Conor McGregor/Floyd Mayweather Jr

[jamesmcdonnell]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

I respectfully disagree.
The fighter who is literally giving up his health for my entertainment will always deserve the lion's share, in my opinion.
Far too many of the name-fighter and headliner payouts are paltry sums, even including the stupid bonuses.
Top level fighters are forced to take far too short notice fights, for short money, all the time.
That's a major discredit to any serious combat sports athlete. The reebok deal? That was a major f*ck to every UFC fighter.
Sponsors have to pay the UFC more money to sponsor a fighter than what they would pay the fighter after the strongarm.

I like the UFC and watch just about all of the cards, but I see the fight coming where the athletes demand what they deserve out of what they generate for the company.
As it should be.

I agree with the last statement.

However, in boxing, there's far too many guys on the circuit earning absolute peanuts, and the wage divide is exhorbitant.

[Impractical Poster]

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

Not just that...

The median payout, in the UFC at least, is better than that of boxing. There are also fighter bonuses; (fight of the night, KO of the night, sub of the night), and Reebok sponsor payouts (which is bad or good depending on which fighters you ask). And according to L Fertitta, the top fighters also receive undisclosed bonuses.

I suspected the distribution was more even myself, but without any figures to back it up, didn't wish to comment- are there any figures to back up what you say, I have long suspected that your average UFC fighter gets paid way more than you average TV fighter.

Opponents are very rarely hugely mistmatched either

There was a thread here or another forum where I posted a link stating the UFC median per fight, but I don't have the time to search for it atm.... but iirc, it was somewhere around a $35-40K median per fight before bonuses and sponsor payout.

[Impractical Poster]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

I respectfully disagree.
The fighter who is literally giving up his health for my entertainment will always deserve the lion's share, in my opinion.
Far too many of the name-fighter and headliner payouts are paltry sums, even including the stupid bonuses.
Top level fighters are forced to take far too short notice fights, for short money, all the time.
That's a major discredit to any serious combat sports athlete. The reebok deal? That was a major f*ck to every UFC fighter.
Sponsors have to pay the UFC more money to sponsor a fighter than what they would pay the fighter after the strongarm.

I like the UFC and watch just about all of the cards, but I see the fight coming where the athletes demand what they deserve out of what they generate for the company.
As it should be.

I agree with the last statement.

However, in boxing, there's far too many guys on the circuit earning absolute peanuts, and the wage divide is exhorbitant.

There was a hold up to officially anouncing the McGregor/RDA bout... and the hold up was Conor asking for more money... So, it has begun.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Not just that...

The median payout, in the UFC at least, is better than that of boxing. There are also fighter bonuses; (fight of the night, KO of the night, sub of the night), and Reebok sponsor payouts (which is bad or good depending on which fighters you ask). And according to L Fertitta, the top fighters also receive undisclosed bonuses.

I suspected the distribution was more even myself, but without any figures to back it up, didn't wish to comment- are there any figures to back up what you say, I have long suspected that your average UFC fighter gets paid way more than you average TV fighter.

Opponents are very rarely hugely mistmatched either

There was a thread here or another forum where I posted a link stating the UFC median per fight, but I don't have the time to search for it atm.... but iirc, it was somewhere around a $35-40K median per fight before bonuses and sponsor payout.

I guess in fairness, UFC is the 'top drawer' so to speak of MMA, so we need to factor that in.

I anticipate though, over the next 20 years there will be an explosion in the number of participants, and this will create a deeper talent pool, more matchups, more money, and rival organisations who are on a equal footing, or champing at the heels of UFC.

Unless UFC somehow becomes the sport in it's entirety, much like say, the NBA dominates basketball - then they could possibly stay in control.

in some ways that is a huge advantage, as you don't have all the problems that having rival promoters with conflicting interests causes.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I respectfully disagree.
The fighter who is literally giving up his health for my entertainment will always deserve the lion's share, in my opinion.
Far too many of the name-fighter and headliner payouts are paltry sums, even including the stupid bonuses.
Top level fighters are forced to take far too short notice fights, for short money, all the time.
That's a major discredit to any serious combat sports athlete. The reebok deal? That was a major f*ck to every UFC fighter.
Sponsors have to pay the UFC more money to sponsor a fighter than what they would pay the fighter after the strongarm.

I like the UFC and watch just about all of the cards, but I see the fight coming where the athletes demand what they deserve out of what they generate for the company.
As it should be.

I agree with the last statement.

However, in boxing, there's far too many guys on the circuit earning absolute peanuts, and the wage divide is exhorbitant.

There was a hold up to officially anouncing the McGregor/RDA bout... and the hold up was Conor asking for more money... So, it has begun.

Well, why not, - he's the one selling the fight, only natural, McGregor's no wally.

[Impractical Poster]

I guess in fairness, UFC is the 'top drawer' so to speak of MMA, so we need to factor that in.

I anticipate though, over the next 20 years there will be an explosion in the number of participants, and this will create a deeper talent pool, more matchups, more money, and rival organisations who are on a equal footing, or champing at the heels of UFC.

Unless UFC somehow becomes the sport in it's entirety, much like say, the NBA dominates basketball - then they could possibly stay in control.

in some ways that is a huge advantage, as you don't have all the problems that having rival promoters with conflicting interests causes.

Yeah... This is why I enjoy the UFC atm. These are it's best years. Strikeforce was starting to come up and become a legitimate rival to the UFC. Zuffa bought it, and then squashed it and took the top talent. Good for the fans, but no so sure it's good for the top athletes.

If Bellator or WSOF are able to become legit threats to the UFC, we may see a similar situation as we did with SF. If not, then we will start to see a lot of the same issues we see with boxing. The big stars will begin to make incredible amounts, but the quality match ups will start to flail and the fans will get irritated.

As it stand right now, and according to the Sherdog divisional rankings, the UFC owns over 90% of all MMA's top talent. and if you look at their top P4P list, the UFC owns all the top talent there. So, the UFC is where it's at and 99% of the time, we get the fights that need to be made.

[Impractical Poster]

I agree with the last statement.

However, in boxing, there's far too many guys on the circuit earning absolute peanuts, and the wage divide is exhorbitant.

There was a hold up to officially anouncing the McGregor/RDA bout... and the hold up was Conor asking for more money... So, it has begun.

Well, why not, - he's the one selling the fight, only natural, McGregor's no wally.

That's the truth.

[Tanzio]

The pay structure is what makes it so much better than boxing.

x2

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

Blame them for what, making as much money as possible with their gifts and skill in an industry where the entertainers can be (and too often are) killed or disabled?

Three cheers for FMJ and Pac! They appear to be at the end of their combat careers with enough money and grey matter intact to have a shot at very productive lives after boxing.

I don't blame them a bit for putting on a dance exhibition in the guise of a boxing match. The public bought it. How much does the public still pay for "professional wrestling." How much do people pay to jump out of an airplane with someone appearing to be doing them doggie style?

FMJ may not be the most formally educated entertainer in the world, but he grew up in boxing, a notoriously corrupt and ruthless industry, fought his way to the top of the professional "sport" and has retired undefeated. That took phenomenal gifts, skills and cunning.

Pac fought his way out of (and through) hell to be an ATG with huge wealth for where he resides, and an ongoing planetary brand. He is also powerful politically in PI. Again, he may not be your definition of an educated or brilliant individual, but Manny is plenty smart or he would have been ground down by now.

I wish that FMJ v Pac would have happened four or five years sooner as a real fight rather than a dance exhibition, but I don't blame them for doing it the way they have.

Hopefully, McGregor will also succeed.

[Tanzio]

He'll probably break lots of records in earnings for MMA soon.

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

The fact that you could even post that about Rogan exhibits your total ignorance of the subject matter, in microcosm.

[danamba7]

Both are examples of manufactured "personalities"

Floyd is a wet fish and although McGregor has more about him as a person, he still resorts to posing with watches, cars, sporting a huge beard and lots of tats to make him seem more "interesting" and adorable to the shallow, materialistic masses.

Neither are genuine 'characters' from what I have seen.

Good luck to them both though. I tip my hat to what they have achieved, definitely.

I imagine they both get together and laugh at all the money parting suckers who lap up these silly little "arguments" too! Means more interest in them which means more dollars in their pocket!

I think McGregor is a more genuine personality , in that the way he acts is closer to what he is, I think he's probably a lot more intelligent than Mayweather too, certainly wittier, his remarks seem more off the cuff, and are funnier.

This. Conor's smarter, funnier and more entertaining. Nothing to do with race. It seemed like Floyd just made noise for the sake of making noise at times. I can't remember ever being particularly entertained or amused at anything he's said.

Conor's views on movement, visualization, positive thinking etc also set him apart from Floyd. He has that deep thinking, thoughtful side to him to balance out his arrogance.

[danamba7]

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

The fact that you could even post that about Rogan exhibits your total ignorance of the subject matter, in microcosm.

In all honesty Ricky, you should probably stop posting on threads relating to MMA. You clearly hate the sport for some reason.

[jamesmcdonnell]

x2

I was going to go into this in my previous statement. I'd certainly argue boxing would be better off if the top boys were paid less. The amount they are paid for providing very little entertainment is ludicrous. They siphon the money away from the rest of the sport. People get bamboozled into paying out for an event - which then turns out to be a dud, or is a terrible mismatch on PPV, until the next one. Meanwhile lower down the pecking order, there's very good fighters being paid peanuts.

I also think that fighters demands for heinous paydays is what is depriving us of far more competitive matchups at top level, look at Mayweather v Pacquaio, blanantly neither man wanted the fight until near the end of their career, I don't think anyone can lay the blame at just one of them.

Blame them for what, making as much money as possible with their gifts and skill in an industry where the entertainers can be (and too often are) killed or disabled?

Three cheers for FMJ and Pac! They appear to be at the end of their combat careers with enough money and grey matter intact to have a shot at very productive lives after boxing.

I don't blame them a bit for putting on a dance exhibition in the guise of a boxing match. The public bought it. How much does the public still pay for "professional wrestling." How much do people pay to jump out of an airplane with someone appearing to be doing them doggie style?

FMJ may not be the most formally educated entertainer in the world, but he grew up in boxing, a notoriously corrupt and ruthless industry, fought his way to the top of the professional "sport" and has retired undefeated. That took phenomenal gifts, skills and cunning.

Pac fought his way out of (and through) hell to be an ATG with huge wealth for where he resides, and an ongoing planetary brand. He is also powerful politically in PI. Again, he may not be your definition of an educated or brilliant individual, but Manny is plenty smart or he would have been ground down by now.

I wish that FMJ v Pac would have happened four or five years sooner as a real fight rather than a dance exhibition, but I don't blame them for doing it the way they have.

Hopefully, McGregor will also succeed.

I'm not blaming Floyd and Pac, I'm blaming the infrastructure of boxing which allows the top talents to easily avoid one another for years if they wish. Multiple sanctioning bodies, loads of promoters, competing networks, all of these things provide a plethora of excuses.

In UFC right now, you can't really avoid taking on the best if you want to get to the top, as others have said here, it probably won't remain that way forever, and will unfortunately get more and more like boxing.

Sadly, boxing is probably the most poorly run major sport there is. Even amongst it's own fans, in fact especially amongst it's own fans, the corruption and self serving interests is a running joke.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Both are examples of manufactured "personalities"

Floyd is a wet fish and although McGregor has more about him as a person, he still resorts to posing with watches, cars, sporting a huge beard and lots of tats to make him seem more "interesting" and adorable to the shallow, materialistic masses.

Neither are genuine 'characters' from what I have seen.

Good luck to them both though. I tip my hat to what they have achieved, definitely.

I imagine they both get together and laugh at all the money parting suckers who lap up these silly little "arguments" too! Means more interest in them which means more dollars in their pocket!

I think McGregor is a more genuine personality , in that the way he acts is closer to what he is, I think he's probably a lot more intelligent than Mayweather too, certainly wittier, his remarks seem more off the cuff, and are funnier.

This. Conor's smarter, funnier and more entertaining. Nothing to do with race. It seemed like Floyd just made noise for the sake of making noise at times. I can't remember ever being particularly entertained or amused at anything he's said.

Conor's views on movement, visualization, positive thinking etc also set him apart from Floyd. He has that deep thinking, thoughtful side to him to balance out his arrogance.

Did you notice the stance he started out of against Aldo - his unorthodoxy and unpredictability are what make him exceptionally hard to beat - same with Jon Jones.

For the record, I love MMA, and despite being a boxing fan for approaching 40 years, I have to say, that over the last 20 major shows in both sports, MMA has knocked spots off boxing the majority of times in terms of the actual quality of the fights presented, and not just in the main events, but right down the undercard too.

I still anticipate a great boxing match with butterflies in my stomach, but the times it lives up to it these days are few and far between.

[Ricky_]

In all honesty Ricky, you should probably stop posting on threads relating to MMA.

get it the f out of current scene then.

[danamba7]

I think McGregor is a more genuine personality , in that the way he acts is closer to what he is, I think he's probably a lot more intelligent than Mayweather too, certainly wittier, his remarks seem more off the cuff, and are funnier.

This. Conor's smarter, funnier and more entertaining. Nothing to do with race. It seemed like Floyd just made noise for the sake of making noise at times. I can't remember ever being particularly entertained or amused at anything he's said.

Conor's views on movement, visualization, positive thinking etc also set him apart from Floyd. He has that deep thinking, thoughtful side to him to balance out his arrogance.

Did you notice the stance he started out of against Aldo - his unorthodoxy and unpredictability are what make him exceptionally hard to beat - same with Jon Jones.

For the record, I love MMA, and despite being a boxing fan for approaching 40 years, I have to say, that over the last 20 major shows in both sports, MMA has knocked spots off boxing the majority of times in terms of the actual quality of the fights presented, and not just in the main events, but right down the undercard too.

I still anticipate a great boxing match with butterflies in my stomach, but the times it lives up to it these days are few and far between.

Agree. MMA delivers more consistently IMO. The best almost always fight the best and fighters aren't as scared of losing in case it holds them back, just look at RDA.

[danamba7]

In all honesty Ricky, you should probably stop posting on threads relating to MMA.

get it the f out of current scene then.

Would if I could. I started a thread on McGregor V Aldo in the off topic section and you still posted on that. I've no problem with you not liking MMA, just don't see why you want to post about it. I don't like soaps, if there was a thread titled "favourite ever soap character" I'd just ignore it.

[jamesmcdonnell]

In all honesty Ricky, you should probably stop posting on threads relating to MMA.

get it the f out of current scene then.

Would if I could. I started a thread on McGregor V Aldo in the off topic section and you still posted on that. I've no problem with you not liking MMA, just don't see why you want to post about it. I don't like soaps, if there was a thread titled "favourite ever soap character" I'd just ignore it.

Clearly some kind of angry agenda here, is Ricky Conor McGregor's bastard lovechild?

[Ricky_]

In all honesty Ricky, you should probably stop posting on threads relating to MMA.

get it the f out of current scene then.

Would if I could. I started a thread on McGregor V Aldo in the off topic section and you still posted on that. I've no problem with you not liking MMA, just don't see why you want to post about it. I don't like soaps, if there was a thread titled "favourite ever soap character" I'd just ignore it.

I don't dislike it. I wach it when im bored or if there isnt much boxing on. I'm a fight fan. I dislike how the sport constantly hangs on to boxing. The most exposure Whyte, McGregor or Rousey have had in the media of late
Is harping on about Floyd. (And lol at the RR espy). Why? Why even mention his name? Why not rattle on about Tiger Woods or Federer? Hangers on.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Ftr, I don't blame anybody, in any industry, for maximizing their earnings. It's just a fact that casino money, cable money and escalated purses is directly responsible for boxing being in decline in the states. Promoters don't build regional draws here. It's booming elsewhere.

[danamba7]

get it the f out of current scene then.

Would if I could. I started a thread on McGregor V Aldo in the off topic section and you still posted on that. I've no problem with you not liking MMA, just don't see why you want to post about it. I don't like soaps, if there was a thread titled "favourite ever soap character" I'd just ignore it.

I don't dislike it. I wach it when im bored or if there isnt much boxing on. I'm a fight fan. I dislike how the sport constantly hangs on to boxing. The most exposure Whyte, McGregor or Rousey have had in the media of late
Is harping on about Floyd. (And lol at the RR espy). Why? Why even mention his name? Why not rattle on about Tiger Woods or Federer? Hangers on.

Conor's success has little if anything to do with mentioning Floyd here and there. Plus didn't Floyd initiate this exchange?

[Ricky_]

if an mma fighter wins a happy meal it's a record. you got these fighters in that sport
built up as the greatest ever after as little as 5 fights total sometimes, including amateur.
the real veterans fight for years as semi-pros working odd jobs while fighting for peanuts
on these low level events, then if they make it to the pinnacle of the sport, the most popular
dude in the ufc, they maybe can become millionaires for a year or two, then the ufc is building
someone else up as the greatest ever. mma fighters are disposable. like dixie cups.
one after another each one blabbling about mayweather is sad. they are sad people.
i doubt mayweather would even know who any of those people are if he wasn't asked.
mayweather will give you an opinion about something even if he doesn't have one.
conor mcgregor is no "household name".

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

Sorry, who are these jailbirds you refer to? You're aware Bernard Hopkins is a former jailbird right, and Mike Tyson, and Sonny Liston, etc etc etc.?

As for education, I suppose boxing is thronging with amateur astrophysicists.

I'd say the boxing attire of many a former star has been dubious sartorially, plenty have been borderline homoerotic. Hector Camacho anyone?

I will admit though that Rogan needs to STFU, or at least dial it down, it drives me mad, he's gotten worse as time goes on.

With regards to Tattoos, it reflects the demographic that MMA appeals to, I would say though that there are two rules.

Generally - with noatable exceptions in boxing, the relationship between skills and tattoos is inversely proportional.
In MMA it seems to be directly proportional

You missed the point by delving closer into the hyperbolic stereotype i painted.

In a nutshell boxing has been for the most part a socially acceptable sport and highly glamorous event at the top end with plenty of class and decorum surrounding the sport. It's why referrees wear shirts and bow ties. It's why the entire hollywood A list shows up ringside in the MGM. It's a sport steeped in history and tradition.

By comparison mma just looks like 2 thugs rolling around a bloodied up cage. And for that reason the sport could never appeal to the same demographics boxing has. The idea that it could is a joke. I managed to talk the mrs into watching Joshua vs Whyte with me and she actually got into it a bit. Never in my life would i dream of asking her to watch an MMA card with me.

[jamesmcdonnell]

MMA is about maxed out in terms of fans and following.

The sport simply has no class at all. The idea of 2 uneducated tattoe'd-up jailbirds rolling about a bloodstained canvas inside a cage wearing only hotpants (while meathead idiots like Joe Rogan scream into the mic) attracting a mainstream audience is laughable.

The fact is they attract a very specific, hardcore demographic.

Sorry, who are these jailbirds you refer to? You're aware Bernard Hopkins is a former jailbird right, and Mike Tyson, and Sonny Liston, etc etc etc.?

As for education, I suppose boxing is thronging with amateur astrophysicists.

I'd say the boxing attire of many a former star has been dubious sartorially, plenty have been borderline homoerotic. Hector Camacho anyone?

I will admit though that Rogan needs to STFU, or at least dial it down, it drives me mad, he's gotten worse as time goes on.

With regards to Tattoos, it reflects the demographic that MMA appeals to, I would say though that there are two rules.

Generally - with noatable exceptions in boxing, the relationship between skills and tattoos is inversely proportional.
In MMA it seems to be directly proportional

You missed the point by delving closer into the hyperbolic stereotype i painted.

In a nutshell boxing has been for the most part a socially acceptable sport and highly glamorous event at the top end with plenty of class and decorum surrounding the sport. It's why referrees wear shirts and bow ties. It's why the entire hollywood A list shows up ringside in the MGM. It's a sport steeped in history and tradition.

By comparison mma just looks like 2 thugs rolling around a bloodied up cage. And for that reason the sport could never appeal to the same demographics boxing has. The idea that it could is a joke. I managed to talk the mrs into watching Joshua vs Whyte with me and she actually got into it a bit. Never in my life would i dream of asking her to watch an MMA card with me.

Yes, but there's a whole generation coming through who don't give a toss about referee's wearing dicky bows.

Im 45, I'm probably not even the demographic UFC are interested in, but I enjoy the product.

I enjoy the fact the veneer of genteel respectability is peeled away and has a more modern aesthetic. The referee's wear more athletic attire, surely more suitable for encounters with big sweaty geezers pounding the shit out of one another.

I get it, you're not keen, fair enough.

[Ricky_]

I get it, you're not keen, fair enough.

You don't get it. You nearly had it when you said 'the demographic' the ufc are going for. That's pricely why it will never reach the level of boxing. Because it will never transcend those demographics like boxing has.

[Impractical Poster]

For the record, I love MMA, and despite being a boxing fan for approaching 40 years, I have to say, that over the last 20 major shows in both sports, MMA has knocked spots off boxing the majority of times in terms of the actual quality of the fights presented, and not just in the main events, but right down the undercard too.

I still anticipate a great boxing match with butterflies in my stomach, but the times it lives up to it these days are few and far between.

I'm pretty much in the same boat, as I found boxing first and fell in love with it. It's been 20 years as a boxing fan for me. And when I began, between HBO and Showtime, there was never a dull Saturday night without fights.

Times have changed. I still love boxing, but the great cards to get excited for have been on a steep decline. MMA has something pretty much every week between UFC, Bellator, and WSOF. Most of the time these are pretty high caliber cards with plenty of match ups.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I get it, you're not keen, fair enough.

You don't get it. You nearly had it when you said 'the demographic' the ufc are going for. That's pricely why it will never reach the level of boxing. Because it will never transcend those demographics like boxing has.

Errr, you to realise that the demographic will grow up and continue to support MMA right, you think people hit 35 and go 'right, that's it, I'm too old for this now, I have to move on - Christ grown men and women watch wrestling in the U.S, which has a phenomenal fan base, and that's not even a real bloody sport!

What's boxing's demographic ? It doesn't even know. As far as I can tell, boxing's demographic is a niche sport with a dwindling fan base, with most of the major events being pay per play, in North America and the UK.

You talk as if boxing is in a great place, it isn't.

You seem absolutely convinced UFC is going nowhere, but it is interesting that many boxing fans, such as myself, who were initially sniffy, and in their 40's, now enjoy UFC more than boxing in general.