Is MMA losing popularity?
From March 1, 2019, to Sept. 1, 2019, there were 19,371 mixed martial arts fights in the world, according to record-keeper Tapology. Between March 1, 2020, and Sept. 1, 2020, there were only 3,764 -- an 80.6% drop.
MMA has been called the fastest growing sport in the world by many. Ticket sales and global appeal are at an all time high. However, popularity and growth can be like mountains. Once you get to the top, it's easier to fall.
The telecast, which peaked with 2.34 million viewership during the Dustin Poirier–Eddie Alvarez main event, declined 20% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year's July card (1.2, 2.05M). It also declined 20% and 18% respectively from the previous UFC on FOX card in April (1.2, 2.02M).
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is one of the most popular, and fastest-growing, sports in the world. A new study has shown it is making huge strides financially as well. Much has been made about the fighter pay issue currently hanging over MMA and the UFC.
If we look at the official numbers and statistics, we can see that boxing is still more popular than MMA. Over the last two decades, boxing is consistently generating higher numbers in pay per view sales and viewership all around the world.
Approximately 17,253,425 people attended NFL games in 2017, while less than half a million UFC fans showed up to live events (452,743). In other words, over thirty-eight times as many people went to football games over UFC fights in America in 2017.
Boxing has probably been in a decline for more than 50 years. However, the sport seemed to have lost much of its relevance over the last 20 years and there doesn't seem to be much that can turn the sport around. Boxing is not dead yet, but it needs something to jump start it and make the sport popular again.
MMA (UFC) is still not more popular than boxing. Out of the top 50 PPV sales ever, boxing holds 25 spots, while UFC only has 15. However, boxing viewership rates have been stagnant, opposed to the rising numbers in UFC. If the trends continue, UFC could take over soon.
Overall, the UFC has enjoyed a very good year so far when it comes to pay-per-view prelims with UFC 257 and UFC 259 both delivering more than 1 million viewers on average for a broadcast and now UFC 261 ending up as the No. 1 rated program on cable on Saturday night.
The sport is incredibly popular there and Canada is responsible for the UFC's most attended event, UFC 129, with over 55,000 present in the Rogers Centre. Canada has also made a significant contribution in fighters, including greats like UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre and Mark Hominick.
Will UFC overtake boxing?
Overall, the evidence suggests that MMA is slowly but surely overtaking boxing in popularity. This is because MMA gives the fans the fights they want to see, whereas boxing delays fights and succumbs to politics. MMA is also cheaper to watch, and many are starting to gravitate more towards the fighters that MMA holds.
Although MMA only emerged in the 1990s, its growth has been, quite simply, phenomenal; it is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the world. According to a recent report, MMA is second only to adventure racing when it comes to growing participation, recording a 19.5% increase since 2013.
Mixed martial arts has a reputation for being one of the most brutal and bloody of all contact sports, but the reality is boxing poses a greater risk of serious injury, according to new research from the University of Alberta.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the United States.
There are 451 million people interested in MMA, according to Nielsen Sports DNA (soccer has 901 million fans). Nearly 85% of the audience is outside the U.S. “Brazil has shown strong growth by adding nearly 8 million fans over the past three years," says Jon Stainer, managing director, Nielsen Sports Americas.
Mixed martial arts is the fastest-growing sport in the world. The UFC, the largest mixed martial arts organization in the world, is the primary reason for that.
Today, horse racing and boxing are slowing dying. Unlike horse racing, however, boxing has brought this fate upon itself. Last century, the most prestigious individual sports title—as well as the most famous athlete—was usually the heavyweight boxing champion. Quick—name the current heavyweight champion.
Training for boxing is also lonely and often as brutal as the fights themselves. The physical and psychological conditioning needed is unlike any other sport. Muhammad Ali once stated, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” Training hurts.
But the sport that brought them stardom has largely vanished from popular culture and public consciousness. Why? Because while “Friday Night Fights” were once a weekly broadcasting ritual, boxing's sheer brutality forced it off the national network airwaves.
In 2015 the UFC was sold for an astounding $4 billion dollars as the fight promotion also reached $600 million dollars in revenue. The WWE has been around for over three decades and they're a permanent niche in the United States as well as a global juggernaut which generates near $700 million dollars in revenue.
Why is UFC gaining popularity?
Thrilling and Unpredictable to Watch
One of the main reasons why the UFC is so popular all over the world is because of how entertaining it is to watch. It is a sport where the underdog only needs one lucky shot against their opponent, meaning it can be all to play for. You'll find yourself on the edge of your seat!
There are 550 million MMA fans. It's the third largest fan base in the world, and they're only getting 40 events a year,” Davis said to USA TODAY Sports.
| Rank | Event | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Whittaker vs. Adesanya (UFC 243) | 57,127 |
| 2nd | Rousey vs. Holm (UFC 193) | 56,214 |
| 3rd | St. Pierre vs. Shields (UFC 129) | 55,724 |
| 4th | Werdum vs. Miocic (UFC 198) | 45,207 |
The event was the largest in the history of combat sports, generating over $600 million in revenue. UFC's global fan base grew to more than 278 million in 2017, with programming now reaching 1.1 billion households in 163 countries.
Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman who serves as president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a global mixed martial arts organization. In August 2019, White's net worth was estimated at $500 million.
1. United States. Full disclosure: the writer of this article is an American. But it cannot be disputed that the United States produces the most top MMA talent of any country in the world.
Conor McGregor is by far the most famous UFC fighter in history – nobody comes even close. Notorious has over 40 million social media followers despite being fairly inactive over the last several years, apart from a couple of losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier and a first-round knockout of Donald Cerrone.
Yes, it all ended up with UFC buying out Pride in 2007, which shows us that the UFC ended up as a better business in the long run. But, during the early 2000s, it's fair to say that Pride FC was, by far, the most popular MMA promotion. And it was bigger than the UFC if you look at the overall picture.
MMA is the world's third most popular sport, behind soccer and basketball. There are 451 million people interested in MMA, according to Nielsen Sports DNA (soccer has 901 million fans).
Mixed martial arts is the fastest-growing sport in the world. The UFC, the largest mixed martial arts organization in the world, is the primary reason for that.
How fast is MMA growing?
Although MMA only emerged in the 1990s, its growth has been, quite simply, phenomenal; it is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the world. According to a recent report, MMA is second only to adventure racing when it comes to growing participation, recording a 19.5% increase since 2013.
We're surrounded by martial arts everywhere, all the time. “There's no question that martial arts is more popular today than it has ever been,” says Myles Baker, Vice President of Premier Martial Arts franchise. “When you start seeing martial artists on Wheaties boxes, you know martial arts is extraordinarily popular.
In 2015 the UFC was sold for an astounding $4 billion dollars as the fight promotion also reached $600 million dollars in revenue. The WWE has been around for over three decades and they're a permanent niche in the United States as well as a global juggernaut which generates near $700 million dollars in revenue.
MMA is popular and has one advantage over basketball that soccer also has, international appeal . MMA had big fan followings throughout the world especially in South America and Asia , continents with a growing population.
However, when it comes to MMA fighting, most people underappreciate its difficulty. What's more, some consider MMA as an inferior sport compared to others. This couldn't be further from the truth as MMA is arguably the most difficult sport in the world.
MMA (UFC) is still not more popular than boxing. Out of the top 50 PPV sales ever, boxing holds 25 spots, while UFC only has 15. However, boxing viewership rates have been stagnant, opposed to the rising numbers in UFC. If the trends continue, UFC could take over soon.
A hybrid of badminton, pingpong and tennis, it was the fastest-growing sport in the country from 2019 to 2021, according to an industry group that tracks sport participation.
Overall, the evidence suggests that MMA is slowly but surely overtaking boxing in popularity. This is because MMA gives the fans the fights they want to see, whereas boxing delays fights and succumbs to politics. MMA is also cheaper to watch, and many are starting to gravitate more towards the fighters that MMA holds.
Traditionally, football is the most popular sport in the United States. Even though the popularity of mixed martial arts is rising, the sport is still trailing behind America's favorite sport. But it's not only football, the MMA is trailing behind basketball, baseball, hockey and other popular US sports.
Thus, the UFC will continue to grow internationally and surpass the NFL in global popularity. The NFL-obsessed United States will simply be an island in a sea of global mixed martial arts—global UFC.
Is UFC more popular than baseball?
Although baseball certainly has more clout due to its history in this country, the ufc has many more fans on facebook (something like 8 times the amount)...the younger audience seems more into ufc, and they will live longer than the older audience (presumably).
The UFC was reportedly leery of women's MMA when the sport was in its nascent stages. Then the UFC saw the crowds and enthusiasm garnered by female fighters at amateur events and saw a market open up, and it opened up quickly.
| Position | Country | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 230173.0 |
| 2 | Brazil | 150807.0 |
| 3 | Russia | 84295.0 |
| 4 | Japan | 52297.0 |
According to the research, 18.1 million Americans practiced a form of martial arts at least once between 2010-2011, comprising 9.4 million adults, 5.5 million teenagers, and 3.2 million children. At this time, it was also noted that 52% of members were men, with 48% women.
