Is fan loyalty much stronger in MMA than Boxing?

MMA fans are loyal to the UFC brand, not the sport itself and definitely not the fighters. Most of their fighters have no individual following. Conor is one of the rare exceptions. The UFC operates by having disposable fighters they can churn through to sell championship fights that are always promoted identically. They don't want fans to be loyal to fighters because fighters with loyal fanbasea could take their support elsewhere for far more money. Boxing fans are very loyal to their favorite fighters and this is why the sport is as successful as it is. Fans will travel and pay hundreds of dollars to buy tickets to see their favorites. Someone said upthread that boxing fans often have one fighter that, when that fighter retires, they will view the sport differently. I consider myself a fan of the sport overall but I would not be a boxing fan if not for Manny Pacquiao.

I dunno man. Considering the absolute **** boxing fans have had to put up with over the years, it takes a huge amount of loyalty to still support it

I'll stick with the UFC. I've seen around 4-5 fights that I have loved over the last few years, both male and female, it's just when a fight starts on feet for a minute, then one guy gets another to the floor, holds him there for 4 minutes, wins the round, then repeat, that kind of fight keeps putting me off badly. And I recently watched both Shields fights and they were absolutely horrific viewing, not just from Shields, but both her opponents as well. I know that wasn't high standard MMA, but I've watched many a domestic level boxing match which was awesome. I think I need to research the guys who fight in a style I like, then I can get behind it. Nash out. Theres not that much ground stuff these days really, i'd say its like 70/30 stand up/ground. Pretty much everybody has solid grappling skills now so trying for takedowns is often more effort and risk than its worth. Its not the easy route to victory that it used to be. The ground stuff can be entertaining at times imo. I think the best MMA fights are the ones where you see all the aspects mixed together across the course of a single fight. Volk/Ortega for example was one of the best fights last year, and some of the most exciting parts of it were when Volk looked to be in deep shit trapped in submissions only to escape from them. Guys like Khamzat and Do Bronx are entertaining ground based fighters too.

No. Boxing fans being so unconditionally in love with fighters is part of the problem that lets things like PBC hold 200 fighters hostage and keep the sport down. MMA is still about the sport. Fighter’s come and go and people realise everyone loses, they just want the fights done.

Most pro wrestling moves are legal in MMA in theory. You're just not gonna see them for obvious reasons. There have been a few German suplexes, most famous being fedor/Randleman. Also Rampage won a fight with a powerbomb once. Kurt Angle actually almost joined the UFC. He came along just a bit too early at a point where the UFC hadnt properly blown up yet and the WWF was comparatively huge. I dont like Conor but its not hard to see why he initially became a star. And I think him and also guys like Jorge, the Diaz bros, Khabib, Colby, Ferguson etc etc and for boxing Fury are more compelling characters than the WWE has managed to produce over the same time frame. Did you watch Brocks UFC run? Yes, I have watched a lot of Brock's fights. I've seen interviews with the Undertaker as well and he said if he was younger, or if UFC was big when he was young, he would have loved to have done that as well. I watched wrestling as a kid with Hogan, Flair, Warrior, Macho Man, etc, then young it as peak for me with Austin, Rock (who are my two faves and still love them) and the rest like Angle, Brock, Kane, Undertaker, Mankind, HHH, Vince. I think from about 96-2004 wrestling was just really out there doing things that they can't do now. The world was different then, now everybody is offended by the tiniest things. I'll stick with the UFC. I've seen around 4-5 fights that I have loved over the last few years, both male and female, it's just when a fight starts on feet for a minute, then one guy gets another to the floor, holds him there for 4 minutes, wins the round, then repeat, that kind of fight keeps putting me off badly. And I recently watched both Shields fights and they were absolutely horrific viewing, not just from Shields, but both her opponents as well. I know that wasn't high standard MMA, but I've watched many a domestic level boxing match which was awesome. I think I need to research the guys who fight in a style I like, then I can get behind it. Nash out.

I'm certain it did get a big part of the wrestling crowd, but I was saying many moves in wrestling (in wrestling they are done safely and often need both participants to execute the move) are not allowed in MMA, as they when done properly would kill people, I found the wrestling moves more fun to watch. Also, what drew me to wrestling was the big personalities. Rock, Austin, and intriguing guys like Undertaker and Kurt Angle, and Kane on his first few years storyline was just awesome. The MMA guys have never drawn me to them with their personalities. McGregor is just a bore that bought a personality at a pound shop and a complete fake to me. I'm sure someday somebody will come along who I will gravitate towards, and that will get me into MMA, but that day hasn't happened yet. I do keep an eye on it just incase. I'm not saying MMA isn't good, I'm just not into it as of yet, it hasn't drawn me in the way boxing has, or the way wrestling did in a different kind of way, the fun of it all, etc. I know MMA has moves/grappling taken from olympic style wrestling, but I liked the over the top fun of the old WWF. Nash out. Most pro wrestling moves are legal in MMA in theory. You're just not gonna see them for obvious reasons. There have been a few German suplexes, most famous being fedor/Randleman. Also Rampage won a fight with a powerbomb once. Kurt Angle actually almost joined the UFC. He came along just a bit too early at a point where the UFC hadnt properly blown up yet and the WWF was comparatively huge. I dont like Conor but its not hard to see why he initially became a star. And I think him and also guys like Jorge, the Diaz bros, Khabib, Colby, Ferguson etc etc and for boxing Fury are more compelling characters than the WWE has managed to produce over the same time frame. Did you watch Brocks UFC run?

I dont think MMAs standing is going to be negatively effected over time, once the novelty wears off etc. In 10-20 years its just gonna have more history to look back on and theres going to be more people whos formative experience with combat sports was through MMA. Its only been the 2nd half of the 00s where MMA really took off so right now if you're over 25 the first combat sport you watched was probably boxing. 20 years from now theres gonna be a whole lot of middle aged guys talking about back in their day with Conor, Khabib etc probably. Oh and on the wrestling but real thing. Its absolutely 100% true that the UFC inherited a lot of that late 90s/early 00s pro wrestling audience as they got older and moved on. I actually first found out about MMA through wrestling (WWF signed Shamrock and Severn, WCW signed Tank Abbott, ECW briefly had Varelans and in Japan the lines between pro wrestling and MMA were very blurred). But the UFC started cleaning up the presentation and trying to be more legit sports like to appease the suits as it got bigger so the crossover appeal isnt as prominent as it once was. I'm certain it did get a big part of the wrestling crowd, but I was saying many moves in wrestling (in wrestling they are done safely and often need both participants to execute the move) are not allowed in MMA, as they when done properly would kill people, I found the wrestling moves more fun to watch. Also, what drew me to wrestling was the big personalities. Rock, Austin, and intriguing guys like Undertaker and Kurt Angle, and Kane on his first few years storyline was just awesome. The MMA guys have never drawn me to them with their personalities. McGregor is just a bore that bought a personality at a pound shop and a complete fake to me. I'm sure someday somebody will come along who I will gravitate towards, and that will get me into MMA, but that day hasn't happened yet. I do keep an eye on it just incase. I'm not saying MMA isn't good, I'm just not into it as of yet, it hasn't drawn me in the way boxing has, or the way wrestling did in a different kind of way, the fun of it all, etc. I know MMA has moves/grappling taken from olympic style wrestling, but I liked the over the top fun of the old WWF. Nash out.

In general ufc fans don't tend to idolise anyone, mcgreggor is different he's got the causal fans on his bandwagon. The viewing figures for lesnar were sky high too

It's still new enough to be cool. I know tons of people who love it for the it's new and cool factor. They all say things like it's newer and better than boxing all the time. It'll be a decade before the newness fades off. I'm not saying the cool fad didn't peak in 2009, but even then, there's 10-20 years even after that for something to be newish, especially with sports. Look at most the popular sports and how long they have been around? MMA is an infant In comparison. Nash out. I dont think MMAs standing is going to be negatively effected over time, once the novelty wears off etc. In 10-20 years its just gonna have more history to look back on and theres going to be more people whos formative experience with combat sports was through MMA. Its only been the 2nd half of the 00s where MMA really took off so right now if you're over 25 the first combat sport you watched was probably boxing. 20 years from now theres gonna be a whole lot of middle aged guys talking about back in their day with Conor, Khabib etc probably. Oh and on the wrestling but real thing. Its absolutely 100% true that the UFC inherited a lot of that late 90s/early 00s pro wrestling audience as they got older and moved on. I actually first found out about MMA through wrestling (WWF signed Shamrock and Severn, WCW signed Tank Abbott, ECW briefly had Varelans and in Japan the lines between pro wrestling and MMA were very blurred). But the UFC started cleaning up the presentation and trying to be more legit sports like to appease the suits as it got bigger so the crossover appeal isnt as prominent as it once was.

MMA fans respect their sport and fighters more than boxing. Being loyal to specific fighters? Idk

That already happened ages ago though. The whole MMA being the cool new fad thing peaked in like 2009. Its a completely established sport now. It's still new enough to be cool. I know tons of people who love it for the it's new and cool factor. They all say things like it's newer and better than boxing all the time. It'll be a decade before the newness fades off. I'm not saying the cool fad didn't peak in 2009, but even then, there's 10-20 years even after that for something to be newish, especially with sports. Look at most the popular sports and how long they have been around? MMA is an infant In comparison. Nash out.

I agree with this, and certainly the cool cos it's new thing. Just like the whole influencer life style is really in as it's new. I think give it a decade and the newness of MMA will wear off, That already happened ages ago though. The whole MMA being the cool new fad thing peaked in like 2009. Its a completely established sport now.

I think it’s the other way around. I think boxing is mocked way more than MMA. To MMA fans, boxing to them is like an “old timers” sport. It’s outdated to them. They think it’s an extremely limited form of fighting, or, and I’ve heard this one a lot, they think the big boxing gloves is something like, “fighting with pillows.” I always thought the pillows one was funny. But they look at boxing as a “less than” form of combat. IMO, a lot of MMA fans, when discussing the 2 sports, they’ll sh#t on boxing real quick or just dismiss it. They think very highly of MMA. But look at the demographic too. Most MMA fans are younger people. MMA didn’t really blow up until the late 90’s or 00’s. Most people growing up now, they’re growing up with MMA because it’s “cool.” Unless some kids dad is a boxing fan and that kid grows up watching the fights with his old man, that kids gonna gravitate towards MMA. Not to say you can’t be a fan of both. I know someone who’s like that. He’ll watch all the big fights. UFC or boxing. I think that’s hard to find though. Most people tend to favor one over the other. Same friend who likes both boxing and UFC, he invited his UFC friend out to watch Canelo vs Kovalev and the UFC fan was completely disinterested. I remember he said, “idk. I just don’t care about this.” But this same guy goes nuts for UFC. I’ll watch a UFC card if other people are watching it and I get invited to someone’s house. I can’t name any of the fighters and the weight classes confuse me, but I’ll still watch it. I’m just not gonna go out of my way to watch it. I agree with this, and certainly the cool cos it's new thing. Just like the whole influencer life style is really in as it's new. I think give it a decade and the newness of MMA will wear off, and most of them will gravitate towards boxing, that's my guess, but regardless, I couldn't care less whether I'm the only one in the world who doesn't watch MMA. And God do I hope the whole lame, being a fan of influencers because you're a wannabe influencer yourself wears off. All they are doing in reality is funding those idiots. Also, there are things I like about Youtube, but it really has given a voice to the village idiots. Nash out.

All high profile ones, championship level, some P4P type fights, both male and female, did nothing for me. Nash out. Most of the all time celebrated MMA fights dont have much rolling around on the floor though. They're usually stand up wars. If you can watch 50 fights (thats quite a lot) and still not get a feel for it I guess its just not for you then. Each to their own.

Which fights did you watch? All high profile ones, championship level, some P4P type fights, both male and female, did nothing for me. Nash out.

McGregor has played a blinder really. He has a ton of fans but also a ton of haters, when he fights they all tune in. I think MMA fans are loyal to their sport. MMA fans are often mocked by boxing fans, but I never see any of them celebrating good fights falling through, or making excuses for good fights not being made. In boxing the fans do that all the time. I think it’s the other way around. I think boxing is mocked way more than MMA. To MMA fans, boxing to them is like an “old timers” sport. It’s outdated to them. They think it’s an extremely limited form of fighting, or, and I’ve heard this one a lot, they think the big boxing gloves is something like, “fighting with pillows.” I always thought the pillows one was funny. But they look at boxing as a “less than” form of combat. IMO, a lot of MMA fans, when discussing the 2 sports, they’ll sh#t on boxing real quick or just dismiss it. They think very highly of MMA. But look at the demographic too. Most MMA fans are younger people. MMA didn’t really blow up until the late 90’s or 00’s. Most people growing up now, they’re growing up with MMA because it’s “cool.” Unless some kids dad is a boxing fan and that kid grows up watching the fights with his old man, that kids gonna gravitate towards MMA. Not to say you can’t be a fan of both. I know someone who’s like that. He’ll watch all the big fights. UFC or boxing. I think that’s hard to find though. Most people tend to favor one over the other. Same friend who likes both boxing and UFC, he invited his UFC friend out to watch Canelo vs Kovalev and the UFC fan was completely disinterested. I remember he said, “idk. I just don’t care about this.” But this same guy goes nuts for UFC. I’ll watch a UFC card if other people are watching it and I get invited to someone’s house. I can’t name any of the fighters and the weight classes confuse me, but I’ll still watch it. I’m just not gonna go out of my way to watch it.

Seen about 50 fights to try and get into it, but it's all just rolling around on the floor and hugging. Which fights did you watch?

Don't know, can't stand MMA. Seen about 50 fights to try and get into it, but it's all just rolling around on the floor and hugging. It's really dull to me. I loved WWF Back in the mid 90s to mid 2000s, and I know MMA fans try to say it's like wrestling but real, but it isn't. There are a million moves in wrestling that they are not allowed to do in UFC (that whilst pre-planned, it's far more exciting to watch). And the wrestlers back then had much bigger personalities. McGregor is like Joe Joyce compared to the Rock or Stone Cold. Also, the myth that MMA/UFC is like a real street fight, it isn't, as mentioned, a million moves are not allowed, when on the floor they have to punch a certain way, can't headbutt, and that's all not including the real reality of a street fight, a million other people jumping in, guns, knives, etc. But mainly, the action is not exciting to me, rolling on the floor, hold, choke, slap, kick, limited hand skills, can't stand the sport, but kudos to those W 20 L11 legends. Nash out.

For example, McGregor vs Cerrone is essentially like Canelo facing Rosado. Do you really think the latter would sell on PPV? Canelo vs Chavez jr did a million buys.

I bet MMA fans have more fun being fans than boxing fans do. They get to watch top level fights all the time without waiting years to see them happen. Boxing is it's own worst enemy But apparently MMA fans are dumb because they actually enjoy and support the sport, while "intelligent" boxing fans spend years fanboying over fighters and promoters, spewing racial/jingoistic shyt at each other and doing the usual "who is ducking who?" he said she said routine as they wait for the most obvious and biggest fights in the sport to get made. Boxing fandom is like 90% backstage politics, fanboying and waiting.