Has MMA peaked?

[GeneChing]

Naaah, that was Battle Royale.

We've had plenty of discussions here already about the value of MMA, as a martial art, as a spectator sport and as a pop phenomena. What I'm more interested in with this thread is whether or not it has peaked. MMA has been the fastest rising sport for several years, but it stands to reason that it will peak eventually. Now there's some evidence of waning popularity, which is why I launched this thread. Note that I'm not talking about the decline of MMA necessarily, just the end of the rise. I'm curious if any of you have made similar observations lately.

[Bacon]

Naaah, that was Battle Royale.

We've had plenty of discussions here already about the value of MMA, as a martial art, as a spectator sport and as a pop phenomena. What I'm more interested in with this thread is whether or not it has peaked. MMA has been the fastest rising sport for several years, but it stands to reason that it will peak eventually. Now there's some evidence of waning popularity, which is why I launched this thread. Note that I'm not talking about the decline of MMA necessarily, just the end of the rise. I'm curious if any of you have made similar observations lately.

I'd just like to remind our venerated MOD that MMA is a ruleset and not a style.

As to whether it has peaked, I think it's been in decline for the last few years because a lot of the good talent pool came from the guys who fought under the harsher rulesets ergo the worse fighters were eliminated and the guys who survived were the Anderson Silvas, Randy Coutures, Chuck Liddells, Mark Colemans, Tito Ortizs, etc.

[GeneChing]

I'd just like to remind our venerated MOD that MMA is a ruleset and not a style.

I just called it a 'sport' above. I can foresee a point when it might evolve to a style, but I've always considered it a sport.

Good point on harsher rule sets. Very good point.

[Bacon]

I just called it a 'sport' above. I can foresee a point when it might evolve to a style, but I've always considered it a sport.

Good point on harsher rule sets. Very good point.

But you did refer to it as a martial art.

In any case... I miss the pride head stomps

[sanjuro_ronin]

Lots of peaks in MMA...

[pateticorecords]

[QUOTE=GeneChing;1201464]Naaah, that was Battle Royale.

hahaha... true dat...

Movies:
THE RUNNING MAN
BATTLE ROYALE
DEATH RACE 2000
ROLLERBALL
GAMER
GLADIATOR
ARENA
The Most Dangerous Game
Hard Target
The 10th Victim
Das Millionenspiel
Le prix du danger
Series 7: The Contenders
The Condemned

are other movies with similar plots

[pateticorecords]

We've had plenty of discussions here already about the value of MMA, as a martial art, as a spectator sport and as a pop phenomena. What I'm more interested in with this thread is whether or not it has peaked. MMA has been the fastest rising sport for several years, but it stands to reason that it will peak eventually. Now there's some evidence of waning popularity, which is why I launched this thread. Note that I'm not talking about the decline of MMA necessarily, just the end of the rise. I'm curious if any of you have made similar observations lately.

But to answer to real question...
Of course it is on the decline, it is the common trend with all martial arts and their sports variables.
In the 50s it was judo, 60s it was karate, in the 70s, kung fu, 70s & 80s Kickboxing, in the 80s ninjutsu, in the 90s tae bo, the 90s to present MMA... something else is brewing, not sure what it is yet but it will come...lol

[David Jamieson]

hahaha... absolutely but if you are afraid to die then this wold be a better avenue...

If you're afraid to die, you shouldn't cross hands with others at all.
lol.

[GeneChing]

But you did refer to it as a martial art.

'Martial Art' is the MA in MMA.

[dcrjradmonish]

I just called it a 'sport' above. I can foresee a point when it might evolve to a style, but I've always considered it a sport.

Good point on harsher rule sets. Very good point.

Out of curiosity would you consider pankration a martial art or martial sport?

[Kellen Bassette]

Out of curiosity would you consider pankration a martial art or martial sport?

I don't think I'm to into reviving dead systems. I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression the style died out, was no longer practiced and in modern times people have tried to revive it. I read somewhere about a lost Korean art, which was attempted to be reconstructed from a training manual.

I don't like that idea because how can we possibly know the structure or core focus of Pankration training if know one has passed it down for centuries. Same with the Korean style I mentioned. How are you going to get the essence of the art from a book? Seems like any reconstructions would just be forgeries.

[JamesC]

I don't think I'm to into reviving dead systems. I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression the style died out, was no longer practiced and in modern times people have tried to revive it. I read somewhere about a lost Korean art, which was attempted to be reconstructed from a training manual.

I don't like that idea because how can we possibly know the structure or core focus of Pankration training if know one has passed it down for centuries. Same with the Korean style I mentioned. How are you going to get the essence of the art from a book? Seems like any reconstructions would just be forgeries.

Isn't that how hsing-I was started?

[Kellen Bassette]

Isn't that how hsing-I was started?

I don't know, I'm not Hsing I guy...Some old styles of Kung Fu claim to be taken from books passed down from the ancients...but it's probably just stories to make their art seem more mystical then the next guys...

[Syn7]

I saw two guys who were too afraid to move on each other. When others with skill moved without hesitation. At least Shamrock clocked him once on the way down. Falling back on an appeal of authority has always been a weak argument. "Clearly" next.......

What? You want me to sit here and type out the nuances that make grappling matches worth watching? I'm just saying that if you didn't see skill and weren't entertained or intellectually stimulated by it, then clearly you aren't seeing what I was seeing. Simple, no?


Country music bores the hell outta me. Doesn't mean there is no skill or flavour. I can see the skills, I'm just not feelin the flavour.

[Syn7]

Out of curiosity would you consider pankration a martial art or martial sport?

Pankration IS a martial art. A very old style. Pancrase is a promotion.