The fight game is evolving

[old jong]

A long time ago ,pro wrestling was not fake! the fights where very scientific as they used to say and could last houres.In those days,the 20's or 30's,I,m not sure,I have read that wrestling was more popular than boxing.But the fact of watching two guys on the ground apparently not moving for long periods of times drew the fans away to other spectacle sports.Wrestling had to adjust to stay in buseness and the "show" as we know it beginned.

We could draw a parralel to the MMA and it's evolution.First,it was a great novelty to watch fighters from all kinds of origins try their skills in that environement.The suspense was always present.Who will win? The little guy in the gi or the big bully in the trunks! Karate vs wrestling ? Pakua vs street fighter? You get the idea? It was new and very "real"

Then came the rules...(before there where any!)...the weight division and the uniformation of the fighters!(they all do the same things!)By saying that ,I'm not talking about the effectiveness of these approach but,about the casual spectator who is not a "connaisseur"in the various techniques of MMA and is paying to see a show...That kind of spectator(the big majority)could grow tired or bored very rapidly of seeing two equal fighters semingly not moving on the ground for long periods(remember the booings in some Gracie fights !)and leave for some other way to spend his money!
The facts or question are:As the MMA is becoming a big industrie and will produce "superstars"and specialised fighters instead of the everyday guys who were fighting in the beginning(the big novelty aspect that started it!).Will they be able to procure enough trills and suspense to draw a sufficient audience to survive?...Think about it...They need a lot more than the MMA fanatics to do that!
O.K. I'm wearing my asbestos suit!... ;)

C'est la vie!

[Budokan]

I suppose they may be able to increase their target audience somewhat, but not significantly. Not really. At the moment the fan base for these contests are rather small even compared to boxing, which has dwindled over the years as people have lost interest in seeing two guys beat the snot out of each other. Sweet science? Sure. But it's also been tainted by crass promotion and shady dealings.

This may all change in the future, but I wouldn't bet on it. Of course, stranger things have happened and pale gladitorial contests between juiced up monsters wrestling one another may eventually become the "in" thing.

K. Mark Hoover

[Highlander]

Didn't we learn anything from Gladiator and Battlebots? If MMA events are going to survive we are going to have to add tigers and buzz saws coming out of the floor. Now that's reality fighting. At least I'd pay to see it. :rolleyes:

[Tigerstyle]

I agree with Highlander. If MMA events are going to survive, they need more reality. 1-on-1 in a nice, safe cage is fine to test your skill, but it's just not real fighting. When I train in kung fu, I always stay mentally prepared to defend myself against tigers coming out of the floor at any second. It's obvious these "steroid monsters" have never fought for real in the streets. If they did, you wouldn't see them go to the ground so readily, 'cause who know's where the tigers are gonna pop out?

[BeiKongHui]

Have you guys seen the movie Running Man? That is the future off MMA competitions. Mills Lane will have to be involved and Wink Martindale will be the commentator. All matches will be to the death to satiate the blood lust amongst the fans and the death scenes can be played over & over on CNN & ESPN for extra ratings.
I wonder how well Sak will fare when the Gracies are armed with chainsaws & motorcycles? We will all also have to readjust our training accordingly
to make it even more reality based becasue the spectacle will alert us to the ever present danger of post-apocalyptic mowhawk 'n' spike sporting thugs & C.H.U.D.S. that lie in wait for us and our unsuspecting loved ones around each & every corner.

"Gong Sao Mo Gong Ching Sao"
- When you talk with the hands,
best not to speak of polite hands.

[Waidan]

ROFL!! Maybe it's just early, but I found that hillarious

[Highlander]

Running man was O.K., but Thunder Dome was better. Bungy cords and weapons.

********************************
All real fights eventually will go to the air. If your style doesn't teach the critical bungy cord range of fighting then you must sign up at the Highlander Academy to be complete. Don't be caught unprepared. Sign up today.

Prices for lessons will vary and be determined by an independant audit of your assets. People making under $100,000.00 annually need not apply.
********************************

[jjj]

LOL that was hilaruous Tigerstyle! I often worry about that now when I'm rolling ever since I saw Gladiator!

I feel sorry for people who don't drink.
When they wake up in the morning,
that's as good as they're going to feel all day.
--Frank Sinatra

[Braden]

(rofls at tigerstyle)

Old Jong - how is any fight that "lasts hours" scientific or realistic?

Hello. Here is my factual opinion.

NHB is very popular in Japan. It is more popular in japan than it is in America. They NHB fighters will enter japanese organizations as they are already doing so. Japan pays higher and the fan population is not declining.

America can spread all the anti-NHB spam they want. There is always Japan.

[Zhin]

At burning man, Death Guild of the SF Bay area Goth Scene run a thunderdome set up. It kicks ass.

http://www.dopplegangers.com/insoc/

[old jong]

Hey Braden,scientific is not my evaluation of that kind of wrestling.It is a term used to show that it was technical as in a chess match.
Verder...Are you Rolls? ;)

C'est la vie!

[Budokan]

Hey, Verder, you ever not show up (and give a lame excuse as to why) to any challenge matches you made to showcase the awesome power of white belt wrestling?

K. Mark Hoover

[Budokan]

That's what I thought. ;)

K. Mark Hoover