Is the UFC putting on too many cards to sustain growth of MMA?
Posted on August 14, 2012, 01:50 PM by Mike DrahotaLately the debate has come up over the UFC putting on too many events and spreading itself too thin, resulting in a number of lackluster cards. Of course, ultimately the UFC is a business, and on paper, the more events they put on, the more opportunity there is to make money. While this may be true in the short run, is that the best strategy to sustain the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts? Or will the watering down of cards and the subsequent run of injuries serve to cause a plateau for the sport? There are many aspects to discuss about this topic, and perhaps there is not one set answer. Let's examine some of the details and points of view surrounding this discussion.
When the UFC was quickly gaining popularity around 2005-2006 with stars like Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, and the debuting Anderson Silva, it seemed like the cards presented were blockbuster fights that fans were truly connected to. It also seemed that injuries did not take such a harmful toll on the cards back then. Personally, I thought that with the cards more sporadically placed, there was more anticipation because the fights seemed to mean something more back then. Now, there is an event almost every weekend. With the UFC signing a long-term deal with powerhouse cable network Fox, the UFC's exposure is at an all-time high. However, is this necessarily the best thing for the promotion and the sport? I believe not, as it seems that for every action-packed card such as UFC on Fox 4, there seems to be a few bores like UFC 149 or UFC on FX:Guida vs. Maynard. This usually was not the case in years past, even last year.
While injuries are a part of combat sports that no one can stop from happening, the advent of so many cards leaves it tough to find suitable replacements for those forced to pull out. With a talent pool of so many fighters, the level of competition is also at an all-time high. There is not a lot of room for error as a fighter these days. I will always have respect for fighters and their rigorous schedules, but the truth is, casual fans of the UFC who still remember Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar have become turned off to the sport because there are so many cards. It becomes hard to follow for the non-hardcore. UFC 150 was a good example of the dilution. While Buddy Roberts, Max Holloway, and Justin Lawrence are all excellent, game fighters, a card in 2006 would most likely not have featured fighters with low name recognition to the average fan. Nothing taken away from the fighters themselves, the events were just full of more big-name fights back then. Also, casual fans have become bored with a lot of wrestling-dominated action that has become commonplace.
So can the UFC retain this breakneck pace of putting on events while dealing with injuries and other unforeseen hangups? I really don't think so. The ratings of certain FuelTV and FX cards would suggest the same. Perhaps the champions at the top should fight more often, as those fights are the obviously draws the UFC needs. In talking to casual fans around town, it seems that many former viewers have become turned off by the sheer number of events where they recognize no one. I like all the events because I love MMA, but I don't think that such an aggressive strategy is sustainable for the future growth of the sport as a whole. What do you think? As the talent pool grows, should there be more and more events? Or should it be scaled back by the UFC to ensure a quality product for the fans?
Comments
A little late to the party, but yes. Yes they are. When Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao is a PPV headliner something is wrong.
Hitler plans to overthrow Dana White and takeover the UFC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URkmSecaxUc
It's a conversation we've been having on Fight opinion since 2010 (and probably before that when the numbers were still very good).
It's good Mike brought some attention to it here.
wish it wasn't the case, 'cos i love the sport not just the headliners, but as a UK viewer that has to wait until 5am for the big fights, i find it pretty hard to justify being a zombie at work the next morning just so i can watch the likes of faber/boetsch
Wht about zombie at work for korean zombie? zombie for zombie
I want to see fights every weekend so heeeeell noooooooooo :D
I hear that, but I still don't think the average should have to pay 60 bucks for UFC 149, or even UFC 147.
Not sure, because some of the best cards...like the last one on Fox, I thought was better than the PPV's. The fighters make the cards, not the fights.
NOT TOO MANY FIGHTS..Too many fight cards that dont really have much star power anymore that people dont get too excited to watch...if they are going to continue to put on so many events they should actually put fights together that people actually get excited for!!!
The sport is growing and stars are being found. As the UFC progresses there will be a lot more blockbuster fights, but the thing is with the sport developing, fighters aren't just pure boxers. They aren't going to go to the center of the octagon and bang it out via Chuck vs Wanderlei. ANY FIGHT could be a blockbuster fight. And that is what makes this sport so amazing.
Good point. However, when son may cards are planned so far in advance, the injuries kill the event when a suitable replacement is not readily available. Any fight could be a blockbuster, and any fight could be slow dance against the cage. I just don't want the sport to become watered down.
To be honest, being in the UK it is hard to tell.
Here in the UK the UFC is distributed through the ESPN UK channel, which costs roughly £10/month.
This is incredibly cheap and the more events, it doesn't really matter to us financially.
I could see how it would put off people in the US if you are often shelling out $100 + per month.
Apart from the financial aspect it just means the cards are becoming a bit thinner regarding talent but as the UFC continues to grow, as do the fighters, the cards numerous cards will all feel more stacked.
I mean could you imagine this many cards 3 years ago? It couldn't be done. I guess what I mean is give it a year or so and most cards will be sick from top to bottom (paper).
and we can discuss this as much as we want.... Dana has made it clear he is putting on even more cards in the future
I'm glad I live in germany and every card is free on ufc.tv (since mma has been banned on TV) but if I had to pay 60 bucks for every ppv I'd skip about every 2nd event...
Definitely....WAY too many cards. Before, I noticed the UFC putting shows once a month...which I felt was too much...now, once a week?????? It´s definitely too much...it is actually boring me to watch that many fights...I used to wait in anticipation to be able to watch a UFC before...like around the time Vitor was a 19 year old beast, the Shamrocks still existed and Tito wasn´t even in the mix. I miss the PRIDE days where the likes of Shogun, Vanderlei and the Nogueiras made every fight a blockbuster fight. The UFC needs to take care of the quality of these pay-per-views because people might buy them once and be disappointed...by them a second time and be disappointed and after that there won´t be a third time. I love fights, I love watching fights, I love the UFC...but just please keep it interesting...the frequency in which the company puts on shows is way too fast...I never used to miss one UFC ever before...because of the anticipation of waiting for one for 2 months...not anymore. Overexposed.
Good article.
I agree with most of it as I live in an area which is host to several local promotions: MMA, boxing etc. While I think mainstreaming is good and will potentially bring more fans to the sport, on the other hand, I think that too many events can be a detriment. This pans out when we see the ratings decline or the viewership numbers go down. Yes, we probably still have a great number of hard core fight fans watching, but the casual fans and the mainstream crowd desert us. I can't say how many times I've talked to someone about MMA who claims to be a HUGE fan and when I ask if they are going to watch this week's event they will answer "Oh, is it on this Friday?"
Back to my local example: The local promoters complain when there are too many events in town. I would joke with them and say, "Hey, competition is good...I see the same people at his shows that I see at your events" and they will almost always say, "It's not that, but when there is a fight every weekend, people start to pick and choose which one they'll attend and we all suffer." They do work to space them out, but sometimes the venue will change things on them.
Personally, as a long time fan, I say, the more fights, the better. However, seeing the big picture from a business point of view and what the goal is, I can only see it hurting the effort, unless the bigger names get called in to fight more often.
Hell, I prefer a few amateur promotions to the bigger events, but that's because I'm a fan first and can take something away from any fight, but the UFC has people like me and most of you guys sewn up already. They need to bring in new blood as spectators in order to grow the sport and keep it successful.
I have to agree with you Mike,
It can only be a good thing to have more events, particularly for the fighters.
Fighters now have much better opportunity to fight on the big stage if there are 25 events per year as apposed to 12 events per year.
Because of the growth and demand for fighters to fill cards, there is better chance for the fighters getting welcomed back if they suffer a loss but put on a good performance. I think that joe silva and dana are becoming more tolerant to losses if there is a growing fan base and a great performance.
To argue that there are too many fights or cards raises the question as to whether there is too much football, baseball, or basketball broadcast.
Even before the UFC exploded with fox, we had Kalib Starnes fights.
more fights the better !
Mike I am not trying to blow smoke up your a$$ but you have been a great addition to this website. Thank you for another quality post.
Tough call. I love when theres 2-3 UFCs a month but there have been more and more cards with bad headliners.
No..... they have just been hurt by all these damn injuries.
I think the fighters need to become more responsible in training
and not push themselves too far, cause that's what happens most
of the time. Sure you're preparing for a war but that also means you
need to take care of yourself and be healthy for the actual fight and
dont beat yourself or get beat up before you even enter the octagon!
Hitler plans to overthrow Dana White and takeover the UFC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URkmSecaxUc
Is the UFC putting on too many cards to sustain growth of MMA?
No way.
I am a fight fan, the more the merrier. Some commentators talk of dilution of the product, but I see much of their opinion based on diluted 'name' fighters on cards. Fighters get a 'name' by exposure on TV and PPV. Is there too much football, basketball or any other sport aon TV?
For those fights I am less enthused about, I stream the fight in HD for free. For those fights I have to see in Super HD, I buy the PPV.
As the UFC expands and puts on more cards, the depth of the divisions will increase over time, not decrease. New stars will be created. At some point in the future, I can see most UFC fights being on free TV.
I would have to say it has take a special aspect from the sport. I remember waiting every month to watch that one great PPV event and getting all excited on fight night. Now its every weekend and its starting to get old. Don't get me wrong I love watch these artist in the cage, but it just doesn't feel the same anymore. Plus UFC on fox has just taken all the excitement out of the broadcast. I hate there stupid music for the fights. It the same ****ing music for all there sporting events, and the same format. Fat black guy talks with hall of fame fights and gay robots acting out the sport. Get some original ideals FOX..YOU SUCK ASS.
This is something I have thought for a while now. The merger of the wec for me was a chance to increase the strength of the Main card, but all Dana keeps saying is we need more fights. I wouldn't say the current model is a failure but less cards means more time to promote and absorb the aftermath. Shogun v Vera was a great fight and was immediately overshadowed by the next card.
maybe they should add animal contests like Alligator vs Lion that would be cool but everyone knows the Liger would pwn.
I've been an MMA fan in the UK for years and it's odd as I remember back to when it seemed an event was taking for ever to arrive, now it seems like there are too many to keep up with. The hype factor a few of you are referring to definitely has dwindled slightly, and think this is because the amount of media there is to read/watch and discuss in MMA today.
I'm all for MMA growing, it's great that deals like FOX that the UFC now has are happening. BUT by throwing on so many events it does slightly detract from the large build up and excitement of some cards.
Part of the excitement for me and many fans is being able to discuss up and coming cards on forums and really build up some good conversation around this. With so many cards on, the forums are flooded with numerous events and threads are half empty with a few words discussed here and there.
I remember Ariel mentioning the flooding of the market a few months back on the MMA Hour, I think it's interesting that the media involved are also of the opinion that we are essentially watering down the brand and sport of MMA by putting on so much.
A previous comment was that the more the better, it's like basketball. If it becomes like that then it would be a shame as there is not enough time between cards to generate hype.
I'll still tune in to as many as I can, but I am finding I'm watching some now on recorded tv, where as before I'd always watch live in the UK, whether in middle of the night or not.
Definitely too many cards, but not the reason for lackluster fights. Some of the best and most exciting fights happen with the more unknown and less popular fighters. The more skilled fighters get, the more evenly matched they become, which can result in what some feel is a "lackluster" fight. Just because some fights are "not that exciting" does not mean that they are not good fights. Most fans only want brawls and KO's, and can't appreciate a great chess match style fight because they are not schooled in fighting.
i have no problem with the amount of televised fights but i just wish they would restructure the cards. i think a ppv every two months is what's needed with nothing but the top fighters. that's what i miss waiting until the next big ppv. the fox/fx/fuel can be the Title eliminators/up and comers, and journey men. exactly in that order for each channel i stated previously. ocassionally they can have a big fox show...ocassionally!
i think the ufc aint in the right hands. as good as it is now and can be better. i dano sometimes when i see dana get interviewd and speak sometimes i think he doesn know what hes talking bwt. does he have any experience in any matial arts? i dano i always ask questions to my self bwt him