Fight fans want their beloved sport to grow, but Mixed Martial Arts probably won’t blossom into a “major’ sport. Let’s accept that and move on.
Why can’t MMA achieve worldwide acceptance? I mean, Mixed Martial Arts is so visceral. It evokes a raw, primal emotion that other sports, dainty by comparison, can’t.
We watch chiseled, refined athletes maim each other, employing stunning techniques and showing unmatched grit. They’re badasses and we want to be them.
The emotions involved in MMA are basely human; fighting evokes animalistic emotions we all share. We are animals and we fight. Bloodsport is nature.
Appreciation of technique aside, I’d figure a showcase of unadulterated brawling would appeal to our human appetite for blood. The evidence suggests we prefer softer sports. It seems many people don’t delight their inner-animal.
But there are a slew of other obstacles blocking MMA’s path to international renown: Some people see grappling, a defining aspect of the sport, as boring. Others think MMA is deplorable, no less savage than gladiatorial games.
The sport also lacks star power comparable to older sports. Manny Pacquiao is a deity. Baseball enjoys household names like Albert Pujols. But still, at the pinnacle of their sport’s popularity, the average American is oblivious to the titanic exploits of Anderson Silva or Jon Jones. It’s vexing: ESPN holds MMA in the same regard as curling or swimming – SportsCenter barely touches it.
Brock Lesnar lured the spotlight to the Octagon, but his glittering gimmick wasn’t sustainable. The UFC tries to match the thematic fight-hyping that professional wrestling is famous for, but MMA isn’t pro wrestling. The product is inherently different.
Yes, MMA is a baby. Conceived only two decades ago, venerable pastimes like baseball and football predate MMA by a century. In traditional sports, fandom has been cultivated and passed through many generations. MMA’ has just started its’ journey, and it must confront time-honored rivals like MLB and the NFL if it’ll reach the top.
MMA also lacks sufficient exposure. The UFC’s pantheon of titans can be beheld at a steep price: about $50 for a star-studded pay-per view. The UFC has tried to expand their product; their partnership with FOX was a tactful gambit.
More free shows are becoming available, but they generally lack star power. And even though they’re free, not many folks have Fuel TV, a channel devoting itself to UFC coverage.
So what? If the masses want pigskin and hoops, let them have it. Whether or not MMA wins their fandom, it will continue to be MMA. The product won’t wilt without their devotion.
MMA has etched out a sustainable existence on the periphery of the sports hierarchy. Let’s relish MMA as our exclusive jewel.
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