Mixed Martial Arts Forum banner

Step forward or Setback??

507 views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  kantowrestler 
#1 ·
MMA took a jump this weekend with some big fights on free TV. The biggest (by name only) was the fight with Kimbo.

My question is which way did these shows propel MMA?

I think if most fans watched the WEC, though some fights were prettyl slow, the production, fighting, referees, and overall appeal were much better then that debacle on CBS.

However, we all know most people watched what some people wanted to call an MMA match between Kimbo and Thompson. That was one of the worst fights I have ever seen and with garbage like that representing the sport it is no wonder many newcomers leave early because they think it is glorified street fighting. With a glorified street fighter as the main event though, what whould we expect?

Sure, the publicity is nice, but much of today's discussions have been mainly negative and seem to be forced by exec's on ESPN. The anchors move on very quickly.

If fans would have seen fights like the one's between Torres vs. Maeda and Pulver vs. Faber, I think the discussions would have been much different today.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I was going to start a thread just like this. I think the Elite XC hurts MMA. Lousy fighters, weak production and the marketing that makes the event come across more like streetfighting then a serious athletic competition.

People seeing Kimbo hyped as a big name and talked about as a streetfighter/brawler are going to think "This guy is a top MMA fighter? What a joke." They're wrong of course, he isn't but they don't know that.

It will attract fans, no doubt about that, but it will be the wrong type of fans. Definite set back for MMA. I actually thought it would be even worse with Shaw at the helm but it was bad enough.
 
#5 ·
So you liked hte doctors interfering and stopping fights that often. Like the lack of talent in the Main Event. Almost no MMA was displayed on the mat and very seldom saw things representative of MMA while standing in that fight. You liked the controversial stnding KO ruling to end a fight Thompson was winning shortly before it went to decision. I thought that was one of the worst events I ever saw.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top