Does anyone else think that UFC is just glorified wrestling/boxing?

Question

Seems like it's headed that direction. All sorts of characters coming out of nowhere and colorful names as well. I could be wrong, but it seems that way to me.

Answer 1

You guys have no idea what you are talking about.  What worked matches are there?  And creative names?  Boxers have nicknames just like MMA Fighters.  Go back to your WWE forum young boy

Answer 2

Glorified wrestling and boxing? What does that even mean?

Answer 3

the comparison to boxing doesnt worry me as much as the comparison to WWE. I dont know why people do this, WWE is not a sport the matches are decided ahead of time, its basically a soap opera. Boxing is a sport, be it that the has probably been some matches thrown in the past but that can be said about any sport. For the most part it is legitimate competition between athletes. MMA is just like boxing, its a real sport, only ALOT more complex than boxing given the number of techniques that can be used. Some MMA organizations are using the popularity of the sport to make a quick buck by hyping and marketing the fighters in a "WWE" fashion (what ever that means) The bigger MMA organizations (UFC, WEC) have highly skilled fighters who are phenominal athletes, arguably the best all around athletes in sport.

Most "hardcore" fans like myself dont like organizations like Elite xc and know that fighters like Kimbo slice are a joke and nowhere near the level of ability of reall MMA fighters, and we could also really care less about the marketing and things like nicknames of the guys in the better organization. We enjoy the sport of MMA, and I hope that new fans or people who are at least interested can look beyond the hype and silly nicknames and enjoy the most highly skilled and physically giffted athletes in the world.

Answer 4

I don't think so. Yeah, the UFC pushes its products in the same marketplaces as the WWE and boxing, but the UFC is still very different and remains different. First of all, ufc fights are not choreographed beforehand, which already takes it above the WWE. Yeah, fighters have nicknames, but thats not really anything, it justs adds a little color. Lastly, the UFC is always pushing huge fights and promoting big stars fighting each other. That happens in boxing very little. The UFC also puts on many fights on a card, while you buy a boxing PPV you get one or two fights. The UFC is not heading the same direction as other contact sports, because the UFC has people running it that are fans of the sport, and not just fans of the money.

Answer 5

Yes.  The UFC and the MMA fighters are going full-circle and *evolving* into a 'work'.

History is repeating itself as this very same type of thing (martial art prize fighting for $$$$$) occured in ancient China and Japan; Medieval Europe (catch-as-catch-can); post-modern Japan; 19th century America (Rough & Tumble); and 20th century America with Aaron Burr and his 1968 mixed martial art matches at Madison Square Garden.

Prize fighting is prize fighting no matter what form it took, takes, or will take.

Answer 6

Well ed_fett seems like to me that Gracie fighting in UFC when he went against Bullshido art forms in the cage was just glorified marketing of his Grand dad's own BJJ.  Then of course Dana White and the Fertitta brothers took it over and since then it has become just some wrestling and boxing event for "body builders".  

I see the UFC losing a lot of ground with its fan base over the next year or so because you see exactly what I see and this is a very good question that should have been asked by fans some 7 years ago.

I mean take a look at the fact the a normal guy with a fatty mid section like Karo Parisyan has been past over many times for a title shot in the UFC after destroying fighters like Matt Serra and Nick Diaz in the past.  Obviously the normal "judo" practitioner ( Karo Parisyan  ) with his every day common man "physical appearance"  isn't marketable in the UFC other wise Parisyan would be a title holder as we speak.  The UFC is all about marketing whether the fans believe it or not.  It's too commercial and that will end up being a big turn off for practitioners in the long run.  MMA competitions were waaaay underground before the formation of the UFC and all this "commercialized" c**p they're pushing as MMA will be just another passing trend in the near future.

The bottom will drop out on the UFC sooner or later mark my words on that one.

Answer 7

Your wrong! enough said...

Answer 8

I dont think so, but it is kinda funny how every fighter has a nickname, a lot of which seem really forced and ridiculous.

The characterization part of the sport is up for debate. I dont believe that the UFC creates scripted personalites like wrestling. However, there are fighters who go out of thier way to be personalities such as Tito Ortiz. Tito has been a part of most of the top selling UFC events in the company history because he gets people tuning in rooting for him and against him.

As a last word, Im not bothered by personalites because when it comes down to it, the fights are real and the guys who talk talk talk and dont back it up dont make it in the UFC.

Answer 9

i agree. it's def going in that direction.

Answer 10

The UFC doesnt have any characters they have real fighters unlike wrestling, thats why when a guy takes a direct punch to the face he doesnt just shake it off he actually gets cut, bloodied (for real) and sometimes knocked unconcience. The UFC has fighters with nicknames but so does boxing and every other sport Kevin Garnett "the big ticket" kobe Bryant is "the black mamba" Sweetness" Walter Payton, get what im saying? They dont have characters like the Undertaker, or Great Khali, why dont you do some research, Kimbo is the only character and he's not even in the UFC.

Answer 11

yes it is

Answer 12

yes ur very wrong.most people were given the name because of there fighting style.like Andersdon The Spider Silva