MMA Host Luke Thomas Explains Why MMA Is Not In ESPN

[snakerattle79]

[American_Ninja]

What an idiot he is.
Take Volley Ball, Poker, especially POKER, and all the other so called sports
off the air. Fuck espn.

[TheNegation]

I belive the "ghetto" nature is more apprent in boxing than it is in MMA.

Either way, this guy is a fool and I just lost about 5 minutes of my life that I'd like back

[snakerattle79]

[Kakutogi-Gumi]

What an idiot he is.
Take Volley Ball, Poker, especially POKER, and all the other so called sports
off the air. Fuck espn.

So why isn't MMA Live on ESPN2 then?

[M Deezy]

This guy is about a ****** thats all i gotta say

[-Swizzy-]

I don't know who this guy is, but he is an idiot. ESPN has plenty of sports that they air on tv that aren't as big as MMA and if ESPN Execs are "waiting" for a sport to get big before airing it, then they lack clairvoyance. They should air MMA shows just based on the potential of the sport. It's a catch 22 situation... ESPN doesn't want to give MMA exposure in order for it to get bigger, but will only give it exposure if it gets bigger.

It's pretty clear that MMA has loads of potential and the ESPN execs either have something personal against MMA or just aren't good investors and should be fired.

[Rocky...]

Ufc is on espn in the uk

[kaps]

Ufc is on espn in the uk

This.......

[Kakutogi-Gumi]

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/3/10...ts-no-surprise

Third, let's actually give ESPN some credit. Partnering with Sherdog and putting on MMA Live (which I would wager makes no money) is a huge step forward.

Arguing that poker or pool could be replaced is true, but misses some critical considerations. Pool and poker are actually widely adopted hobbies of sports fans both men and women and across age groups. They're also very inexpensive to produce. They also don't carry much baggage, unlike MMA, which has no doubt made considerable strides in changing it's image but still has a long way to go. A typical sports fan can turn on ESPN at 4pm on a Sunday and see poker without being horrified by carnage. Not so with MMA, to say nothing of the potential blowback.

Lastly, let me make something clear about MMA media talking heads or even journalists: most of them are liars. If not to you, then to themselves. I am neither interested nor do I see it as my job to cheer lead the sport. Am I a fan? Sure. But MMA won't sink or swim because of what I do. Believe me, I have been working tirelessly in the DC market to affect change for the last five years and I've barely made a dent. If you want a show that's going to offer reflexively positive commentary about the state of MMA and is going to head scratch over why mean ol' ESPN won't cover it, MMA Nation isn't the show for you. I couldn't even do that if I tried and besides, the MMA echo chamber doesn't need or want my contributions. I have banged my head against the wall wondering why MMA, despite some unreal successes made possible by the UFC, still can't seem to cross any major threshold within the traditional sports media establishment for years. Rather than asking what was wrong with others, I found it more instuctive to ask what was wrong and right about us. There's a lot to acknowledge in both categories .

Again, perhaps the UFC and ESPN are closer to a deal than I realize. That would be welcome and positive. And let me be clear: things are still in transition. MMA is getting more popular. Sports fans are coming around to MMA every day. But if six months or a year from now it is not, turn the mirror on the sport and stop asking what's wrong with the media. It might be uncomfortable what you find, but the truth isn't always assuaging.