are sports like muay thai and mma still gaining popularity?

Question

do you think they will ever catch up to boxing?

Answer 1

Of course MMA will! This was written in an English Newspaper today, check it out, what it says about PPV imparticular
Cage wars threaten noble art

Ricky Hatton’s bid to conquer America has not come a generation too soon.

The biggest battle facing boxing is not for any world title but to attract the attention of young people, who are flocking in droves to the coarse brutality of extreme fighting.

While Hatton regained his world lightwelterweight title in a temporarily converted ballroom here, the stars of the Ultimate Fighting Championship are preparing to claw, kick and pummel each other into pulp the weekend after next in the expansive — and sold out — Mandalay Bay arena.

Come April they will be putting on their second gory promotion in Britain, ironically in Hatton’s home town of Manchester.

When we flew into Las Vegas last week and told the curious taxi driver that we had come from London for Saturday’s fight, he assumed we meant the Cage Fighting taking place on the same night at another casino.

HBO, the cable TV network who are boxing’s principal paymasters, are allocating six of their big fight broadcast slots this year to these forms of combat, which used to be outlawed and driven underground.

The reason? Extreme fighting is outselling boxing on pay-per-view, at least two times over.

It is also challenging the professional wrestling spectaculars, because its violence is real, not fake.

Not even nostalgia is holding back the bloody tide. U.S.A. Today, the only national newspaper in America, did not print a single sentence about Muhammad Ali on the day of his 65th birthday last week.

The noble art versus the martial arts is an ugly contest in the eyes of traditionalists on both sides of the Atlantic.

We must enjoy our Ricky, Joe and Amir before it is too late — and they had better bank their dollar fortunes as quickly as they can.

Think this explains itself

Answer 2

Programmes like UFC and K1 are really increasing MMA's popularity because they make it accessible to the average Joe, meaning everyone and anyone can watch it whenever they want, from the comfort of the living room. I think it means that fanbases are bigger and interest is massive, but it also means you get more watered-down fans, if you know what I mean.. It doesn't need any passion to be involved now - you can just flick on a TV Channel. Having said that, it is mighty convenient!
Muay Thai is currently enjoying a popularity such as I've never seen! So many people are talking about it or training in it.
I think MMA and Muay Thai are well on the way to catching up to more traditional fanbased Martial Arts.

Answer 3

Well I have been a life long boxing fan. I started watching when Ali rematched Leon Spinks. I remember how huge boxing was when Ali - Duran and Hearns were fighting. The kids at school would talk about it like they do the superbowl today. Boxing has definitely been on a downward spiral due to lack of talent coming in, corruption and poor match making.

The UFC and Pride fighting having caught my interest over the last several years. They have good fighter that fight each other. In boxing you have some good fighters but have the time they won't fight each other. For the most part MMA top fighters have fought each other. Good match ups create interest and that is where MMA is beating boxing badly. Also I haven't seen signs of corruption in MMA like I have boxing.

The mixed aspect of MMA also appeals to alot of people. How does Judo vs. Kickboxing look. So it has some added dimensions.

The main problem with MMA gaining popularity is it is perceived as being more brutal. I have an Aunt who likes boxing but won't watch MMA because of the violence. In MMA a fighter might get cut and the wrestle around in the blood. It turns off some people.

The brutal aspect also turns off some media outlets. It just doesn't get the media coverage it deserves and I think that is because the media is shy to cover it because of the violent nature of the sport.

I also think that the fighters are going to have to start getting paid like champion boxers if they want to keep growing. Talent attracts fans. Money attracts the best fighters. So UFC and Pride are going to have to start paying their fighters like Roy Jones Jr.

I think one day UFC can gain the popularity it just has to continue to work on the image so people realize it is a sport and continue to attract better and better talent.

Answer 4

MMA is still picking up more people with UFC, K1 Tournaments, and Pride FC. Showtime or Cinemax is planning on starting a new MMA league called XFC, with a Gracie (not Royce) vs. Frank Shamrock fight to kick it off.

Muay Thai has a steady base, but has been overshadows by the growing popularity of MMA.

With boxing still searching for a new set of household names and fresh talent in the higher weight classes, MMA leagues should be able to close the gap regarding fanbases.

Answer 5

MMA is utilising many diverse varieties of martial arts which in case you verify out between the main wonderful martial artists interior the international, Bruce Lee, he grow to be consistently recuperating his artwork by skill of utilising diverse ideas from different varieties of martial arts. people who have self assurance that purely one style of martial artwork is the terrific is narrow minded and would not see actual athleticism and artwork in MMA. particular in some situations you will get your combat that merely sounds like a bar combat however the intricacies of MMA are seen by skill of people who truly comprehend the assumption of utilising an open ideas to realize ones objectives (that's what maximum martial arts are all approximately).

Answer 6

Your question should be, Will boxing ever catch up to mma?

Answer 7

i think they are catching up really fast with the ufc and stuff

Answer 8

I think they are. What is there not to like??