MMA Makes a New Fan

by Nate Wilcox on Jul 8, 2008 10:50 PM EDT in MMA News

Check this from the Baltimore Sun's Bill Ordine:

I gained a new appreciation for mixed martial arts watching it from a distance of 50 feet. There is a very intriguing technical aspect to it as punchers try to stay on their feet and ground fighters try to wrestle them to the ground and exert more subtle violence on their opponent. Such a fight was between middleweight puncher Patrick Cote and all-arounder Ricardo Almeida. Almeida began the fight by literally jumping into the arms of Cote and trying to drag him to the canvas. He was successful and easily won the first round. But Cote managed to stay upright through most of the next two rounds and his obvious aggression forced the judges to award him the next two rounds, and Cote ultimately won on a split decision. It was all strategy and tactics. Almost cerebral.

The naive innocence is really kind of cute. Its gratifying to see him appreciating the strategy of the old-school style striker vs grappler match -- state of the art MMA for 1997 but I know I was gripped the first few times I saw that dynamic play out. Now that Bill has grasped that strategic aspect of MMA, maybe he'll be a little closer to appreciating the strategic elements of a full-on war between two well-rounded fighters.

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Better than nothing

by Yasnian on Jul 8, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

Echo'd

The problem is, this is where 90% of the public will be when they first get introduced to quality MMA.

The “Human Cockfighting™” stuff has really hurt the launching of the sport. Makes me wonder if the Boxing Industry has a financial stranglehold on certain politicians, lol. And I would probably vote for the guy!

We’re the exception right now, it’s still a really small market that’s been created for MMA, and the nerds like us who blog about it are the weirdos. The tough part is figuring out how to actually introduce this sport to the public in an easy-to-read fashion. Big steps have already been taken, but more are necessary, for certain.

by misterjonez on Jul 8, 2008 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Compared to some of the massive hurdles MMA has faced in the past, I’d say today we’ve got some pretty good problems, if you know what I mean. Its rapidly attaining social acceptance to be a big MMA fan, or the friend/relative of one. Now we are in a position where the UFC has a massive installed base that are evangelizing their friends, and with every PPV you’ve got guys like Bill Ordine having their Big MMA Epiphany. I think the whole “bigger than the NFL” thing is kind of silly and unattainable, and maybe that skews the curve, but I’d say things are in really good shape right now. The big question for now is if the UFC can successfully help in building a new generation of marketable stars like Couture, Liddell, Ortiz when the stakes, and the sport itself, continue to grow in such an unpredictable manner

Oh yeah, personally my Big MMA Epiphany was Vitor vs. Randy 1

by smoogy on Jul 9, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

This Sport

Is in the Midst of having a Tidal Wave of new fans. Over the past two years the amount of MMA apparel sold has sky rocketed. With Fertitta & Dana this thing could be, I hate to say it, bigger than Nascar!

My MMA epiphany was Ultimate Knockouts 2, I had watched it before that, but that was made me an MMA fiend(sp)!

all you gotta do is...

by imapimp08 on Jul 9, 2008 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

I hate to say it, bigger than Nascar!

You’re not off the mark with that comment. Many viewed Nascar the same way (very little news coverage, arguments over whether or not it is a legitimate sport). Nascar has BLOWN UP.

We’d all love to see it happen with MMA.

by steak_knife on Jul 9, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions