What’s preventing UFC/MMA from being the #1 sport in the world?

[fiftywattmafia]

tap tap tap tap tap tap tap.

 

[Sp@cePeanut]

It's not a team sport and it's run mostly by dickheads...

 

[dim_]

People say soccer is the #1 sport in the world because it’s accessible. Whether you’re rich or poor all you need is a ball. You don’t even need a ball in MMA. So shouldn’t MMA be or have the potential to be the #1 sport in the world? Throughout mankind fighting has been in our DNA. So what’s keeping MMA back from being the biggest sport?

Its an individual sport. Team sports will always rule the roost for a variety of reasons

1) when kids start playing sport team sports are preferred both educationally and for practical reasons

2) Team sports especially stadium sports make more money

3) Fans have more affinities with teams, either because of location, city, state, etc or because they represent a nation. Very few fans will have the same affinity with individuals

and even taking away team sports, MMA would still be behind Tennis, athletics, golf, swimming, motor sports, skiing, and whatever else

 

[Casper19]

most people just dont like violence. even when it's mutually agreed upon by both participants.

This is the truth

 

[Paolo Delutis]

it's pretty much a fact.



they don't have rankings. they have a schedule. and a playoffs. and then, magically, they start it all over the next year. if players are hurt and can't play, they just play anyway. certainly you're not suggesting a season schedule with a complete reset the next year?


lol.

you mean more advertisements on fighter shorts? you think that leads to more viewership? you referenced every other major sport above......that doesn't apply here?

Just google..NHL rankings or NFL ranking and then tell me they dont exist..it wouldn't be a reset but a rolling ranking system year in and year out..use your head..

And absolutely more sponsors on fighters and cage side would lead to more viewers..imagine gregor being sponsored by bass pro shops becuase he loves fishing and chad mendes for hunting..they could have meet and greets in local stores with them there abd while there they can promote there upcoming fights to people who maybe wouldnt tune in to watch random guys fighting but will because mendes is also a hunter or gregor a fisherman. . it creates more exposure...this is just one of many examples..

Bro people didnt even know what corn nuts was until UFC started having that on there shows...it became intertwined with UFC and that brand..again bringing more people in

 

[Franklin U.]

I don't know about globally but here in states, never going to exceed NFL, MLB or NBA. Listen, it's become mainstream and now calls the biggest sports company home so , eventually , it's going to get up there .The only thing I can see that would impede process would be something of the tragic nature (like a death in the cage) or a consistent run of unprofessional behaviour outside the sport.

 

[Paladin]

People say soccer is the #1 sport in the world because it’s accessible. Whether you’re rich or poor all you need is a ball. You don’t even need a ball in MMA. So shouldn’t MMA be or have the potential to be the #1 sport in the world? Throughout mankind fighting has been in our DNA. So what’s keeping MMA back from being the biggest sport?

Is it because Dana is holding it back?

Is it because the talent is holding it back?

Is it because grassroots MMA is holding it back?

Or is it because millennials do nothing but stare at their phones, don’t engage in sports, are to blame with everything wrong this generation and therefore holding the sport back?

Multiple drug failures by one person being conveniently swept under the rug and explained away as “Pulsing”

 

[Mbowes]

Because grown men go into BJJ gyms and get sub'd by 115lb women and then they stop watching

Can't believe this took 11 replies to post this time around

 

[0-1]

Because soccer is better.

 

[LugWrenchBjj]

What's preventing TS from being banned

 

[Dana's Moonface]

People say soccer is the #1 sport in the world because it’s accessible. Whether you’re rich or poor all you need is a ball. You don’t even need a ball in MMA. So shouldn’t MMA be or have the potential to be the #1 sport in the world? Throughout mankind fighting has been in our DNA. So what’s keeping MMA back from being the biggest sport?

Is it because Dana is holding it back?

Is it because the talent is holding it back?

Is it because grassroots MMA is holding it back?

Or is it because millennials do nothing but stare at their phones, don’t engage in sports, are to blame with everything wrong this generation and therefore holding the sport back?

115lb woman tapped you out beta.

Ban!!

 

[kflo]

Just google..NHL rankings or NFL ranking and then tell me they dont exist..it wouldn't be a reset but a rolling ranking system year in and year out..use your head..

they don't exist.

i don't know what it means to be a rolling ranking system. again, the sports leagues have schedules. the best team can play the worst team and noone cries about it.

so we agree we can't use sports teams as any sort of reference point since their models can't apply.

And absolutely more sponsors on fighters and cage side would lead to more viewers..imagine gregor being sponsored by bass pro shops becuase he loves fishing and chad mendes for hunting..they could have meet and greets in local stores with them there abd while there they can promote there upcoming fights to people who maybe wouldnt tune in to watch random guys fighting but will because mendes is also a hunter or gregor a fisherman. . it creates more exposure...this is just one of many examples..

you're aware they took away the sponsors and nothing happened to viewership.

and you're also aware there's nothing to stop mcgregor from being sponsored by bass pro shops and doing meet and greets in local stores?

Bro people didnt even know what corn nuts was until UFC started having that on there shows...it became intertwined with UFC and that brand..again bringing more people in

it maybe brought more people to corn nuts...

 

[BobbyD963]

MMA will have its ups and downs as far as popularity goes. The new generation will have to discover MMA on their own. The old school fans will stop following the sport. It will be difficult for an old school fan to continue following MMA when their favorite fighter isn’t fighting anymore. In team sports its different, if a player gets traded or retires it doesn’t matter because that team is still that team, that doesn’t exist in MMA. Not to mention it’s hard to root for a fighter who is 15+ years your junior.

 

[TheNinja]

It's more dangerous than other sports. Mothers are already talking about pulling their kids out of youth football b/c of concussion concerns. They aren't going to want their 8 year old getting punched in the face.

Plus most kids/adults don't want to get punched and kicked. There is something more visually appealing to other sports.

 

[613]

1) Poor unreliable drug testing

2) Popularity fights over a standard ranking system fans can track and follow there favorite fighters rise to the title shot instead we have waste of time fights..that hurt the divisions more then they help

These posts are just fucking stupid. No one cares about great drug testing. If anything the UFCs harsher drug testing is hurting their popularity. NBA, NFL, NHL, real football etc... They all have shit drug testing and are way more popular. Boxing has shit testing too

In combat sports a standard ranking system is not going to help popularity. Jones is fighting the top ranked contender and no one cares. Boxing always did the popular fight over rankings and at one time it was as big as soccer

 

[613]

It's more dangerous than other sports. Mothers are already talking about pulling their kids out of youth football b/c of concussion concerns. They aren't going to want their 8 year old getting punched in the face.

Plus most kids/adults don't want to get punched and kicked. There is something more visually appealing to other sports.

I wouldn't say its more dangerous, it just looks the most brutal. Boxing causes way more head trauma and an NFL running back takes more of a beating then any athlete

 

[Bastet]

Difficult to build up interest in fighters when they only fight 1-3 times a year.

 

[hisandherpes]

picograms

 

[Mammothman]

Somebody tpld me they mma was neck to neck with the UFC

 

[capnlarge]

1) Poor unreliable drug testing

2) Popularity fights over a standard ranking system fans can track and follow there favorite fighters rise to the title shot instead we have waste of time fights..that hurt the divisions more then they help

3) lack open sponsorship...Reebok deal forced alot of companys to not be inolved with the UFC anymore...less consumer input less people are involved ..bringing back sponsor could lead to crossover advertising events and nore chances for companies and their employees\employees families to become fans of the UFC.. Think about the tapout era and how if you saw someone wearing a tapout hoodie or shirt you automatic knew he was a fightfan..

NFL, NBA, FIFA, MLB, NHL all heavily control advertisers... None of these have open sponsorship. The only major one I can think of that allows it is NASCAR