Is MMA starting to overtake boxing?

[TheLeprechaun]

I was surprised today when a few of my friends who are real casual fans of boxing/mma were talking about the upcoming big ufc fight this weekend between jon jones and daniel cormier. These guys are what i would call the typical casual fan, no idea of who is in what weight class (one of them was talking about who would win a possible froch vs khan fight recently) but they are really up for this mma fight unlike anything ive seen for a while. I suppose conor mcgregor has made mma big in ireland at the moment.

[Boxing Prospect]

It's a big fight, casuals talk about big fights. Think Fury Vs Chisora, Froch vs Groves, Eubank is vs Saunders...

[Emmseegee]

I found myself watching a build up vid on youtube for the jones fight which is the first time I have ever done that for UFC.
I really hope I don't start to like it.

[reggaereggae]

I think the popularity of MMA will continue to rise for a bit.

But I do think the layman will still prefer the big boxing fights. It's easier to understand - a lot of that technical, and let's be honest homo erotic, Jiu jitsu stuff is lost on the average guy.

I have always been into boxing but got into MMA for a bit.... But the interest waned. A lot of fights lack the back and forth of boxing and the clear to see skills. In MMA the fighters often get chinned with one shot or just roll around on the floor.

[Black Sam Bellamy]

Is MMA still rising in popularity ? Might just be me but I thought it was starting to go the other way.

[reggaereggae]

Is MMA still rising in popularity ? Might just be me but I thought it was starting to go the other way.

Yeah, maybe it is. It's certainly slowed.

The thing that would make mma go big, is if the traditional press and sporting media started to report on it. I can't see this happening soon.

Boxing will always be in charge as long as it appears in the back pages of the papers. Boxing has the advantage of that, plus being easier to understand, plus has a history and legacy.

I can't see MMA taking it over in the near future.

Also, MMA is more violent in terms of elbows, tiny gloves, hitting people on the floor etc. it's not palatable to many.

[stevek3lly]

MMA bores the hell out of me. A mate of mine kept going on about it so I gave it a shot, watched about 5 cards and was amazed at how much rolling on the floor and hugging there was. I have stopped watching again. Boxing all the way, much better.

[David McAllister]

I really enjoy UFC and the Ultimate fighter series (UFC version of The Contender) but I never compare it to boxing, it's kind of like comparing Rugby and Football!! Both are ball games but completely different.

When i first started watching MMA I hated the floor work ie Jui Jitsu / Wrestling parts but now I have been watching for a few years it has grown on me and I understand it more. But I agree with an earlier post about it being harder to understand and you really need to give it a proper go without trying to compare the 2.

It might be just me but it is only the UFC I can watch! I have tried some of the BAMMA cards but I couldn't get into them, but I suppose that the UFC basically has all of the best in each weight divisions so the bouts are usually to a high level.

Boxing will always be my main sport though and I don't ever see MMA really taking control, I hope it never happens but I would like to see the reactions of people if someone died at the highest level in MMA, or if something like what happened to Paul Ingle, Gerald McLlellan or Michael Watson. This would be catastrophic to MMA because it is seen as barbaric at the best of times.

[rio]

There is alot to like about mma/ufc. The best fights get made becuase there are no politics, its a dictatorship. If the fans want a fight dana white makes it. None of this this I'm not fighting him due to high risk low reward, you either fight him or you don't fight full stop. Eddie hearn could learn a lot from dana white, white 100% gives the fans what they want while hearn serves some utter shite up and says its what's the fan want

[reggaereggae]

There is alot to like about mma/ufc. The best fights get made becuase there are no politics, its a dictatorship. If the fans want a fight dana white makes it. None of this this I'm not fighting him due to high risk low reward, you either fight him or you don't fight full stop. Eddie hearn could learn a lot from dana white, white 100% gives the fans what they want while hearn serves some utter shite up and says its what's the fan want

Yeah it only if they're signed to him. UFC Is the equivalent of eg WBC promoting and managing all the fighters in their rankings. A disaster.

Eg Fedor never fought in UFC and was prob best ever fighter

[rio]

There is alot to like about mma/ufc. The best fights get made becuase there are no politics, its a dictatorship. If the fans want a fight dana white makes it. None of this this I'm not fighting him due to high risk low reward, you either fight him or you don't fight full stop. Eddie hearn could learn a lot from dana white, white 100% gives the fans what they want while hearn serves some utter shite up and says its what's the fan want

Yeah it only if they're signed to him. UFC Is the equivalent of eg WBC promoting and managing all the fighters in their rankings. A disaster.

Eg Fedor never fought in UFC and was prob best ever fighter

Your wrong, 95% of the best current best fighters in the world fight in the ufc. Its the only place to make serious money so you have to and all fighters want to end up there.
Fedor was the exception but he fought in pride when it was the bigger organization. Ufc now has a monopoly which unlike matchroom/sky is a good thing. Absolutely nothing gets in the way of the best fights especially title fights. No such thing as a "keep busy" or "mandatory matchroom south American" world title fight, you fight the best untill you lose. Scott quigg would struggle.

[Anzi]

UFC is on it's way out, a lot of fighters are leaving them and this new UFC uniform will kill it off and their fighters are moving to bellator. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j& ... 72grt-obFw

[Shambles]

A card came on in a pub I was at a few months ago and the reaction of most people was one of embarrassment and laughter due to the wrestling, grappling and grinding by the two contestants in their leather pants. There is a time and place for that kind of thing ;;-) and it isn't a Saturday evening in a posh pub.

I've seen a fight where one participant was face down on the floor being punched in the back of the head. Bad things happen in boxing all the time but that was the worst I've seen a combat sport. I cannot see it ever capturing the public imagination like a well publicised boxing match for these reasons.

If I fancy watching a combat sport other than boxing, which is extremely rare, I'll watch Muay Thai.

[reggaereggae]

There is alot to like about mma/ufc. The best fights get made becuase there are no politics, its a dictatorship. If the fans want a fight dana white makes it. None of this this I'm not fighting him due to high risk low reward, you either fight him or you don't fight full stop. Eddie hearn could learn a lot from dana white, white 100% gives the fans what they want while hearn serves some utter shite up and says its what's the fan want

Yeah it only if they're signed to him. UFC Is the equivalent of eg WBC promoting and managing all the fighters in their rankings. A disaster.

Eg Fedor never fought in UFC and was prob best ever fighter

Your wrong, 95% of the best current best fighters in the world fight in the ufc. Its the only place to make serious money so you have to and all fighters want to end up there.
Fedor was the exception but he fought in pride when it was the bigger organization. Ufc now has a monopoly which unlike matchroom/sky is a good thing. Absolutely nothing gets in the way of the best fights especially title fights. No such thing as a "keep busy" or "mandatory matchroom south American" world title fight, you fight the best untill you lose. Scott quigg would struggle.

Ok I didn't know that and and good point about the keep busy crap. However this business model is unsustainable long term. It also relies I would imagine on miney and tv deals, and some one will always fracture a monopoly.
Happened in boxing with all the organisations.
I did t know what the answer is for either sport, and the UFC success has been phenomenal... But ultimately I can't see MMA being ever considered a bona ride sport (even though it is possibly the ultimate) by the press and fans.
It's too much like a niche violent sideshow

[whiskey]

MMA is gash.

Steroids, tight pants, sleeve tattoo's, beards and rock music intro's.

Is it 2009 again ?

[brian13]

No, it definitely has not and its actually the opposite. UFC have over saturated the market and there is too many fights, fighters to follow. UFC are also loosing PPV buys and PPV's are starting to struggle. The UK market for UFC is not in a great place because Bisping is not the fighter he once was. Mc Gregor might be around for Ireland but would he be able to fill Croke park for a fight? He would get to 60,000 with a very good card but the UFC wouldn't bring over that calibre of card required to get those numbers.

Boxing has had a great year in Britain and Ireland - Froch / Groves did 80K in attendance, Andy Lee won the World title, Kell Brook went over and beat Porter in the States, Amir Khan is looking great and the public got fights they wanted to see Froch / Groves II, BJS / Eubank Jr etc.

The acid test to this question is can the UFC or any other MMA promotion draw 80K to a fight in the UK or Ireland any time soon with the right fight? The answer is easy, its no. Boxing is levels above MMA in the UK at this present moment

[reggaereggae]

I've been thinking a lot about this. I think there are 3 reasons MMA won't in the near future, or maybe ever take over boxing:

- lack of sports related coverage. It's not really regarded as a sport by laymen / trade and gets no mainstream coverage
- the action - homo erotic rolling around and niche strategies are not that attractive to the average sports fan. It's often boring (judo, taekwondo, Greco Roman wrestling, kickboxing never made an impact either). Everyone understand boxing.
- history and legacy - boxing has this, MMA hasn't

[stevieb_8006]

I'm sure if you added together the top ten boxing purses of 2014 and did the same for MMA there would be no comparison. Boxing is still leagues above it surely.

[TerribleTerry]

UFC has suffered falling PPV buy rates and as a consequence have attempted to 'globalise' UFC through putting on events nearly every week (sometimes 2 in a weekend) on a variety of free to air and ppv platforms (both on TV and online).

The product has become watered down; the formerly stacked ppv cards are now often held together by a single fight (remind anyone of any other sport?).

These problems are compounded by the recent string of anti-monopoly class action suits against the UFC:

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/12/24/7 ... on-suit-on

Former fighters are now rallying against the pitiful purses they were paid whilst ufc was at its height of popularity, whilst zuffa was buying up and shutting down rival promotions to kill any potential competition forcing purse escalation.

It may all come to nothing but it is another challenge for zuffa to deal with as the sport, and their brand, matures and establishes it long term future.

All that said, Jones v Cormier is a genuine 100% superfight in my eyes. A great clash of rivals which can't fail to capture the imagination.

As long as ufc can put together fights of the quality of Jones v Cormier, I'll be watching

[davie]

Is MMA still rising in popularity ? Might just be me but I thought it was starting to go the other way.

Exactly what I was going to post.
I took an interest in UFC for a while a few years back but i can't remember the last time i watched it.
the last names i new were george st pierre (semi retired) anderson silva (retired) and michael bisping. I'd be surprised if i new any of the current fighters and my circle of friends have certainly taken less interest recently.

where do you even see UFC now? It's not on any of the sports channels i have. BT maybe?

[TerribleTerry]

Is MMA still rising in popularity ? Might just be me but I thought it was starting to go the other way.

Exactly what I was going to post.
I took an interest in UFC for a while a few years back but i can't remember the last time i watched it.
the last names i new were george st pierre (semi retired) anderson silva (retired) and michael bisping. I'd be surprised if i new any of the current fighters and my circle of friends have certainly taken less interest recently.

where do you even see UFC now? It's not on any of the sports channels i have. BT maybe?

BT Sports and UFCs online FightPass carry all cards for UK fans.

Anderson Silva returns from his horrific leg break at the end of Jan in a fun fight against Nick Diaz

[davie]

Is MMA still rising in popularity ? Might just be me but I thought it was starting to go the other way.

Exactly what I was going to post.
I took an interest in UFC for a while a few years back but i can't remember the last time i watched it.
the last names i new were george st pierre (semi retired) anderson silva (retired) and michael bisping. I'd be surprised if i new any of the current fighters and my circle of friends have certainly taken less interest recently.

where do you even see UFC now? It's not on any of the sports channels i have. BT maybe?

BT Sports and UFCs online FightPass carry all cards for UK fans.

Anderson Silva returns from his horrific leg break at the end of Jan in a fun fight against Nick Diaz

Will there be tickling?

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

The only thing about MMA (and especially UFC) is that they are matched properly, and if you lose form - you get dropped meaning there is consistent high quality. That is the only thing they have over boxing but it is enough - boxing can learn from that.

Living in the Far East, you get a lot of access to K-1, M-1 and all the other types of MMA on offer, some good stuff and I usually enjoy watching it.

[Clint Magnum]

Really got into K1 about 10yrs ago until it became a freak show.
Tried training in MMA back in '06 & got into the sport that way but my interest drifted back to boxing after couple of years. All sports including pro boxing have doping issues but MMA gyms are horrific for it.
It starts off being offered as "injury prevention" or speedier healing from injuries but it is what it is, juicing.
MMA is almost just as bad as bodybuilding, so many use GH & AAS, even lads who have no intention of turning into the paid ranks.
Boxing is sometimes flawed & often seedy at times but it's still ahead of its other professional contact sports.

[BillyTKid]

I am into 3 sports in a big way....football, boxing and mma. A big difference for me between boxing and mma is my interest in the undercard. When I go to a live MMA event I watch every fight as generally there are no obvious walkovers and both competitors are there to win. At boxing events I often pop in and out of the undercard while having a few beers with friends. I don't have a lot of interest in watching a prospect picking off a journeyman for 4 rounds.