Why UFC *Feels* Wrong to Me Right Now

[SharpasaRazor]

Watching through the card from last night I feel like there was a bunch of stuff jumping out at me as some of the reasons why the UFC as an organisation almost feels like its repelling me from watching my favourite sport rn, and in contrast to a presentation that I felt 5-6 years ago was fixing all the mistakes that were killing the love for boxing:

- Garbled presentation: Noche, sphere, Riyadh season wtf. The 'homers make up shotgun' equivalent of marketing a fight card, the hype for the fights totally lost in this bizarre nonesene.

- Advertising EVERYWHERE: Controversially always felt that removing ads from fight kits (tho fighters should have been properly compensated) was an important step for making the presenation feel more like the big fight nights of old than a monster truck rally. Now there is a fucking ad in every corner of the screen at all fucking times and they're largely garish embarrasing nonsense - Dude Wipes are now not on a fighters shorts but they're on the fucking Octagon and UFC is coining it in

- Interfering with the fights: The degree to which Herb was fucking with the main event is unreal and can only down to have been told either to keep the action moving to favour O'Malley or bc Dana was freaking about a boring fight on this high-profile, loss making event. Sure stuff like this has gone all the way back to the peak of UFC (Khabib v Conor) but the blatant fucking with their main offering of two guys just having a fuckin MMA fight is a huge turn off.

- Ticketing: Obv the prices at sphere have been talked to death but even just the decision to hold this even there bc Canelo nabbed the T Mobile and Dana got mad is indicative of how much the UFC will try anything to see what it can fleece live fans for. In the UK we had an event starting in the middle of the fucking night with prices higher than a year before when they ran the event at our primetime. Its like actively contemptuous in a way which is hard to stomach.

- Production: Just make more cards in 4k and do less of any of this other shit - its a sport, I wanna watch it in the highest definition possible not have a camera shot that enables me to see up the guys nose or whatever.

I know no one gives a fuck and so on but I have these thoughts and my girlfriend don't care so I'm gonna put em on the Karate forum.

Being a fan of the UFC now is really similar experience to anyone whose ever been a customer of a business bought by private equity. Every single aspect of the service, product and experience is wrung down to the barest bones and they cut everything to the bone the squeeze all conceivable profit out whilst making you feel like a chump for even continuing to use it.

 

[StonedLemur]

This is what happens when you take something that was never meant for everyone and push it into the mainstream sir.

 

[TheMadHatter]

I fell asleep during the card last night. If that is any indication of how interested in the sport I am currently. I don’t see myself rewatching the main card either.

 

[Ares Black]

I fell asleep during the card last night. If that is any indication of how interested in the sport I am currently. I don’t see myself rewatching the main card either.

Did you at least catch Ribovics vs Zellhuber?

 

[TeenageMutantLesnarTurtle]

The majority of this and any other MMA forum thinks MMA has sucked for ages, but we never manage to stop watching.

 

[Urluberluu]

the main problem is that top 15 fighters don't fight inof

 

[Rataria]

Its feels like its becoming the Walmart of Mma

 

[volcom5]

From the description you posted it sounds like what PrideFC use to do and everyone loved that organization

 

[Wilmer Digreux]

It feels like it's become shit.

 

[BigTruck]

I've become a casual and am glad bc I used to be hardcore and watch everyone but they also used to have so much better fights and now it's bullshit. I'd have bought this card years ago now fuck all that shit I'm going to sleep at 10!

 

[JakePaulMMA]

I stopped watching when they stopped using the Gladiator intro. Even then, those were streamed...mostly.

 

[Sakuraba'sEar]

I'll always pop in for the good UFC fights, but I'm going to start transitioning back to ONE Championship and RIZIN once again personally

The UFC started losing my interest a few years ago, it happens with all good things. But I can't pretend anymore. Dana spent how much money on this and the only good thing were the senoritas?

How long are we going to get baited by Conrad dipshit. Oh wait Jon's fighting 60 year old stipe in a month or so, that's so exciting

 

[Roids]

OP you forgot the shill commentary teams now.

 

[thorcorm]

The biggest thing that is wrong with it is no fence grabbing to keep themselves up.

If wrestlers can use the fence to take people down and lean against it, fighters should be able to hold themselves up. If you're a good wrestler, do it out in the middle of the cage.

 

[Sakuraba'sEar]

The world was better when fucking Jimmy eats World was on top dammit

 

[skylolow]

It's pretty simple guys......................you all been watching a long time, meaning you got into it a long time ago. When you first start anything you really like you enjoy the hell out of it and can't get enough. As time goes by you don't quite get that same high. It becomes easier and easier to write off events, where 4 years ago you'd never miss a show. All this is ok and is expected. For some this takes 10 to 12 years to happen others maybe 5 years. But chances are high everyone of us on here will eventually go through it. In end, you'll just accept that some events aren't worth your time. Many of us probably DVR a lot events and watch a three hour event in about an hour to get past the BS we seen a million times.

I think we have these feelings more so with MMA than other sports because MMA is fast action and changes on dime. Comparing that to baseball, soccer, football, etc etc all requires much less attentiveness to watch. It is easy to have the baseball game on in the background and accomplish other task. MMA that is hard to do with but many us try.

I don't think you'd think any different if fighters had their own sponsors on them or ticket prices where less. Yes, the sphere tickets were ridiculously priced and think the UFC brass would even admit that now behind closed doors.

 

[Ozze]

To me the main reason why I lost some interest is tha randomness of it all.

In the past years it was more clearer what guys were fighting for, their ranking postions, what was on the line, etc.

Fighters had paths they were taking, there were storylines.

Now, who the fuck knows what is going to happen next? FIghts make no sense, rankings makes no sense, and it matters to know what is at stake at any fight.

Just like any other sports, things gets more exciting during playoffs, etc.

Kind of like this Charles vs. Chandler rematch. Is it a good fight? Yes. But whats the point? Like putting to A tier soccer or football teams playing a friendly at some random other country. They are both great teams and the game will be good, but it just lacks that extra.

 

[TheMadHatter]

Did you at least catch Ribovics vs Zellhuber?

I did not. I saw Rosas Jr and the second fight which was action packed.

 

[Ares Black]

I did not. I saw Rosas Jr and the second fight which was action packed.

Oof. The Rosas fight was probably the worst of the night.

If you get a chance to watch Ribovics-Zellhuber you should. The whole fight is good but the last round is insane.

 

[HatKick]

Another UFC is dying thread.

Is the product really that much worse? Sure it does feel like there's a shortage of cool likeable personalities compared to 10-15 years ago. Today's fighters are always trying to "sell themselves" with some pretty pathetic results.

But are the fights worse? There's always been bangers and stinkers and everything in between. Apart from HW and LHW I haven't really noticed a dip in quality.

Might just be an age thing. Except for a few big fights now and then I haven't been that excited for MMA in the past 2-3 years. More of a casual now. But it's natural to be obsessed with something for a while... until you're not.