Internal and external factors restricting MMA's growth?

[Uncle Chester]

So what do you think are the factors, both external and internal (that is within MMA) that are holding MMA back from expanding or limiting it's expansion


Internal

Judging

To a small extent I think that judging in MMA can be very discouraging and frustrating for already established fans of the sport and newcomers. It's upsetting to see the undeserving fighter get awarded the victory and it definitely can be a problem for MMA going forward.

UFC's monopoly and the lack of diversity

What happens in the scenario UFC screws over the fans in some way to increase revenue or achieve some sort of benefit at the expense of us, where do we go? What do we do to protest, to show our displeasure? Nothing. At least before we could increase Strikeforce's ratings and brand name but now we're stuck with the UFC. And what happens if a portion of casual fans dislike the 'feel' of the UFC or it's presentation? Where else will they get their MMA fix. Strikeforce wasa true alternative in it's production so that promotion could've definitely offered an outlet for those MMA fans.

External

Bitter boxing promoters

We know the power boxing has in the media outlets and the connections in marketing outlets so what will they do to sabotage a sport who'se stealing it's viewer? i'm don't know but it's within their ability.



Feel free to add to my points or disagree with them.

 

[wrestlingfan]

As popular as MMA is, MMA just hasn't gone mainstream, It just doesn't have that feel Boxing or Pro Wrestling has. MMA doesnt have that exciting feel to a normal fans because when you go up to a normal person and tell them of MMA all they think about is just guys in shorts with the same boring personality, just slugging it out with no martial arts skill.

 

[ArcherCC]

As popular as MMA is, MMA just hasn't gone mainstream, It just doesn't have that feel Boxing or Pro Wrestling has. MMA doesnt have that exciting feel to a normal fans because when you go up to a normal person and tell them of MMA all they think about is just guys in shorts with the same boring personality, just slugging it out with no martial arts skill.

Actually seeing as 2-4 UFC PPV events every year sell 1 Million to 1.5 Million I would say it is pretty close to main stream. WWE's biggest PPV Wrestlemania this year sold just over 1 mill (if I recall correctly) and the rest sold I believe 250K-750K. The average UFC is around 650K, and don't even get me started on TNA buy rates.

The biggest external factor is politicians portraying MMA as a no rules, no holds barred, blood sport like human cock fight. It doesn't help the mainstream sports media hardly covers it, what coverage it does get pales in comparison to the NBA/NFL/MLB, hell even the French Open gets more coverage.

The largest internal factor is judging, the 10 point must system does not work for MMA, and most of the Judges are untrained or under strained, take Cecil Peoples for example in his comment that "leg Kicks can not win a fight" I bet Pat Berry or Jose Aldo would have something to say about that.

 

[amazing_blue]

I think that it boils down to the simple fact that it's too bloody and violent. It's perfect for men in the 18-49 age bracket but that's about it.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Actually seeing as 2-4 UFC PPV events every year sell 1 Million to 1.5 Million I would say it is pretty close to main stream. WWE's biggest PPV Wrestlemania this year sold just over 1 mill (if I recall correctly) and the rest sold I believe 250K-750K. The average UFC is around 650K, and don't even get me started on TNA buy rates.

The biggest external factor is politicians portraying MMA as a no rules, no holds barred, blood sport like human cock fight. It doesn't help the mainstream sports media hardly covers it, what coverage it does get pales in comparison to the NBA/NFL/MLB, hell even the French Open gets more coverage.

The largest internal factor is judging, the 10 point must system does not work for MMA, and most of the Judges are untrained or under strained, take Cecil Peoples for example in his comment that "leg Kicks can not win a fight" I bet Pat Berry or Jose Aldo would have something to say about that.

By mainstream I mean as it still hasn't been accepted into the norm of our society like other sports have. It's still a mystique.

 

[Fizzy]

Simple answer, you have people like Bill O'Reilly who are ignorant and unwilling to acknowledge this as a legitimate sport. Blaming it on anything else is just stupid especially blaming the UFC. You need one main business to spread MMA. You can't have all these different fighting promotions with different rules and regulations everywhere. One governing body makes everything easy to follow, and keeps it nice and neat. Not liking the "feel" of the UFC will be the same as not liking the "feel of the NFL. You simply can't have all these different promotions out there. Two or three are fine like we have Bellator and DREAM, but having anymore than that can get sloppy and cause confusion.

Ignorant people that don't listen to reason are at fault for this sport not being as mainstream as Boxing is and was. Nothing more, nothing less. You think bitter boxing promoters, judging, or the UFC being the monopoly of MMA is holding us back from being regulated in New York?

 

[SalvIsWin]

I think the biggest factor that is restricting the growth of MMA is a lack of a television deal. All other sports have regular programming, whereas the UFC has their pay-per-view shows, TUF, and the occasional SpikeTV show. I think MMA needs a weekly show, even if it were only an hour long. Let the top 10-20 fighters fight on that show, and build up the upcoming pay-per-view shows.

Obviously judging is a huge issue right now, and I think that two things need to change:

• Professionally trained judges.
• Have part of the criteria be who was the overall winner.

Too many fights end with one fighter winning two rounds narrowly, and losing one round massively - which should be a draw, or a win for the person who came closest to winning. The Hominick-Aldo fight is a good example where at the end of that fight, Hominick was pressuring Aldo hard, whereas Jose was just surviving until the bell.