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Georges St-Pierrre, one of the most popular fighters and arguably one of the most well
rounded, attempts to choke Thiago Alves during their welterweight title bout at UFC 100
at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Saturday, July 11, 2009. St-Pierre won by unanimous
decision. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Review-Journal, John Locher)
Mixed martial arts competition has steadily increased in popularity since its inception and most notebly since the advent of the UFC. MMA fighters are currently more likely to be household names than heavyweight boxing champions. Why has mixed martial arts fighting and especially the UFC become so highly acclaimed? There are several factors that contribute to its continued rise in popularity.
Arena for argument
MMA provides several fields for potential differences of opinion among fans and even dissenters. Practicing martial artists can debate the more effective martial arts style to be used in the octagon. Crossover fans from boxing can analyze and dissect the fighters striking technique… or lack thereof, armchair warriors can debate who is the best among their personal favorite fighters (between fantasy football seasons) and fans can argue with non-fans about the morality of MMA fighting in general.
Exciting match ups
Dana White of the UFC is especially skilled in setting up well matched fighters for interesting and thrilling battles. Most MMA fighters have a few losses and a few wins and rematches are fairly common with good fighters. In boxing it’s more common than in MMA to attempt to maintain a perfect record and thus some trainers will avoid match ups that may mar a good record.
Shorter attention span
It’s an often discussed possibility that human attention span is shrinking in recent years. With the advent of the internet, instant gratification is also on the rise. An MMA match is normally completed after three five minute rounds. It’s argued that today’s generation of 18 – 34 year olds don’t care to sit through a ten round boxing match and more than they care to attend a play at the theatre long enough to contain an intermission.
Anything goes
The violence of MMA is obviously a large part of the attraction to many. Mixed martial arts competition is much more like a street fight than boxing, wrestling or any other competitive martial art. In a time when reality television is producing the most popular shows, no holds barred fighting fits in much more easily than a more elite sport that is easier to appreciate when one has had some training within it.
Whether it’s due to one of the factors listed above or attributed to another combination of phenomenon, MMA is obviously addictive and definitely not a passing fad.
Comments
Too short for my taste. Most fights end in the first round. I wouldn't buy or go to an event.
But I'll watch it online.
Mose people dislike the ground game.
I can't stand Dana White.
Legalized street fight.
MOST.
A street fight? Obviously you don't understand the details of the sport. The technique of many mma fighters (especially in UFC) is something that takes years and years of dedication. And the people who dislike the ground game are people who don't actually understand the sport
You really should do a little more research before you write something like this. MMA is outshining boxing which died on the vine 20 years ago when it no longer became free to watch on TV.
MMA fighters are skillful athletes who take time to hone their art in everything from Brazilian jiu-jitsu to Muay Thai and they are not greedy as today's pro athletes. And say what you will about Dana White, he has singlehandedly crafted the most dominant sports organization in the U.S. and should be on the same level as the NFL, NBA and major league baseball. This is not the sport of the future any longer, this is the sport of now. It is more than streetfighting. Just do a little more homework.
Sharon, maybe if you read more of the article than just the title you may have understood it. Talk about short attention spans. MMA is perfect for you, along with the news and short internet articles. No real substance. Just fodder!!
The author doesn't say "it's like a street fight" she says it's "more like a street fight than boxing, wrestling or any other competitive martial art" Which is a different thing entirely, and also demonstrably true. In fact it's the entire basis for the early advertising campaigns.
I disagree on the attention span thing though. UFC takes more attention as it has longer rounds.
Boxing isn't quite dead yet, but the only thing sadder than the UFC's heavyweight division is boxing's heavyweight division. Boxing seems to live or die on the strength of its heavyweights as far as the general public is concerned.
But "mainstream appeal" is always going to be tricky and fickle for anything, including MMA, simply because the "mainstream" are by definition not true fans of the sport.
Just gained some more respect for Roy Jones, Jr. for his musings on one element of this debate. Can't link to it in comments, but if you're interested, check out Yahoo Sports' boxing site:
sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AgsoOc57lP.BqSG8ifeT9guUxLYF?slug=ki-mailbag081109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Of course, some would argue that his upcoming bout with Lacy is part of what's wrong with boxing. What title is that, again?
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