[quote]goldengloves wrote:
[quote]Robert A wrote:
[quote]ZEB wrote:
I can see how there will be more time and dollars to spent on MMA with the NFL out of the way. If anything this will just accelerate what is already underway. MMA is the premier combat sport on the planet and will very soon take its place among the top sports for viewership anway.[/quote]
Really, on the planet? I think boxing still holds that title. Wrestling is pretty popular across the globe, but defining what constitutes the combat sport of wrestling might lead to a semantic black hole.
EDIT: Are you stating that it should be the premier sport and that its popularity will soon reach that level? To me the premier combat sport would be the one that the majority of the people picture when someone says professional fighter. I think most people picture a prizefighter. Though that may be/is changing. [/quote]
Internationally I’d say boxing is more popular, nationally the popularity of each sport often depends on who you’re talking to.
[/quote]
I agree it does matter your location. But it’s the overall growth of the sport that is meteoric.
For example on a quick google search:
Top 10 North American PPV buy rates, 2008
- Boxing: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao, Dec. 6, 1,250,000
2. UFC: Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture, Nov. 15, 1,010,000
- Wrestling: WrestleMania, Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Paul â??Big Showâ?? Wight, March 30, 670,000
4. UFC: Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch/Lesnar vs. Heath Herring, Aug. 9, 625,000
5. UFC: Lesnar vs. Frank Mir, Feb. 2, 600,000
6. UFC: Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin, July 5, 540,000
7. UFC: St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra, April 19, 530,000
- Boxing: Felix Trinidad vs. Roy Jones Jr., Jan. 19, 500,000
9. UFC: Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans, Sept. 6, 480,000
10. UFC: B.J. Penn vs. Sean Sherk/Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida, May 24, 475,000
As you can see 7 of the top 10 PPV in NA were MMA events.
But, I agree with you boxing is more popular in some parts of the world than other parts.