Could UFC Be The Biggest Sport In The World By 2020?
by Kelvin Hunt on Dec 27, 2009 4:00 PM EST
in News
Email
PrintWell, UFC president Dana White thinks so as he spoke to the Las Vegas Sun:
"UFC will be the biggest sport in the world by 2020. People were saying I was a lunatic 10 years ago when we first got this going, but the stuff we’re working on right now on so many levels is mind-boggling.... The sport was just sanctioned in Massachusetts and Vancouver. We’re going to get it done in Ontario and New York in 2010. And we’re already working on taking the UFC global. We’ve already done Germany, England and Ireland, and we just sold 22,000 seats for an event in Australia in 15 minutes.... Right now we are on some form of television in over 175 countries. We’re all human beings and we all 'get' fighting.... Me and Lorenzo Fertitta will sit down and figure out a game plan for the next 10 years, and we’ll execute it. So, is 10 years enough time to make this the biggest sport in the world? Hell, yeah."
This is irking the hell out of me, but the sport is MMA not the UFC. However, I understand what White means because most casual fans have the thinking that ALL MMA=UFC. With that said, White often uses the NFL's failure to expand into Europe as an example of why the UFC will be bigger. I agree with him that combat sports can transcend any language barrier, etc. I suppose you would really have to determine what he means by the 'biggest sport' in the world. I'm sure there are certain ways that his statement could be spun to make it somewhat true. Is it the number of eyeballs that see UFC events across the globe that he's talking about? The UFC claims that over 500 million people saw UFC 100. The UFC has certainly come a LONG way in the last decade, and they have made necessary inroads to capitalize on that success. However, to become the biggest sport in the next decade is probably a bit far fetched, but I can't be madd at Dana White for having lofty goals. My thing is, I wonder if the UFC will get so caught up with global expansion that they leave the door open for someone like Strikeforce to drop an anchor here in the U.S. What say you?
HT: MMAMania
5 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
i think his White is smart enough to know the sport is MMA, as you point out, but i’d be of the opinion that he describes it more out of business strategy. I mean if casual fans continue to believe that the sport is UFC, that’s not only giving them increased exposure its also not legitimizing other brands like Strikeforce, Dream et al…
On a more pertinent point, i like you wonder what qualification is supposed to be attached to such a bold statement? White is smart enough to know that they will never exceed the popularity of participation of a sport such as soccer which is so long established that it is nigh on, if not, inconcievable that it will ever be surpassed as the biggest sport in the world. [Personally speaking this is how i would gauge the biggest sport in the world, what is the scale of global participation and competition.]
Certainly however there are qualifications that could ring such a statement true. The biggest combat sport, the most financially successful, most watched etc… Again though, I find the former the only concievable future the sport has in the next decade but i am willing to be proved wrong and happily so!!
One thing is for sure, the sport of MMA ain’t going to be going into decline (",)
"I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me... but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch." ~ Ty Cobb
I think that MMA has a ceiling as far as how widespread it will be accepted by the popular culture overall. One thing I’ve been pleasantly surprised by, however, is that during a time where all kinds of sports have seen economic and attendance downturns, MMA has continued to grow. If it never grew one iota more, I must say that I’ve been blown away by the heights that MMA has attained.
Rich
I agree with you on the MMA having a ceiling…I just wonder where that ceiling is…I wonder if it’ll get to the point like AND1 street basketball…those kats came from nothing and where EVERYWHERE at one point in time…touring across country…all over ESPN….now you never see them anymore….MMA will never disappear like that(I don’t think)….but I wonder if the ceiling will be similar?
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
2 Men beating each other up to pulp will never be the biggest sport in the world, unless the world we’re referring to is Snake Plissken’s post Nuclear apocalyptic world.
~
You and I know that theres more to MMA than just guys beating each other up but to all grown up women and many grown up men, the sport is barbaric. Boxing and Pro Wrestling are milder that MMA as far as blood is concerned; yet most women I know don’t watch either and don’t want their children watching them also.
I’ve tried talking several of my friends (both male and female) into giving MMA a shot. When they do, they are usually mortified, disinterested or both.
Could MMA become a legit top 5 sport? Sure. I think it will. As far as ruling the roost, Soccer will continue to do so.
by cauliflower_ears on Dec 28, 2009 7:17 AM EST reply actions
Ya know
I’ve had some success getting some of my older brother in laws to watch MMA…they are in their older forties….one of them will watch it if I ask him too…he appreciates the skill those guys have…he also thinks they are crazy for fighting like that…lol…his wife will watch it too….but my other brother just think it’s too brutal according to him….but likes boxing a litle bit.
http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on MMA For Real
Related FanShots on MMA For Real
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
