess. A very "what have you done for me lately" kind of fanbase for the majority.

 

[submiturass]

I miss the days when a fight was a fight. Back when winning rounds wasn't the point. Back when two warriors went head up and let the chips fall where they may.

Did you hear about the price the Clippers sold for.? 2 Billion Dollars. The UFC brand is valuable. I guarantee if it was for sale the bidding war would drop jaws.

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

It has become quite difficult to follow the divisions and fighters, since everything is very scattered, moves rather quickly.

It's easy to follow the HW division. The same ten guys have been at the top for the past decade.

The ensuing professionalization of the sport has made point fighting more ubiquitous than before, and although a reflection of smart game planning, it is also an exploiting of a rule system that often is used to avoid fights.

You say that, but prior to UFC 174, the last FN had 5/6 finishes on the main card, and before that, UFC 173 had 4/5 finishes on the main card. Both main events were finished. That's why I can't take these criticisms seriously. Everything said is exaggerated, and in some cases, completely wrong. It's like you are just parroting something you read on this forum.

 

[billybobzia]

UFC 173 was a great card.. last nights card I chose not to watch.. glad I missed it..

The lawler/hendricks card was great too..

There are just a lot more cards and if you watch them all, you will probably be disappointed, pick and choose the ones you care to watch and its still good.

 

[skombolis]

UFC 173 was a great card.. last nights card I chose not to watch.. glad I missed it..

The lawler/hendricks card was great too..

There are just a lot more cards and if you watch them all, you will probably be disappointed, pick and choose the ones you care to watch and its still good.

Sometimes the best cards on paper suck and the cards you didn't expect much from end up being great. It can be hard to predict. The co-mains on paper had the possibility of being wars. Especially the Woodley/Rory fight. And who would have figured AA and Shaub would be so tentative? But I thought the whole night pretty much sucked. And while you gotta admire the skill both Rory and MM showed, it was not an exciting card. It was a risky PPV card. It came up craps. Unfortunately, that happens sometimes. But like you said, there have been some great cards lately too. And to make sure you see the great ones you sometimes have to sit through a bad one. But I almost didn't get last nights card. Wish I hadn't now! But normally I am fine with letting the percentages play out. It is worth it overall to me.

 

[ocfightfan]

That's great TS, time for you to find another sport to follow.

 

[kamag06]

Not ready to overreact yet. We are less than a year since Gus-Jones, Lawler- Hendricks, Diego- Gil, Hunt- Bigfoot, GSP- Hendricks, Dillishaw- Barao, Rousey- Tate, Romero- Brunson, Brown- Silva

 

[TheLastSamurai]

Having cards that have basically every fight go to a dull decision where barely any damage was given out isn't helping. That's not all of the UFC's fault though. They need to implement something that would encourage the fighters to go for the finish every time, but they won't.

 

[skombolis]

Having cards that have basically every fight go to a dull decision where barely any damage was given out isn't helping. That's not all of the UFC's fault though. They need to implement something that would encourage the fighters to go for the finish every time, but they won't.

They have finish bonuses on TUF but not in the UFC

I have never understood that. Instead there are cards where 3-4 could have been FOTN and only one can get it. Or the new system they have now i guess. Either way, I say there needs to be a finish bonus. And guys who fight in the UFC should get a 3-fight minimum contract. A little security and a bonus for finishing would make a huge difference IMO

 

[4n4L53x]

I watch less and less UFC now, forgot there was even a fight last night.
It's not really because of point fighting, although I won't lie that can also be a turn off if several fights in a row are just LnP.

1) I find the broadcasts are loaded with so much filler now, for 1 hour of UFC I feel like it is 45 minutes of commercials / product spruiking, even the PPVs are just loaded with crap.

2) The cards are watered down, it's rare you get 2 really good fights on a card any more, most of the time it has a headliner, and the rest of the card is filled with guys who should really be Facebook prelim material.

Some fighters I will continue to watch UFC for, Aldo, Pettis, Matt Brown, Lawler, Weidman, Machida, Gustafsson and some others.

However I find myself caring less and less, which is unfortunate as I have been a huge MMA fan since 1997, I've lost interest before in about 99/00 but that was mainly due to how difficult it was to watch, this time it is different the UFC is easy to watch, but I've stopped caring.

Judging by some of the threads over the past couple of years, I don't think I am the only person who the UFC has alienated.
I'm sure lots of new fans are coming into the sport, but you also need to keep your existing fans if you don't want the UFC falling back into obscurity.

 

[mmaelitefan000]

50k finishing fight bonus would heat things up

 

[lsa]

I miss the days when a fight was a fight. Back when winning rounds wasn't the point. Back when two warriors went head up and let the chips fall where they may.

well thats what happens when money enters the game.
back then the fighters did not fight for money fame or ranking because there where none.

Today fighting is a career and its all about maximizing your potentials, building your brand and make a name for your self. So a loss can really hurt your future earning potential. Just look at SD after a fighter loses a fight.. He is exposed, never that good should cut weight. A loss is so much more damaging than a boring win.

But I dont agree with you todays fighters are more well rounded and better trained.
The sport is getting better and the fighters are getting better, which also means its harder to beat each other since they all train better and more.

I dont miss the old days with one ppv every 3 month. And when it sucked there was 2-3 months to the next ppv..
I dont miss Tim Sylvia as HW champ, Chuck was great but beating grapplers over and over.

People always longs for the old days for some reason. It wasn't better you are just not remembering it right.