TL
R Will MMA grow in the mainstream through structure and refinement or by remaining controversial and subversive?
What a mess the UFC seems to be in these days. Is this just the "dark ages" of a still-growing sport? Will it only get better from here? Or, is "mainstream" MMA just doomed to be a sideshow?
At this point, most casual fans use the terms MMA and UFC synonymously. Even amongst the more dedicated fans, the most popular fights are the ones in which people beat the crap out of one another. There's no denying that it's pretty barbaric. Maybe that is the part of MMA that should be embraced if it is to continue growing. Perhaps, as has been mentioned by many people already, that professional MMA would be better off if it were more like "professional" wrestling. That stuff sells like crazy. Kind of like monster truck rallies. There are flashing lights and explosions, and that stuff seems to fill up arenas. Then again, when was the last time you saw a celebrity in the front rows of a pro wrestling event. It's definitely not the "classiest" of sporting events, but it generates a lot of money.
Now, I don't think UFC should model itself after pro wrestling. I'm just curious as to where that delicate balance might be between having a refined sport and one where viewers can still indulge in the carnage that seems to satiate them. If the PEDs situation cools off, will the sport continue to grow as it has been? I can't imagine that it's at a plateau. The guys that bought it aren't filthy rich because they are dumb. I think it's safe to say they know what they are doing.
R Will MMA grow in the mainstream through structure and refinement or by remaining controversial and subversive?What a mess the UFC seems to be in these days. Is this just the "dark ages" of a still-growing sport? Will it only get better from here? Or, is "mainstream" MMA just doomed to be a sideshow?
At this point, most casual fans use the terms MMA and UFC synonymously. Even amongst the more dedicated fans, the most popular fights are the ones in which people beat the crap out of one another. There's no denying that it's pretty barbaric. Maybe that is the part of MMA that should be embraced if it is to continue growing. Perhaps, as has been mentioned by many people already, that professional MMA would be better off if it were more like "professional" wrestling. That stuff sells like crazy. Kind of like monster truck rallies. There are flashing lights and explosions, and that stuff seems to fill up arenas. Then again, when was the last time you saw a celebrity in the front rows of a pro wrestling event. It's definitely not the "classiest" of sporting events, but it generates a lot of money.
Now, I don't think UFC should model itself after pro wrestling. I'm just curious as to where that delicate balance might be between having a refined sport and one where viewers can still indulge in the carnage that seems to satiate them. If the PEDs situation cools off, will the sport continue to grow as it has been? I can't imagine that it's at a plateau. The guys that bought it aren't filthy rich because they are dumb. I think it's safe to say they know what they are doing.
