Why don't the UFC market Mighty Mouse as an elite catch wrestler?

[BKB92]

His lineage is pretty great and catch wrestling is basically the hipster alternative to BJJ because of guys like Sakuraba, Tamura and Barnett.

Willy Charnock > Billy Riley > Karl Gotch > Yoshiaki Fujiwara > Masakatsu Funaki >Matt Hume>Demetrious Johnson

Marketing him as the last elite bastion of a martial art with ties to pro wrestling could add some appeal for casual fans. Names like Gotch, Funaki and Fujiwara are held in very high esteem and Japanese Pro Wrassling's popularity is surging right now all over the world.

Catch still has a mystique other martial arts struggle to keep because of it's rarity and exclusivity, also pro wrestling fans see it as a proud part of the history of the pseudo-sport. If the UFC marketed DJ as 'their' guy, they could stand to make him into a legitimate draw.

I'm probably talking out of my arse here, but it seems like an angle that could finally get DJ some traction with casual fans.

As we've seen over the years, pro wrestling fans can make a huge boost to revenue with the commercial success of Shamrock(on his return), Brock, Punk, Lashley, Takada, Ogawa etc.

 

[Leinster Rugby]

Would doing that make him any taller?

 

[alaskamma]

Uh what....

 

[Sonny Qc]

Yeah sure, market him as something 0,01% of the population knows about.

Great idea

 

[dembones22]

His lineage is pretty great and catch wrestling is basically the hipster alternative to BJJ because of guys like Sakuraba, Tamura and Barnett.

Willy Charnock > Billy Riley > Karl Gotch > Yoshiaki Fujiwara > Masakatsu Funaki >Matt Hume>Demetrious Johnson

Marketing him as the last elite bastion of a martial art with ties to pro wrestling could add some appeal for casual fans. Names like Gotch, Funaki and Fujiwara are held in very high esteem and Japanese Pro Wrassling's popularity is surging right now all over the world.

Catch still has a mystique other martial arts struggle to keep because of it's rarity and exclusivity, also pro wrestling fans see it as a proud part of the history of the pseudo-sport. If the UFC marketed DJ as 'their' guy, they could stand to make him into a legitimate draw.

I'm probably talking out of my arse here, but it seems like an angle that could finally get DJ some traction with casual fans.

As we've seen over the years, pro wrestling fans can make a huge boost to revenue with the commercial success of Shamrock(on his return), Brock, Punk, Lashley, Takada, Ogawa etc.

Yeah but most pro wrestling fans don't like actual wrestling. Just old Fuks like myself even know or care about STRONG STYLE.
MMA fans care more about Instagram posts and Twitter beefs.

 

[BKB92]

Yeah sure, market him as something 0,01% of the population knows about.

Great idea

0,01% of the population isn't that far off those who are hardcore MMA fans. It might be an improvement.

 

[Which Doctor]

 

[cevo]

Lol, wonderful thread

 

[BKB92]

Yeah but most pro wrestling fans don't like actual wrestling. Just old Fuks like myself even know or care about STRONG STYLE.
MMA fans care more about Instagram posts and Twitter beefs.

I feel like that attitude is changing though with the emergence of NJPW in the Western marketplace. Guys like Suzuki are able to draw decent crowds in venues all over the world now.

UFC could stand to use the momentum of puroresu like PRIDE once did to create stars of their own.

Wrestling fans really do wish that "Pro Wrestling is Strong" was true. Having one of the greatest P4P fighters in the world being marketed as a catch lineage fighter could appeal to that market.

 

[dembones22]

0,01% of the population isn't that far off those who are hardcore MMA fans. It might be an improvement.

PRO WRESTLING IS, INFACT VERY STRONG.

 

[OnMcGregorNutz]

when MM fights I feel like i'm watching some circus midget freak fight show

 

[HelloJapan]

Yeah, nothing sounds more marketable then a 125 LBS catch wrestler with plays video games, and ducks guys 10 LBS heavier. Fucking brilliant.

 

[Gnaww]

They tried to market Mighty Mouse, they even designed an entire season of TUF to find some one for him to fight.

You just can't force people to be interested in watching grown men the size of fifth graders fight.

 

[BKB92]

Yeah, nothing sounds more marketable then a 125 LBS catch wrestler with plays video games, and ducks guys 10 LBS heavier. Fucking brilliant.

The point is not to appeal to you as a hardcore MMA fan. It's to appeal to pro wrasslin' fans and get them interested in MMA. Considering the crossover between videogame players and wrestling fans, there might even be some synergy there. Plus undersized guys are all the rage these days with pro wrestling fans.

 

[juncito]

Why don't they just market him a few inches taller like Shane Carwin. They could also tell people his walking around weight is upwards of 200lbs, that'll probably go over better than catch wrestling.

 

[dembones22]

The point is not to appeal to you as a hardcore MMA fan. It's to appeal to pro wrasslin' fans and get them interested in MMA. Considering the crossover between videogame players and wrestling fans, there might even be some synergy there. Plus undersized guys are all the rage these days with pro wrestling fans.

Nah, casuals is who they wanna attract. Plus MM has video game dorks on his side. If anything he should also compete in E sports and he might bring in more eyes to his fights that way. ( yeah, I can't believe E sports is a thing either).

<{cruzshake}> . SICK SAD WORLD.

 

[gevoudane]

I dont think DJ see's himself as a catch wrestler. Humes also coaches or coached Chris Leben, Bob Sapp and Matt Brown. I wouldnt really call either of them catch wrestlers.

 

[Fight Professor]

 

[kammfreudenstei]

Yeah, nothing sounds more marketable then a 125 LBS catch wrestler with plays video games, and ducks guys 10 LBS heavier. Fucking brilliant.

Whos your favorite fighter

 

[ColombianFist]

Simple: according to the UFC small guys don't draw, therefore, they don't promote DJ like the champ he is.