MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[TBEAR]

So where are we guys?

The UFC is the biggest promotion right now.
everyone in their way has been bought out ( pride, eliteXC, etc) does the other promotion stand a chance? Can SF, Dream,etc make it or do they become the minors?

Where do you guys think we are?

Right now, I see the UFC as the Majors.
Everyone else, not Zuffa owened(wec), as minors.

We are getting close to main stream, but not there yet. What is the next step?

So, where are we, when you think of sports?

[mattc25]

.....in my opinion the fighter's need to form a union before MMA as a whole can be considered as one of THE MAJOR sports around the world......especially in the US. I'm not positive a union would fix the problems with completely,but if their was a union we would have already seen Fedor vs. Randy and Fedor vs. Brock would be happening sometime soon.

[Mac]

I think the amount of people watching is at an all time high. I think that number will lower once the people who watch just for the "spectacle" lose interest because they can't understand the MMA part of it all.

Once the MMA boom ends and things slow down I believe they will get better over all. The sport will become more widely accepted in the mainstream.

[TBEAR]

Thanks MAC^^^

[noahm]

Originally Posted by mattc25

.....in my opinion the fighter's need to form a union before MMA as a whole can be considered as one of THE MAJOR sports around the world......especially in the US. I'm not positive a union would fix the problems with completely,but if their was a union we would have already seen Fedor vs. Randy and Fedor vs. Brock would be happening sometime soon.

I agree about forming a union, but am not really sure how that would affect cross promotion. The more pressing need is to give them leverage on one sided contract clauses and strong arming fighters into signing away the rights to their likeness in video games or else..., health care needs, and a few other issues that seem to leave the fighters with nowhere to turn.

For the record, I am not usually a big union guy, but when it comes to things in their infancy, there is a need for strength in numbers, especially when working for a practical monopoly.

As far as the fans go, I think the more mainstream MMA gets, the more bloodsport hillfolk, WWE types will become the poster fans of the sport. Just an unfortunate side effect that may ultimately hurt the long-term acceptance as a legitimate sport.

[MMA, Esq.]

I don't think you will ever be able to compare MMA to the big US sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, etc), because you will never have a situation where you have a protected monopoly and antitrust exemptions. In other words, you wont see a only major league promotion.

Unfortunately, you then have to compare the boxing model. And even that, until there is some fighter union (like mattc25 mentioned) and a LOT of changes, you won't see fighters fighting for different promotors, at least not while the UFC dominates in this country. I think that is what will keep MMA from being as big as it could potentially be - the lack of ability to actually hold "super fights" with fighters in different promotions.

Now, as for whether the other promotions stand a chance against the UFC. I think MMA fans are itching for the competition, so there is a possibility. The problem is, nobody seems to be able to build intriguing cards over the long-term and are unable to stay in the game long enough to fight through the the growth period. SF has a change, but their matchmaking is horrible.

[tinkerskippy]

I have to say I was incredibly surprised how big it was in the US/Canada when I visited in Dec 08/Jan 09. People were talking about it in bars and had pretty decent knowledge (albeit only about UFC).

Coming from Australia it is still kind of underground here - most people have heard of UFC and some of those people enjoy MMA as a whole - but by and large bars don't carry MMA PPVs. They continue to carry boxing PPVs regularly notwithstanding most people not even knowing who the HW champion is at present.

I got my circle of friends into mma about 3 years ago finally after overcoming all sorts of bullshit about it being glorified wrestling and hugging on the ground. We have a long long way to go in Australia.

[QOTSA420]

These morons at my highschool have "UFC nights" where they put on gloves drink beer and brawl. They use the verb for fighting as UFCing someone. Very comical to watch the utter stupidity. But also very sad considering they come to me for fight news/predictions, and also to BWW to watch the ppvs and I am associated with these neandrathals. MMA has a loooong way to go. It is a real drag when I have only one knowlegeble friend that I am not ashamed to hang out with.

[The Return Of......]

i think the ufc will continue to grow as will mma as a whole. i see the ufc kinda splitting the difference between the major sports (nfl, nba, mlb, nhl) and boxing.

the ufc wants to be mma top dog and right now they are. i do not see any other major promotion on the ufc's level based in the states for atleast the next 20 years. if japan can get there act together, then we could have another promotion over sea's that is also considered the big leagues. personally i think this is the best option for mma and the best thing that could happen.

one of the major issues with boxing is you have multiple champs in one weight class because of all the different promotions. i see the ufc leading the way to eliminate this in mma due to the fact that no one considers the strikeforce belts to be of a higher level at this time and ufc will do anything in there power to keep it that way alteast on us soil. this isnt to say a promotion in japan couldnt come along there title be just as prestigious, however it takes a long time to promote world wild like the ufc is starting to do and there is no one even close to being able to promote world wild on the ufc's level just yet. even with the co promotion between strikeforce and dream its still just fighter borrowing more or less.

a fighters union couldnt hurt, but i see it as thing where the ufc would actually work with them, like the nfl does with the nflpa. it would have to be structured alittle differently i am sure.

in the next 10 to 15 mma will be a big deal, you will see more smaller regional promotion being broadcast, probably on a channel like espn. as far as a network deal with monthly fights?? i do not see that happening anytime soon but i wouldnt be suprised to see another company or strikeforce get another deal down the road with better advertising and promotial support in the next 5 years to put on major shows 3 to 4 times a year