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| ISSUE #1 - July 9, 2003 | We're looking for new writers. [Click here to apply] |
| This e-zine is not intended for readers under the age of 18. |
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Why does the general public have a hard time accepting our sport? by krahzee1  As a Mixed Martial Arts fan, I find myself continually puzzled. Why am I the only one I know that loves this stuff? I work a well-paid 40 plus hour job. I have a family, two dogs, a house, two cars and I love mixed martial arts. I can’t wait for every event I can get my eyes on. I spend hours online looking for information, pictures, video clips, anything that will help satisfy my hunger for it. With my personal devotion, I find it hard to comprehend what so many people seem to find so revolting and unfathomable about my beloved sport. The sport has come forward by leaps and bounds in recent years, new ownerships and clear direction are partially responsible, acceptance and cooperation of government agencies have also helped, but what else?
Notoriety is a mainstay of anything that is mainstream. The ability to start a conversation about football with anybody you may meet makes it mainstream. Chances are that if you talk to a stranger about MMA you will get a blank stare and then a faint glimmer of recognition from somewhere in his subconscious. He may have seen a commercial once or read an article in the filler pages of a magazine, and from that he has formed a typical conclusion, it is not for him. Crossover stars like Ken Shamrock and, uh, hmm, there’s got to be someone, my point exactly. Why did UFC 40 do so well? Because the average joe knows who Ken Shamrock is, and felt the urge to see him in the "real" action that he was billed for. The largest audience in recent UFC pay-per-view memory paid to see him fight a guy few people knew named Tito Ortiz. Why? Because they knew his name, that’s why. Ken Shamrock’s brief success in the WWE by itself helped open that door, but can the UFC keep it open? Understanding is another thing that keeps the public interested, why do people watch basketball, because they understand it. Everybody has shot a basket before, and had to learn what traveling is in gym class, but  how many gym classes teach the difference between a keylock and a kimura? None, at least not here in North America. The disciplines that make up the majority of MMA competitors are not readily accessible to the majority of the public. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing schools are hard to come by anywhere outside of major cities ... and when you find them, they cost an arm and a leg. Wrestling carries a big load of American fans to the UFC but there needs to be more. When a person is ignorant to something they will tend to shy away, and the more technical the fighters get, the fewer new fans we see. Should we go back to the days of unskilled fighters pushing each other around the ring until one tires out? No, not in a million years, but organizations like the UFC and King of the Cage need to make a conscious effort to help people understand.
Cost and availability are two of the most important but least mentioned roadblocks to mainstream success. MMA is not a readily accessible sport here in the states. There is a broadcast event about once every 2 months, the average attention span does not carry a layman over that period of time. Not to mention that anytime you see an event it costs $29.95 at a minimum, boxing is on ESPN three nights a week, for free. Being a fan of MMA takes an amount of dedication and willingness to spend money that the majority of the American public does not possess. MMA needs another vehicle, it needs a higher profile. Look at what ESPN coverage did for the world’s strongest man competition and it’s popularity. The recently announced deal that the UFC struck with the sunshine network is a step in the right direction, but we need more. There is the argument that MMA shouldn’t go mainstream, that big money will only lead to the corruption and dirty dealing that has absolutely ruined boxing. The fact of the matter is that without large sponsorship, MMA will not last; it needs the big money to attract the talent and viewers that it needs to survive. The people that own these organizations will not continue to lose money forever, they need to turn a profit. We as fans need to be pushers. We need to drag people, kicking and screaming, to watch an event. We need to take the time to explain why we’re excited over something that looks a little like fellatio (a triangle choke you pervert). Once people get past the ignorance, they tend to see it in a whole new light, and they want more, so let’s give it to them. Article by krahzee1. Back to Issue #1 Frontpage |
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