The biggest news in MMA, or more specifically the UFC, as of late has been related to the deal between the UFC and Fox. This now moves the UFC away from its longtime partnership with Spike TV, and into the mainstream onto one of the major networks. So the question becomes, was this a smart move or is it bad?
The general consensus is that it was the best decision not only for the UFC, but also for MMA. Greater mainstream visibility, means that the sport and the organization have nowhere to go, but up. With more eyeballs on the sport, Dana White will undoubtedly want to put on bigger fights for Fight Nights, to showcase the excitement and allure of the sport. For people like me this is an exciting proposition for the sport; not only does it make for better viewing, but it also moves the sport into a realm of increased legitimacy.
So what could be the possible drawback? Moving into the mainstream, means that the UFC could possibly lose its niche appeal – maybe a small sacrifice. The larger concern could be related to “too much too fast” – the UFC could go the way of other (let’s say) “sports organizations” that moved into the mainstream and burnt out like a white dwarf. It could potentially go from “fastest growing sport in the world” to “oh yeah, I remember the UFC – whatever happened to them?”
The question I put out there is: “Too much too fast?” or “I’m finally excited to see the UFC move into the mainstream – the sports only going to keep growing from here!”
Let me know your thoughts…
