Is the UFC considered a sport?

[David W]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHarmonica

Since Tyson quit boxing the door was opened for something new to come along, so hard to believe how big it's got and how far boxing has fallen. It has grown so fast they really need to be careful so it doesn't implode on them.

Bingo.

Boxing is dead, as their have been no noteworthy heavyweight fights in over a decade.

Without heavyweights, boxing suffers.

MMA has picked up the slack.

[Exhibitman]

Sure it is a sport, just not one I find to be particularly enjoyable to watch. Not that it's too rough, just too sloppy. The fights I've seen end up with a lot of grappling on the canvas, which I don't find to be artful or interesting as a spectator. As far as boxing being dead, hardly. The top PPV events are all boxing and it generates a lot of money. Pacquiao v. Mayweather next spring will likely double the PPV buys on the biggest MMA event ever. The two also have different demographics. MMA is whiter, younger and more America-centric than boxing.

BTW, anyone see the Williams-Martinez fight on HBO tonight? Holy crap, what a war! The two best middlweights in the world going toe to toe for 12 rounds.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Sure it is a sport, just not one I find to be particularly enjoyable to watch. Not that it's too rough, just too sloppy. The fights I've seen end up with a lot of grappling on the canvas, which I don't find to be artful or interesting as a spectator. As far as boxing being dead, hardly. The top PPV events are all boxing and it generates a lot of money. Pacquiao v. Mayweather next spring will likely double the PPV buys on the biggest MMA event ever. The two also have different demographics. MMA is whiter, younger and more America-centric than boxing.

BTW, anyone see the Williams-Martinez fight on HBO tonight? Holy crap, what a war! The two best middlweights in the world going toe to toe for 12 rounds.

Thank you.


It's amazing that in a dead sport like boxing, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao just split about a $40 million dollar purse for a non-Heavyweight fight.

The top MMA attractions usually earn less then a million a fight. Usually well under.

Also, you want to talk about exploiting fighters. Dana White makes Don King and Bob Arum seem like philanthropists in comparison.

[rhettyeakley]

I enjoy watching both boxing and MMA, each for completely different reasons.

I like boxing for the classic strategy. I appreciate when a fighter has the chance to systematically take apart a lesser opponent over the course of a fight-something that a fighter rarely has the opportunity to do in the shorter MMA fights (although some MMA fights are longer than 3 rounds)

I like MMA for the interesting matchups that can occur--take tonights UFC fight between Roy Nelson and Brendan Shaub- experience vs. athleticism. MMA certainly is the modern incarnation of Gladiatorial competition--where they would purposely match up different style fighters for an interesting fight. However, when you have two grapplers fighting it gets pretty dull-it's like watching olympic wrestling.

Like I said I love 'em both and don't really understand why boxing fans have such a problem w/ MMA as you can appreciate it for what it is--something completely different. On the flip side I don't understand MMA fans that think boxing is boring-- sure, it can be, but so can a bad MMA fight. I don't agree that MMA is becoming popular at the expense of boxing. I think they can both co-exist and be healthy. However, I still think boxing gloves should be reduced in size slightly.
-Rhett

[teetwoohsix]

Thanks to all who responded(and those who didn't)-
I appreciate and respect everyone's opinion.I could have phrased the title better,for I do know it's a sport-I didn't know if it would be an acceptable topic in this forum or not.
I appreciate both boxing and MMA.Funny story-about a week or so ago my wife and I were at The Palms casino messin' around,and we noticed a group of guys-about 4 guys who were no less than say 6'6" tall,and one guy who looked dwarfed compared to the others.I mean,these big guys looked like serious goliaths-would not mess with them.
My wife said"who are all those bodyguards surrounding?"
I thought maybe it was some famous rapper or something,until I got a better look-it was Mr.Mayweather!!No disrespect to Mr.Mayweather,but he looked a lot smaller in person than the guy I'm used to seeing in the ring(maybe it was the because of the giants he was with).
I do look forward to Mayweathers next fight!!!
Regards,Clayton

[ChiefBenderForever]

Boxing isn't dead but has faded into the background just like baseball did which is really a shame. I blame the remote control symdrome of todays culture. Ali was once the most popular sports personality in the world and today many people don't know any boxers names. Football has become americas national pastime, but take away fantasy football and gambling and how many true fans would be left ? Anyone can wake up monday morning and be all caught up on the whold nfl week in 5 minutes so it's very convienient to keep tabs as opposed to other sports. I will say without any qualms that Nascar is not a sport !

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by teetwoohsix

No disrespect to Mr.Mayweather,but he looked a lot smaller in person than the guy I'm used to seeing in the ring(maybe it was the because of the giants he was with).

Regards,Clayton

He is 5'7" and fights at 147#.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

He is 5'7" and fights at 147#.

Also, unlike most other fighters........he probably walks around at around 147. Most other fighters put on a bit of bulk above their fighting weight between fights.