ExRx.net

I though it might be a good idea to start a thread on MMA, since several of us are fans. The following are a few topics I thought of to get things rolling:

1) Why does ESPN cover poker, pool and eating contests, but not MMA? Likewise, why can I hear UFC results on the radio, but not see them on the TV news or read them in the paper?

2) Will Randy Couture (sp?) drop down to light heavyweight? If so does he have a shot at the title?

3) Is anyone more overrated than Kimbo Slice?

4) Can anyone beat Brock Lessner (sp?)?

I've been boggling at #1 for years. Especially when they cover boxing. If I want to watch a pillow fight it should at least involve chicks.

I don't think Kimbo is overrated. Who's ever rated him at all highly?

As far as #1 goes. You may be surprised at the amount of TV shows and events on channels like ESPN that are not produced or Paid for by ESPN.

Most special events and shows (Poker for Example) is produced by a 3rd party, then Air Time is purchased on a Chennel (ESPN), then sponsorship is sold and the show airs.

That was the long answer..

The Short Answer is Casinos Pay for the Air Time on ESPN, and ESPN takes it.

Cliff

4) Answer- me.

Anyone here a fan of PRIDE?

"I don't think Kimbo is overrated. Who's ever rated him at all highly?" - frogbyte

You know who he is don't you. What has he really done to earn the name recognition? I don't even know who the heavyweight champ of boxing is, but I know who Kimbo Slice is.

Fans of MMA don't generally think much of the guy, but his own fans seemed to think he would make the jump to MMA and go straight to the top. Likewise, there was a lot of hype about him being in the Ultimate Fighter show.

Also, I hear a lot of people say he could be great if he JUST learns how to defend takedowns and fight on the ground. Maybe so, but that's a little like a regular guy saying he could be the heavyweight champ if worked out more and learned to fight. Easy to say, hard to do.

Kimbo is big and strong, and he hits hard, but to me he seems a little slow. Meanwhile, he has a LOT to learn before he can hope to be competative in MMA, and he's not a young fighter.

"Anyone here a fan of PRIDE?" - Jebus

I don't really have much exposure to PRIDE.

Right, well, I'm making a big distinction between rank/rating and publicity. He's a celebrity because he's charismatic and weird. I've never heard anyone say they thought he was a top tier fighter. Also I'm not impressed with his striking, either.

I actually feel kinda sorry for the guy. I spite of all the hype surrounding him, he actually seems pretty humble. Meanwhile, people seem to either have imposibly high expectations of him, or be rooting for him to fail.

Realistically, I think he would have been better off going the Hollywood route than trying to break into MMA.

2) I think Randy should drop down to light-heavyweight (if he doesn't just retire). There aren't many really good grapplers at 205 lbs, and I think he could do well there.

Jebus, no surprise but I was a big PRIDE fan. It's gone now, though. UFC bought them out after they went bankrupt. The story is that the UFC couldn't broker a TV deal so they discontinued PRIDE, but I suspect they just wanted to be the only big show in town. Too bad, PRIDE was crazy in its own way, but they put on a really good show. Very entertaining, and I really like ring fights.

Kimbo is overrated, no doubt. I don't doubt he's a nice guy, doing the "big scary guy" routine. But he's not a good enough fighter to make his fights worth watching.

pdellorto, i've seen like every saku fight lol my friend is japanese and he's gonna be him for halloween.

I find the fights much more interesting back in PRIDE, now its just 2 guys in shorts who know the same stuff, fighting. UFC is still good but after watching PRIDE, its nothin lol.

You think the fights were more interesting when fighters were one-dimensional? More violent and lopsided, maybe, but now that everyone's a true MMAist, the fights are better.

Kimbo does seem like a nice guy, and from TUF he seems coachable.

I know I am gonna take a lot of flak for this, but I actually find watching real martial arts to be boring (for the most part). At least MMA and the televized versions. Don't get me wrong- I am not knocking it, as I am sure it would be fun to do, but I imagine it being like soccer- boring to watch but fun to play. If I had to watch between real (MMA and whatnot) and fake (WWE), I'd choose fake, cause as a female puts it, they are male soap operas. But the difference is they are made for entertainment, MMA is made to see who is the best fighter.

That's just opinion. Depends what you're into. I don't get to watch a lot of MMA on TV, unfortunately. However, it's becoming pretty big in my area, and my g/f is taking me to an event in November - can't wait. I love watching it. My friend and main traininng partner thinks it's boring too. Probably because in the UK we get lumped with 'cage rage' and it can be pretty bad. He just doesn't 'get' all the grapling. Yet, he can watch 2 heavy weight boxers hug each other for what often seems like a thousands rounds - I love boxing, too, but just like MMA, the fighters make the fight, in terms of how exciting it'll look. If you get 2 guys that want to tumble around on the floor and grapple each other, it deffinitly can seem boring although not for me personally.

As for Soccer(football!) - Well, about 99% of the UK and probably European male population could sit and watch it all day. Where as, american football simply baffles a lot of people in the UK, in terms of knowing that the hell the rules are. I actually enjoy watchin that, too, along with Baseball, but I need to stay up until 1am to catch any of it (although NFL is allegedly now on here on a Sat morning ).

Anyway, it's just opinion. Enjoy the WWE


KPj

KPJ, I guess I insulted soccer, or football, sort of unwillingly. I often forget people who post on here aren't just from the U.S . I know non-american football is the most popular sport in everywhere except America, so I know I am in the minority, but I can't lie- I do find it boring to watch. Remember that's just one guy's opinion! Not trying to upset anyone! And same with MMA. I guess I don't get the grappling stuff either.

Don't get wrong with- I don't choose to consciously watch fake wrestling, I'm just saying it can be entertaining to watch the soap opera aspect of it...