MMA Promotion Signs Prime Time Network TV Deal

Yes, because this deal isn't with the UFC. MMA's biggest problem is its splintering between promotional organizations, meaning guys like Fedor Emelianenko, who is signed to Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights, hasn't been able to get a decent fight since 2005 despite the fact that he is considered the best heavyweight in the world.

Cuban's trying to get a fight against Randy Couture, but UFC isn't allowing it to happen.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dm-cubanufc021808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

I don't think that's true.

Boxing hits the broader audience and will always be the gold standard.

 

Rumpleforeskin, I couldn't disagree more. There is no way -- zero way -- more people are aware of Chuck Lidell (the sport's biggest star from what I gather) than Floyd Mayweather and/or Oscar De La Hoya. No comparison.

 

If you notice in the names I posted, those are the champions (beside Liddel) in the respective sports. I am not talking about the most recognizable names, rather, the names of the champions. Aren't those the ones we are supposed to know, who are the best of the best? I don't think anyone outside of Ohio know who Pavlik is or who he just fought.

 

Yes, GB, and this will kill MMA and the others before they ever get a start. But they at least have a chance to correct it.

WBA, WCC, WWA (?) and whatever other boxing federations there are killed the sports as well.

People want to know who the best is. If they wanted to be confused, they would watch reruns of Twin Peaks.

You confuse the public, your business/product/sport fails.

 

Rumple, I know or have heard of every name in your first grou and none in your second group.
But you're in the MMA/UFC/blood sport prime demographic and I'm not.

 

Really? It seems to me that as with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO, everyone wants their slice of the pie, who's the best be damned.

At least with the Boxing organizations you can try to unify the titles, as Wladimir Klitschko is trying to do in the Heavyweight division. With MMA, you sign a contract to a group, UFC, HDNet Fights, IFL, and there is no cross-promotion, no holding two titles at a time in different organizations. You fight in one group until your contract ends. And then if you switch, you relinquish your title in the previous group.

 

That's why if this poll was done, you would need to pick a varying demographic of males. You need to poll people of different ages and races.

Edit: You are also a sports-minded person. I would expect you to know at least one of the groups.

 

ESPN is pushing the UFC and MMA more. I know that makes many people cringe, but it does show how the sport is moving forward.

No mention of Kimbo yet?

Spnited, I know you are going to shake your head at this, but it might be where the future of combat type sports is moving.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimbo

 

I saw Kimbo fight in Atlantic City in June. It was a pretty good fight. Kimbo is a pretty good fighter if you have seen him recently. He's going to get his ass handed to him if he goes against a true fighter, but right now, he's doing WORK!

(knocking out Tank Abbot)

 

At first I typed a lengthy response, but then I realized something. Your argument is based purely on your own speculations and inferences. Which are based on...what, exactly?

Big boxing cards are still outdrawing big MMA cards by a near 2:1 ratio. That's indisputable fact. Pavlik - Taylor didn't do well, but Pavlik's name is just starting to gain notoriety. I suspect if a Pavlik - Hatton or Pavlik - Trinidad bout happens it will fare better.

And boxing is starting to wise up. The 24/7 Series did a lot to promote the two recent Mayweather fights, and having the heavyweight unification bout on HBO instead of PPV was a smart move. Boxing isn't on its deathbed, and MMA isn't pulling any plug on the sport.

 

Oh, I have never paid money to watch a UFC or MMA event. In fact, I really don't watch it at all, but I do understand that it has a growing presence in American sports.