Is the UFC nothing but a giant marketing experiment? They charge you $40 every 4 weeks to watch what?

Question

Is it just me or does it seem that the UFC is becoming less about athletic combat and more like the WWF. I don't think it's as bad yet as wrestling, with the faked rivalries and rediculous soap operas that accompany each fight, but it sure is heading that way. For example, how can Randy Couture lose twice to Chuck and beat a man 8 inches taller, and 40 pounds heavier? It's a dream come true for Dana White!, as is GSP beating the unbeatable Matt Hughes, then losing to Matt Serra. Things are just too coincidental right now, and seem to be doing nothing but building a perfect marketing storm for the UFC, not to mention the the TUF series!... I think if their next move becomes merchandising, (actiion figures, etc) it will help solidify this hypothesis.

Additional Details

From a business perspective you need a draw. How else are you going to get people to buy it? So what happens if you don't have a draw? Do you create one out of thin air and create a 5 star dinner? or do you put out peanut butter and jam and hope people will drop $40 to watch it? As a business I think it would be in their best interest to have some way of 'creating' if they needed to. I think we're starting to see a little bit of that now.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I agree to some point. but in a real fight game anything can happen like a strikers chance, or leaving the arm out for a submit, it only takes 1 second in this sport to lose. Tim Silvia doesn't have half the talent chuck liddell has and i am no liddell fan trust me, Plus you could tell randy trained extensively in boxing for that fight. And with a guy like dana white running things, ufc and mma will never be taken seriously, EVER, I don't care what the man did for the sport no on will ever take it serious with his face plastered over anything mma. if you never want to pay for a ppv then go to www.sopcast.org downlad their stuff, they have a channel specifically for mma plus alot of other channels to watch for free, and its all live.....

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the SopCast link

Answer 2

It is a rip off..!! You better not be ordering..!!

Answer 3

I would like to know what sport doesn't try to market their teams either by rivalries that are long dead or never were, or through action figures and other marketing ploys. i.e McFarland toys. In a world where America's favourite past time baseball is full of scandal over cheating w/ steroids, and the fakeness of boxing, MMA is a refreshing splash of excitement. Also w/ non-team based sports like MMA always go over board w/spotlighting the athletes because there is only 2 fighters bio's to deal with. Your opinions sound like those of a jaded boxing fan looking for anything to take down the sport that has obviously replaced your favourite.

Source(s):

My own oppinion wich just makes it how I see it:)

Answer 4

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's fake, but of course it's all about the money. They're not a charity - they're a business, and what they're involved with is a particular branch of show-business.

Answer 5

Actually Chick Liddell does have his own action figure.
To answer your question, I love the UFC and I don't think that Chuck beating Randy twice and Randy fighting Tim Sylvia and winning was any kind of conspiricy thing. Randy moved up to heavyweight to fight Sylvia and height doesn't guarantee anything, they all have totally different fighting styles and sometimes you have your good nights and sometimes you don't, you can't predict who is going to win based on size strength, because it's anyones fight, it takes one lucky punch to get a knockout, a mistake to let someone get a submission.

I only order the pay per views that I really want to watch, and I think its worth it, it's cheaper than a night out with me and my husband.

Also, the UFC already has tons of merchandise, t-shirts, shorts, hats, all kinds of stuff.

I wouldn't even compare it to WWE that is totally fake and white trash, all those guys are on roids and don't even have the discipline and endurance of a UFC fighter, not even the same. Anytime something becomes popular, as the UFC is now gaining way more popularity, the company puts out things that people will buy and are interested in.

Answer 6

What idiots. What popular sport does not have merchandising? How much do football fans pay for Sunday NFL ticket or jerseys? How do football players, baseball players, Boxers, Tennis players, and athletes in general make so much money? It's all advertising and marketing. Are you 2 years old and living in a closet or something?

Answer 7

I love people who try to compare the WWE and the UFC. Fake rivalries? You mean like Pete Sell and Scott Smith, Robbie Lawler and Chris Lytle, or last nights Malapeit and Kwan? They obviously hated each other I mean cheering each other on and giving each other high fives the whole time. How about Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin? Rich was pissed that the crowd was booing Anderson, and they hugged after the fight. Jesus dude... Do you even pay attention?

OMG THEIR MAKING MONEY! IT'S FAKE!