UFC results

That's growth as a commercial product. I want growth as a sport. I want prolonged, stable growth. UFC is not far enough removed from being Late-night filler and a farcical arena for wrestler-types who couldn't get a gig with the WWE that I can take it seriously enough to put it in a section yet.

 

Serious questions here:

How many major events are held each year?

How many major stars are there?

 

Then I am assuming (and I may be wrong) you haven't watched the sport in a while, if ever. So many of these guys come from wrestling backgrounds. Several former NCAA wrestling champions. I'll admit, the first few years (1993-96) the lack of rules made it hard to garner respect. No weight classes, lack of time limits. Now there are rules and guidelines set by various state athletic commissions to try to ensure the safety of the fighters as much as possible and to help clean up the sport.
And the sport isn't just growing commercially. I sat inside Staples Center a few months ago and it was sold out. My point is, there was a point in the main event where the champion was slowly maneuvering the challenger into position for submission. Even a year earlier, fans would've been boo'ing for the lack of "action." Instead you could hear a buzz in the arena as they were aware of what the champion was trying to do.
As a longtime follower of MMA, I was shocked. I turned to my buddy and told him how shocked I was at how fans have become educated on the sport so quickly. Sure there are times when it's obvious fans are there only for a good time and are still somewhat ingorant of the intracacies of the sport. But for the most part, they're learning.
And, I think some sports could take a lesson from UFC as far as growing as a commercial product. I could benefit a few of them (hockey, for one).

 

I was more referring to the juiced-up muscle freaks who couldn't get WWE gigs, not legitimate amateur wrestlers who couldn't get WWE gigs. Look, MMA has come a good long way in the last couple of years (and I really only mean two, despite your apparent decade of growth). And that's fine. But until it has big-selling events on a regular basis in 30 majore North American cities, don't bring that hockey bullshit.

 

The number of events is growing each year, but as far as "major" events, there's one each month. There's also live specials on Spike TV as well as a reality show where fighters compete for a contract or title shot in UFC.
Fighters compete maybe 3 times per year if there's no injury. In UFC (PRIDE Fighting Championship is the other major MMA organization but it's mainly based in Japan, though it's recently expanded to the U.S.), there's five weight classes (lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight).

As far as legit stars, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz are probably the most recognizable. Randy Couture (who did a DirecTV commercial) and Ken Shamrock are recently retired but also gained some mainstream star power. As far as up-and-coming talent, Mirko Cro Cop just signed with UFC and will probably be the next big thing in the heavyweight division.

 

Yes. More morbidly broken bones, blood spatters and occasional deaths. That'd pack in the fans.

If and when AP starts covering it and readers -- not just a handful of message board fanboys -- demonstrate significant interest in it, it won't get more than an annual feature if there is a local participant or event.

Motocross and skateboarding pack arenas, have certified stars, and devoted fans. They, like UFC, are sports that will not crack the sports sections of most papers in the country unless there is an event in town.

 

So, how do you explain the L.A. Times, Washington Post, Houston Chronicle (and recently the L.A. Daily News and New York Times) having regular event coverage/features of late? In fact, the L.A. Times now has a full-time MMA writer (Lance Pugmire).

 

And papers in Montana and Texas do regular rodeo coverage. So does that mean I'm supposed to follow suit up here in New England?

This thread, in a nutshell
Gimpy: UFC is great, and should get a lot of coverage.
Me, some others: No, at least not yet.
Gimpy: But I want it to!
Me: Doesn't matter, you're not joined by enough people yet.
Gimpy: But I want it to!
Me: Still doesn't matter, give it time.
Gimpy: But I want it to NOW!
Me: No.
Gimpy: You're weak.

 

You know, Mert, there's nothing like a great go-round of goat tying to make the paper flipping perfect!

Seriously, if and when a large percentage readers start calling up and wondering why UCF isn't in the paper then we'll start giving it space. Until then, well, most places it'll be like running rodeo results in Maine -- a waste of space.

 

I'm such a yankee, I had to read that three times to realize it was in english.

 

Funny how you ignore the other posters on this thread who defended MMA (Seabasket, SportsDude, Piotr Rasputin, Satchel Pooch, First Down Pirates, Bruce Shoebottom). But, I guess that would take research. You're not one for facts, though, are ya?
All I tried to do was figure out WHY you felt the way you did and when I asked you to elaborate you compared it to porn and electronic football. And then, you write a little skit about it. And you compare newspapers in Montana with the L.A. Times and New York Times. Again, brilliant stuff. It's futile to debate with you because you'll ignore what you can't explain and instead resort to name calling. It's been fun, though. And eye opening.

Oh, and Sportschick, I could care less who covers the University of Central Florida (UCF). We were talking about UFC and MMA.