RealGM

Is anybody else finding this?

I find myself suffering from dwindling interest in the UFC.

I'm not sure it's from anything specific but rather a collection of things. I hate seeing things like Chael Sonnen talk his way into a championship fight he has no business in. I don't ever get excited about cards anymore because you expect them to be decimated by injuries. Having said that, I think it was the right call by the UFC to put that insurance in place... but with the business as it is, let's say your coming off 2 losses, are you going to step into the cage at anything less than 100%? This is your life... I think it was the right call but it's tough to keep any momentum when cards are constantly changing. I think TUF is a complete joke. At least the American version. Seems all the guys make it into the UFC whether they win or lose. I look at a guy like Matt Riddle and he was on TUF 7, got submitted in the first round of fights, and he's since had 10 fights in the UFC... TUF should be name guys who are fighting for there UFC lives, or have just been cut and are trying to get back. I think that would help revive that show...

But anyways, perhaps I'm just MMA'd out as I've seen it from the very early days. Pat Smith, Paul Varlens, Marco Ruas etc... or perhaps it's something else... I dunno, all I know is I find my attention drifting when any sort of UFC is on nowadays. Is it just me or are any of you guys finding that as well?

Aside from the injuries my interest is still high. TUF US has been awful this season, I think they have to take a long hard look at how they balance the entertainment/ability portion of the selection process, because they're likely turning away a lot of high quality guys in exchange for d*ckheads like the dude with the pink mohawk and no chance of ever doing anything.

Injuries and suspensions have really decimated the UFC in a lot of ways, we could have had another 2 Overeem/Diaz fights by now, Rampage vs Glover would've been good, Silva would likely be getting ready to fight GSP, Munoz vs Sonnen would have likely meant Bisping fought Weidman which could have changed the whole complexion of the MW division. Vitor vs Wanderlei, Cruz vs Faber, had Davis/Prado 1 not ended the way it did Davis would be freed up to fight better competition etc. Injuries have really ruined a lot of things but aside from that I'm still as excited at the prospect of watching UFC events as always.

Edit: Not to mention had Henderson not been injured then Jones would probably be getting ready to fight Machida, and Henderson could conceivably be lining up Sonnen (who would not be getting a title shot already) which would be exciting. So many possibilities.

Injuries suck. I don't have as much interest in the NBA with Derrick Rose injured. Last year I didn't have much interest in the NFL after Matt Forte and Jay Cutler got injured. The good thing about MMA is that one injury doesn't derail an entire "season" because I'm fans of multiple guys and there are no teams in MMA.

As for Chael getting a title shot, I don't mind it so much as others. All the other contenders turned down a shot with Jones in Toronto, I find Chael to be entertaining, and he's going to be the more aggressive fighter in the cage, which is something that we haven't seen against Jones. Considering who Jones has slaughtered, I wouldn't be surprised if Jones slaughtered Chael, but the worst thing you can do against Jones is stand in his range and get picked apart, ala Rampage. We haven't seen Jones off of his back, where wrestlers typically struggle, and there's a good chance that Chael will put him on his back, which will be interesting.

As for exciting fights, just look at the last card. Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva was amazing, and all the fights on the main event were exciting. Silva putting Bonnar in the Matrix and TKO'ing him was a beautiful thing to watch. We've got some great cards coming up. UFC on Fox should have 3 great fights in BJ Penn vs. Rory, Rua vs. Gus, and Diaz vs. Bendo. If that doesn't get you excited than UFC: 155 should. Dos Santos vs. Cain, Maynard vs. Lauzon, Weidman vs Boetsch, Belcher vs. Okami, and Davis vs. Griffin.

I expect big things for the UFC in 2013. Call me a sucker, but I think that Anderson Silva will fight GSP at catch weight and then Jon Jones at catch weight. The HW division will be much more interesting after Overeeem comes back and Cormier comes over. Machida and Hendo are two of my favorite fighters and that should be a great fight. Aldo vs. Edgar will be a great fight. Pettis vs. Cowboy will be great, as will so many fights in the stacked LW division, especially when Melendez comes over.

I'm definitely less interested than I ever have been (don't let how often I post on this board fool you, I sit at a desk 8 hours a day ). Honestly more than injuries, I think all the bad reffing and judging has started to wear on me lately. Things like guys being stood up after 12 seconds on the group, and guys being punched in the face 4-6 times after being unconscious are just hard for me to watch. The WWE stuff like Chael getting the shot annoys me too. Don't get me wrong, I like Chael's shtick, I dig it, but doesn't mean Dana has to play the Vince McMahon to his whatever wrestler.

My interest went to almost zero during the two month-ish layoff earlier this fall. I was just disgusted with the whole situation. My patience is growing thin with all the injuries and ducking and suspensions. It's moving perilously close to sports entertainment. Not a good look.

The last few cards, however, have been very strong, if not always on paper.

I am very excited for WSOF this Saturday, however. Their prelim card >>>>> any UFC prelim card in a while.

SDM wrote:My interest went to almost zero during the two month-ish layoff earlier this fall. I was just disgusted with the whole situation. My patience is growing thin with all the injuries and ducking and suspensions. It's moving perilously close to sports entertainment. Not a good look.

Good point. Guys talking their ways to matchups, guys choosing who they fight, cards being built around one fight. Sounds familiar, and not like a recipe for success.

I agree with your post SDM. I'm not sure that generally speaking, I can pin point any specific thing that's really causing me to lose interest. But it's certainly happening.

I haven't been impressed with the way business has been run, the poor judging and reffing has been awful. I hate the stupid long layoffs between fights, especially championship fights... 1 maybe 2 fights a year tops.

There aren't many guys who I am really invested in watching, and I "care" if they win or lose... Outside of Mark Hominick and Rory Mac I don't really give a $hit about anyone else... I dunno. I can appreciate that everyone is so good and talented now, but sometimes I think that's kind of a drawback too. I mean sometimes fights are so much about technique and position, that there's a lack of fighting at it's elemental core... if that makes any sense at all. I mean like, sometimes on the ground a guy will work for a position for so long, and when he get's it, it's trying to work for a submission... and i understand what's happening, and what the guy's are trying to do, but in instances like that I feel a lack of fighting... like i'll get up and go get something to eat, and check on the TV only if and when something actually happens...

We get stupid long entrances and introductions, and then sometimes a lack of good fights, or going into a card, a lack of compelling fights, a bunch of injuries etc... The live event is just stupid expensive for a sport that's only recently mainstream. I'm just having a hard time to find a reason to really be that invested into MMA anymore. If it's on, and I see it, I'll watch it... ppv, i may try to stream it, at least the 1 good fight on paper... I dunno, just a lack of interest that I have no tangible reason to tie to it. Glad I"m not the only one.

It's like the NBA... I lost interest. It's my favourite sport in the entire world, but I've definitely lost interest in it. I can't watch every game. It's torture. I know the Raps aren't winning anything and I think 99% of NBA players are primadonna, pampered BS artists so completely out of touch with the typical basketball fan. The fighters in MMA aren't unapproachable caricatures of greed and sheer, dumb luck. I'll keep watching for that reason, the drama is legitimate, at least with those fighters that aren't top draws.

Dana, Joe Silva, Rogan, Mark Pavelich, these types will come and go, for better or for worse. With franchise sports, the owners and prevailing negative attitudes from players aren't going anywhere, the greed and selfishness is only intensifying. As a sports fan, this is what appeals to me most about MMA-- everyone involved seems to care about both the fans and the long-term viability of the sport. You have to deeply love something if you put on events at a loss as some of the regional orgs do, and you especially have to love it if you pay thousands of dollars a year to get hit in the face. There's lasting integrity in that.

BUT, I quit watching wrestling when the internet age came about and the behind the scenes stuff became more available than ever. I read about Kevin Nash and all the old timers holding guys back, refusing to give pushes, picking their fights, re-arranging storylines, and just being dicks outside of the ring. Zuffa has to be extremely careful to not let Dana, Andy Silver, GSP and the top lot choose their destinies, but instead let matchups and rivalries form naturally. This is the biggest roadblock to long-term viability-- the idea that five people or so are determining the fate of hundreds of fighters, making it no more legitimate than WWE. Unfortunately, it doesn't look too good as of late (though extenuating circumstances exist with some out-of-nowhere suspensions and injuries), so it is possible that my interest in top tier fighters will wane, but 99% of these guys are honourable, pure athletes interested in only competition (and resulting fortune) and I'm behind them. From this perspective, it's the only game in town.

The Spike move was a tough for me. I don't get FX, so I've missed the TUFs which were good to keep my interest up.
Having Brock and GSP gone for the last while has really hurt as well.

Silva is a must see, but I personally don't find Jones 'exciting' to watch. GSP and Silva might have a size advantage as well, but I think their greatness derieves from skill. With Bones, I think it's more a size advantage, mixed with skill, mixed with an aged top tier at 205.

205 is a money division, and right now the talent is weak at the top. I'd like to see some new blood rise up.




The only divisions that really matter in the mainstream are the top 4. Look at how many times those belts have changed in the last while. Silva and GSP have held it forever. Bones looks like he'll have it till he wants to go to heavyweight, where I think he'll be creamed. JDS will have defended his belt once in over a year.

No one cares about the little guys fighting. Sorry, but they don't. So when the top 4 divisions are stagnant interest will be less.

I'm still as big a fan as ever.

Not too much else I like more than watching a PPV or some fight and chilling.

I have zero friends that watch it now, so I watch alone, but I still get excited.

For instance, cannot wait for 154.

Gold Chain wrote:I'm still as big a fan as ever.

Not too much else I like more than watching a PPV or some fight and chilling.

I have zero friends that watch it now, so I watch alone, but I still get excited.

For instance, cannot wait for 154.

For sure. I guess I haven't been that excited for any ME in a long time. No Diaz, Silva with non-opponents, no GSP, none of those crazy HW clashes...but I'm no less interested in martial arts.

I am happy that MMA loses some steam after all the **** MMA fans gave boxing - boxing's over, MMA rules the landscape, blah, blah - all the false confidence they had in a sport that appears in retrospect to maybe have just been in a real peak of overachievement. Haha, **** you.

The mma/boxing "rivalry" has to be one of the most idiotic things EVAR.

^

It is, but it seems to be certain people on each side REFUSING to watch the other or respect it.

How you could like MMA and not boxing is nuts to me.

Maybe one is more enjoyable, but they both have merit.

Even things like K-1 and Pro Muay Thai, I mean, both are beyond entertaining.

I don't have any issue with people who like one but not the other. I'm like obsessed with mma but am the casualest of casual boxing fans. And I'm sure plenty of people are the opposite.

Both are combat sports though, why do people feel the need to rip other combat sports? Silliness.

cowboyronnie wrote:

Gold Chain wrote:I'm still as big a fan as ever.

Not too much else I like more than watching a PPV or some fight and chilling.

I have zero friends that watch it now, so I watch alone, but I still get excited.

For instance, cannot wait for 154.

For sure. I guess I haven't been that excited for any ME in a long time. No Diaz, Silva with non-opponents, no GSP, none of those crazy HW clashes...but I'm no less interested in martial arts.

I am happy that MMA loses some steam after all the **** MMA fans gave boxing - boxing's over, MMA rules the landscape, blah, blah - all the false confidence they had in a sport that appears in retrospect to maybe have just been in a real peak of overachievement. Haha, **** you.

Again, those are not fight fans, they are just into one thing.

I know a lot of "experts" who were...."die-hards" around UFC 100, and knew everything, and blah-blah, and now are on to something else..like TFC or ultimate frisbee. The best thing about the MMA "decline" is that the certain sect of idiots who were drawn to the "Trane UFC" thing, are now on to something different.

I used to rip on boxing here, but only because it's fun to troll people and my RealGM shtick is half troll/half serious. I'd like it more if it didn't suffer from the same sports entertainment BS that's starting to plague MMA. Maybe now that I'm training UFC I'll have a better understanding of all the unique disciplines.

Some mook at a Wild Wings told me last week he was an MMA fighter in training and that he was close to getting his cousin in Kingston, who is the best martial arts guy ever (quote), to get him a pro fight in Buffalo.

This is all in between big puffs on his PLayers Lights and from what I noted, maybe 4 pounds of saucy wings.

I have a shitey cell phone, but if I did have a good one, I'd have recorded this guy's talk.

He also yelled, "F'k, just knock him out!" like seven times.

He were a wonderful chap.

SDM wrote:I used to rip on boxing here, but only because it's fun to troll people and my RealGM shtick is half troll/half serious. I'd like it more if it didn't suffer from the same sports entertainment BS that's starting to plague MMA. Maybe now that I'm training UFC I'll have a better understanding of all the unique disciplines.

Are you really traning ufc brah, or is that statement coming from the troll half of your persona?

Gold Chain wrote:Some mook at a Wild Wings told me last week he was an MMA fighter in training and that he was close to getting his cousin in Kingston, who is the best martial arts guy ever (quote), to get him a pro fight in Buffalo.

This is all in between big puffs on his PLayers Lights and from what I noted, maybe 4 pounds of saucy wings.

I have a **** cell phone, but if I did have a good one, I'd have recorded this guy's talk.

He also yelled, "F'k, just knock him out!" like seven times.

He were a wonderful chap.

I don't think Roy Nelson would appreciate being called a mook.