Are UK broadcasters abandoning boxing?

[margaret thatcher]

in a lot of places mma is already much more popular. the ufc style structure where there is basically an overlord organization with (1) almost all the top talent under 1 umbrella and (2) far more power than 99 percent of the fighters helps them control things and order fighters around and make things happen way easier than it does in boxing. they can basically force the fighters to take tough fights each time and also can throw them right back in good fights after loses, which helps make loses less damaging to fighters reputations

the money has already grown huge in mma, at least the ufc, and the gap between what the ufc owners make and what the fighters make is getting even bigger

[TheLeprechaun]

in a lot of places mma is already much more popular. the ufc style structure where there is basically an overlord organization with (1) almost all the top talent under 1 umbrella and (2) far more power than 99 percent of the fighters helps them control things and order fighters around and make things happen way easier than it does in boxing. they can basically force the fighters to take tough fights each time and also can throw them right back in good fights after loses, which helps make loses less damaging to fighters reputations

the money has already grown huge in mma, at least the ufc, and the gap between what the ufc owners make and what the fighters make is getting even bigger

The problem with the ufc and bellator will be shareholder greed. The fighters are not paid enough money. They have both built a brand and fair play to them but they do need to up the pay for fighters. They incentivise with bonuses for fight of the night and performance of the night which are worth 75k though and that's a good aspect because you get some pitiful performances in boxing where fighters just want to get rounds in.

[TheLeprechaun]

It's a bit like betfair. The exchange idea was innovative and they had a niche market but shareholder greed meant they made a sports book alongside the exchange and pushed the sportsbook and casino and games which are all weighted in their favour the way they price them up. All due to shareholder greed. Its inevitable that a few sharp minds will come together and make a betting exchange that will blow betfair out of the water and take over. Perhaps the same will happen with the Ufc and Bellator and we do see organisations like PFL springing up. It seems like a cyclical thing though. Shareholder greed will seep into whatever company takes over and then a new company will take over etc. The Mma organizational model is still far superior to boxing and ensures the best fights get made and it might not happen in our lifetimes but eventually Mma will absolutely engulf boxing.

[magnus]

I think these are probably the golden years for MMA in terms of best vs the best on a regular basis.

Much like boxing, the lack of a formalised universal governing body will probably end in multiple organisations challenging the UFC in the decades to come.

But for now, it's fornicating great to watch a combat sport which is comprised of mainly competitive, hard to predict matches and where fighters are not written off for losing a contest or two.