UFC vs Strikeforce – Mixed Martial Arts
Monday, January 18, 2010 19:22
Ron Bodine looks at the history of Mixed Martial Arts in the US and what that means for the future in first MMA article on Deep Into Sports.
Mixed Martial Arts: A Changing Landscape?
On November 12, 1993, Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) introduced America to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in an eight-man tournament called the Ultimate Fighting Champhionship (UFC). The result was an astounding night of fights in which 175-pound Brazilian Jujitsu blackbelt Royce Gracie defeated three men in one night to become the first ever UFC champion. Gracie’s performance forced the broader martial arts community to recognize the potency of submission wrestling and the importance of cross-training. It was a groundbreaking milestone that changed martial arts in America forever.
However, the UFC hit a number of rough patches on its way up. The intense and violent nature of UFC competition drew a great deal of criticism from U.S. officials such as Senator John McCain who described the sport as “human cock fighting.” Legal pressures forced the UFC to constantly evolve. Over the years, the UFC introduced more rules to protect fighters, weight classes, rounds, gloves, and other changes, all to please various state athletic commissions. Legal fees and the struggle to “find iteself” left the UFC on the brink of bankruptcy several times. SEG was forced to sell the UFC to Zuffa, LLC (lead by current UFC Commissioner Dana White) in 2001.
In March of 2007 the UFC was on top of the MMA world with the Ultimate Fighter reality series shattering Spike TV ratings records and the acquisition of rival league Pride Fighting Championship. The UFC had accumulated an impressive talent pool but since seen a steady decline of many of its former MMA stars (e.g., Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, and others). To add insult to injury, the UFC in recent months has lost some of its highest profile fighters, including Brock Lesnar (to a stomach infection), Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (to a movie deal), and Dan Henderson (to upstart rival league Strikeforce). The UFC also failed to secure a contract with current top ranked heavy weight Fedor Emelianenko, and consequently Fedor signed with the rival Strikeforce in 2009.
In addition to competing with the UFC for some marquee fighters, Strikeforce also has some notable up and coming talent in fighters like Robbie Lawler, Gegard Mousasi, and Jake Shields. The fight league also has a contract to air events on network television with CBS, while the UFC still broadcasts to a typically much smaller viewership on cable television. Although other competitors to the UFC (e.g., Pride, Elite XC, and Affliction) have failed, the key to Strikeforce’s success may be its timing. Between the increased exposure, the continued acquisition of better talent, and the recent decline in UFC talent, Strikeforce could be positioning itself to be a dangerous rival to the UFC.
Right now, acquiring and developing young talent from NCAA wrestling and minor fight circuits is key to the future of the UFC (perhaps MMA should even be a collegiate sport of its own with the vast increase in consumer interest in the past several years). As the UFC’s highest profile fighters age or leave the organization, the UFC needs new blood to replace the old guard. The UFC has accomplished this with some degree of success by developing and marketing young talent through the Ultimate Fighter reality series, which has produced fighters like Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, and Diego Sanchez. However, MMA money-making phenoms like the aging Chuck Lidell and Matt Hughes remain rare. Perhaps Strikeforce could benefit from a similar concept to the Ultimate Fighter reality series. A Strikeforce reality show on CBS could allow the organization to beat the UFC to the punch on some of the younger talent and provide Strikeforce with greater exposure to the MMA fan base.
As a fan of MMA since the first UFC event in 1993, I welcome the competition from Strikeforce. I believe two major MMA leagues will result in two organizations working desperately to produce a better product for consumers, and the stronger organization will be left standing.
6 Responses to “UFC vs Strikeforce – Mixed Martial Arts”
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GooTAR
says:
January 19th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Lovely. I liked it. Plz do visit me and leave your comment on GooTAR Blog
Nate Barlow
says:
January 19th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Appreciate the history lesson! MMA intrigues me conceptually, but have not been able to get into it so far. A little too violent for my tastes, I have to admit (though I disagree with the McCain comment). But I've only ever had a passing interest in boxing, either. Of course, some of that could be how its promoted as opposed to the acutal fights, since the advertising pushes the ferocity more than the technique and skill.
Would love for you to educate me more!
Ron Bodine
says:
January 19th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Thanks. MMA is much more complex and interesting to me than boxing. Boxing is strictly a punching game. In MMA, you can win by striking (with your hands, legs, and elbows) or with submission wrestling techniques, so there is a much broader array of techniques a fighter has to learn to attack and defend in an MMA match. The more you understand these techniques as a fan, the more you tend to appreciate what MMA fighters do in the ring.
Also, the talent pool in boxing has declined significantly over the years, in part because the rise of MMA has stolen some of the boxing industry's revenue. I really haven't had whole lot of interest in boxing after Tyson vs. Hollyfield since they were really the last two longstanding heavyweight champions. You don't see many longstanding champions like that in boxing anymore.
Nate Barlow
says:
January 20th, 2010 at 4:43 am
Boxing has truly suffered from not having a strong personality in the heavyweight class. It's too bad the Pacquiao – Mayweather fight isn't happening.
That's what I've always thought: the key to understanding and appreciating is in the variety of techniques and their intricacies. I will have to learn
Hutch
says:
January 28th, 2010 at 7:20 am
You seem to have an axe to grind with the UFC. You talk about the decline in big name talent. WHAT?! Has he seen the cards for the next several events? To listen to the things you say, you would think the UFC is on the verge of going out of business. You're an idiot! With the recent influx of cash from the new Abu Dhabi parnership, plus the connections with them that just made it possible to finally ink a deal for the UFC in China, the UFC is getting ready to grow like crazy! And what's the the statement, "up and coming talent in fighters like Robbie Lawler, Gegard Mousasi"? UP & COMING? Lawler has been fighting for like 9 years. He USED to fight in the UFC & got the boot for losing 3 out of his last 4 fights with them. Mousasi has also fought for M1, Pride & Dream and has been around for a long time. You need to get your facts straight.
Ron Bodine
says:
January 29th, 2010 at 1:36 am
1. Who would praise the UFC's accomplishments and contributions first if they had an axe to grind? It was more intended to be a praise of Strikeforce's recent moves and an acknowledgment of some recent bad luck for the UFC.
2. This article was written before several of the upcoming UFC cards had been established (and before Lesnar announced his return), and there are many MMA fans who have described several recent UFC fight cards as relatively weak. I agree with them.
3. For the record, I do not think the UFC is on the verge of collapse, nor do I think that Strikeforce is likely to overtake the UFC. But, I think that if there is ever a time for the Strikeforce to make moves to compete, it is after a series of events that could be chalked up to bad luck for the UFC.
4. Why are you so high on China? lol China has about one third the GDP the U.S. has and they have some serious human rights issues.
5. Up and coming from the standpoint of marketing. Lawler hasn't fought in the UFC for a very long time, so to the casual fan (Dana White's bread and butter) Lawler may not be as well known as some lesser UFC fighters coming out of the Ultimate Fighter. Lawler is "up and coming" from a marketing standpoint.
6. You are awfully defensive. Do you own stock in the UFC? lol