Back in 1993, fans of the newly created American MMA scene were happy to be different. They were thrilled to be in the minority. It was as if they were privy to some special secret that traditional sports fans just weren’t cool enough to be in on. It was hip to be an MMA fan back then.
Fast forward two decades and things have really changed. It’s still cool to be an MMA fan, but only in certain circles. It’s no longer some grand secret that only a select few are in on. It’s actually become sort of a social detriment.
We’ve spent so many years trying to draw our friends and family in with our passion and knowledge that we’ve pushed them away.
It’s not just us and our overbearing ways though; it’s a systemic crisis. All the way from the almighty UFC down to the lowly hardcore fan, we’ve—as a society founded upon common ground and mutual passion—allowed that sacred bond to fracture our evangelical commitment to spreading the gospel of MMA in a gentle and welcoming manner.
Here are six reasons why.