What is preventing you from being a bigger UFC fan?

[Randy Fandy Fo Fanders]

We're all fans, but is there something about the UFC that prevents you from being a bigger fan?

For me, i'm more of a traditionalist and like firm rankings and warranted title shots. Things like preferential treatment, especially with Jon Jones who held up the LHW division looking for favorable matchups, now holding up the HW division while simultaneously fucking over Tom Aspinal which impacts his legacy, really makes me hate some aspects of the sport...and Dana allows it to happen.

The way the HW division is being managed leaves sour feelings and honestly, makes me withdraw from the sport somewhat.

What are some things that make you withdraw from the sport or prevent you from maximizing your fandom?

 

[IDGETKTFO]

exciting fighters

 

[Meathead Jock]

Four children that all play sports eating into time being a fan of any sport. UFC is actually easier to follow though as it's late night so I can start it up after they fall asleep.

I wish it was 2 events a month total so less watered down and some sort of end to the current PPV model.

Hoping Netflix fixes the issues that aren't my kids.

 

[Prologue]

I miss that high stakes feeling more than anything. Remembering a time when the sport was new but coming into its own and it was that sweet spot where every fight felt like it mattered, but we didn't have to wait multiple months for an event. Fighters felt unique and had more quality time in the spotlight.

Hate to say it, but the cat's out of the bag and there's probably no going back. I'm a bigger fan of Sherdog than MMA at this point.

 

[joy2day]

More compelling narratives, more stars. Low wages and an increasingly limited pool (athletes from other combat sports that want to do MMA) have severely interfered with the growth of the sport at the highest level. The recent rumblings of low PPV buy rates are no surprise.

Obviously still cool stuff going on. But I'd rather have less events and better fights and compensation. They just don't have the talent to fill the number of events in their ESPN contract, and it shows in the diluted product. Altering the model of the sport may end up being necessary for it to survive/thrive.

If what I'm hearing is true, the money people will throw at watching UFC has declined and it has not had the growth ESPN had hoped for. It certainly doesn't seem to hold the same commercial appeal in general to times of Conor, GSP, Ronda, Brock, etc. The UFC has not been able to restore that with their brand-driven approach.

 

[Romulas]

The sterilization of the UFC. It was much cooler when fighters could wear what they want and have their own sponsors. The UFC killed off 80% of it's personality over the last 10 years. ESPN sucked the remaining charm out of them...

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Dana White, Hunter Campbell, Mick Maynard, and Sean Shelby

 

[aerius]

Not enough violence, way too many early stoppages, and shitty match making.

I do have to admit I'm totally spoiled by ONE Championship's Muay Thai in 4oz gloves, it's the best Just Bleed combat sport I've seen since the heyday of Pride FC. You get total bangers like this every single week (time stamped) along with vicious KOs where guys get stretchered out of the ring.

 

[pnchdrnk]

To be completely honest I’m not that invested in the current fighters. Got into MMA watching Pride and was super invested during the GSP era, Carlos Condit and Rory MacDonald being my favourite fighters. Still watch pretty much every event but I’m not very serious about it anymore and I don’t know half of the fighters’ names

 

[Skarsgard]

A fulltime job, moonlight gig bartending, two kids, and not enough time.

 

[Söze Aldo]

The feeling that they are moving on from actually attracting the most talented MMA fighters in the world and will be happy to have the whole roster filled with Dancing with Dana White Contender series bloat.

 

[shunyata]

ESPN+ and the ppv model.

Ditch ppv forever, take the Netflix deal, and I'd probably watch a lot more cards live on the Dana approved medium for viewing them.

 

[BFoe]

Lack of meritocracy and influx of social media bullshit, not as many exciting fighters, way too much politics involved (I mean actual politics, like Trump going to the fights and so on).

 

[World eater]

Apex events are a big turn down for me. It just doesn’t seem right.
The state of HW and LHW, my favourite divisions, is not helping either.
But I still watch every main card.

 

[RockyLockridge]

too many fights per fight card. I'd watch Every fight if I didn't have to be glued to a couch or TV for 6+ hours.

MMA is too hard to digest. No one wants to give up their entire saturday to watch MMA. no other sport requires such sacrifice

MMA should be set up by week. This week instead of having 13 fights this weekend, There should have been 4 tuesday night, 4 Tomorrow night, and 5 on saturday night. or even two events that are 6/7 fights each.

the problem isn't too much many cards, or too many fights. It's simply too many fights PER card

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Not enough Nina Drama

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Dana white and the political shit. I don't care about any party but I do hate the anti woke shit. That's the same as being woke. Your literally doing the same thing. Also the announcers are now just bad. It's time for a sweeping overhaul I mute shit sometimes and that's sad. Also conor fucked mma up. Every fighter thinks they are the next him. That's a once in a generation situation

 

[BJJ4Tone]

We're all fans, but is there something about the UFC that prevents you from being a bigger fan?

For me, i'm more of a traditionalist and like firm rankings and warranted title shots. Things like preferential treatment, especially with Jon Jones who held up the LHW division looking for favorable matchups, now holding up the HW division while simultaneously fucking over Tom Aspinal which impacts his legacy, really makes me hate some aspects of the sport...and Dana allows it to happen.

The way the HW division is being managed leaves sour feelings and honestly, makes me withdraw from the sport somewhat.

What are some things that make you withdraw from the sport or prevent you from maximizing your fandom?

Fighters being awarded opportunities for reasons other than merit.
Fighters that are considered exciting or popular being awarded opportunities because it will line the pockets of the almighty shareholders and, of course, the Bald Fuckin' GOOF...


Dana White Privilege is probably the single thing I hate the most.


Also up there is fighters feeling that they need to stand out from the pack on the mic instead of in the cage. Having to be obnoxious and LOUD in order to be noticed.
Dumb gimmicks like twerking or wearing "nerd" glasses or screaming freedom while holding a fucking bible. Leave that shit at home.
Ws should be the only thing that talks.

 

[BJJ4Tone]

I miss that high stakes feeling more than anything. Remembering a time when the sport was new but coming into its own and it was that sweet spot where every fight felt like it mattered, but we didn't have to wait multiple months for an event. Fighters felt unique and had more quality time in the spotlight.

Hate to say it, but the cat's out of the bag and there's probably no going back. I'm a bigger fan of Sherdog than MMA at this point.

Not UFC, but were you around for Fedor/Cro Cop?
Talk about high stakes... I've been chasing that high for 20 years now.

 

[Blastbeat]

i think the oversaturation of the product and having too many fight nights is holding me back.
when i first got into MMA i couldnt wait to watch the next event.
in the past 2-3 years there have been fight nights that i have completely skipped due to lack of interest. of course, a card can always be better on paper than it appears (Vettori vs Dolidze was actually really fun), but thats not really the case most of the time.

less events, more promotion of individual fighters, and actual meritocracy would help bring me back into the fold