Mass Debate? Comparing The UFC To “Mainstream” Sports

The UFC has long been the staple of most mixed martial arts fan’s diets. News surrounding the biggest MMA promotion swarms our social media feeds and headlines about the biggest stars such as Jon Jones, Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey etc. dominate the numerous media outlets that have steadily grown with the sport. Yet still, even with the global popularity and expansion of not only the UFC, but the sport of MMA as a whole, it still is slightly short of that mainstream sport status. Why is that?

Well age and experience has a certain amount to do with it, with the UFC only being 22 years clear of it’s inception. But even back then, Art Davie, Rorion Gracie, Campbell McLaren and Bob Meyrowitz were up against the giants of baseball, basketball, football, golf , boxing, hockey and more. These long established pursuits are backed by billions of dollars and years of consistent popularity, making the struggle of mixed martial arts in the shark tank of mainstream sport an unlikely one.

Still, even against those staggering odds, MMA has managed to drag itself out of the dark corners of illegitimate bloodsport, and in to the domain of worldwide sensation and beyond. But why does this tag of ‘not mainstream’ still get thrown around so much? Mixed martial arts is now legal in every American state, is wildly popular in every major continent, and recognized as ‘the fastest growing sport’ of the modern era. When does it cease to be this back seat passenger to the giants of NBA, NFL and so on?

Well, to a certain extent, we as MMA fans and the sport as a whole often view things through the glasses of MMA being the world’s most popular sport, but let’s be honest, it isn’t yet. There are numerous reasons why, but then also multiple arguments for the fact that it really should be at that elite level with the other major sports by now.

So what’s the hold up?

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