MMA News and Notes on ESPN (Video)

should be a good card so long as its free…

by Jizzo on May 5, 2008 12:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thats what im wondering…i hope it is

by Hamilton on May 5, 2008 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I here that it will be on Pay per view!

by john on May 5, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MMA in a few years will be accepted by everyone as a mainstream sport. I am in grad school and a fellow grad student is studying gang violence and found a recent study that many kids are joining karate, kick boxing,and BJJ clubs instead of gangs in TX.

by Mr.FancyPants on May 5, 2008 1:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m sure ESPN will soon be in the process of developing a dedicated show on MMA. Whether it’s match ups, reality series, etc…

by MMAfan on May 5, 2008 1:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UFC should have gotten their fighter, (Penn, St. Pierre, Liddell, Silva), on the cover of the magazine, not Kimbo. But this kind of exposure is great for the sport and is going to help the process of going mainstream that much smoother. Props to ESPN for recognizing what is surely going to become the sport that will rank up there with the big 4: NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.

by Ray on May 5, 2008 1:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ray – ufc wants to be global. None of your quoted big 4 are in the top 5 most watched sports in the world! The US top sports are simply not watched by people outside North America. However evryone one in the world loves to watch combat sports – boxing big in South America, Europe, US and Australasia. MMA massive in Asia and big in Europe and the Americas. Believe it or not they recognise this and with the acquisition of Pride and continual drive into Europe they’re aiming for big audiences.

by Billy Boy on May 5, 2008 3:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the info. Based on the grand scale of everything the Unites States is the first market that sets the trend globally.

As far as Boxing, maybe you haven’t noticed but it doesn’t have the same cache it once did, especially here in US. Its no longer a factor. MMA is now on top of the Combat Sports Hill and the UFC is “The King” right now as we speak, and the only organization to be turning a profit where all these other “up and coming” or start up organizations can’t even stay solvent. Baseball and Basketball are growing world wide and these sports are American born, they’re not only viewed globally, but played globally. When you say Michael everyone thinks Jordan! Granted the biggest sport in the world is soccer, but in the USA soccer is and has always been an after thought, even after Little League baseball!The NFL is trying to capture these markets as well, that’s why they play a couple of games outside the US.

Finally, the World Wide Leader of Sports is ESPN, and the most recognizable faces in MMA are in the UFC, hence my remark for the UFC Champs should be on the cover, not Kimbo!

by Ray on May 5, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would say that the big 4 are the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NASCAR. The NHL is a distant 5th.

And Billy, I would definitely say that basketball is a global sport. Baseball is somewhat global as well, as it’s huge in both North and South America, and Asia.

by Pat on May 5, 2008 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I´m from spain, and I´m a big NFL fan, but here the big 4 american sports have some coverage but very few watchers, only the NBA have some succes. NASCAR is not seen by anyone, because here (and in allmost everywhere in europe) everybody follows the F-1.

That said, we have cable coverage of the big 4 american sports but NO coverage at all of any MMA event. It´s imposible to watch MMA in TV, we have to get it from the net.

by Tarao on May 5, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great points. Actually, in the U.S. I believe NASCAR is only seconf to the NFL in ratings. I know Baseball is huge in Japan. The NHL is big in Canada, but in the U.S. it has been relegated to the VS channel and a few blurbs on sportcenter.

by naturalshadow on May 5, 2008 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love MMA and ESPN the two of them together are a great combo!

by Bullwhip on May 5, 2008 5:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lame that there isn’t a title fight.

by ufcmn89 on May 5, 2008 8:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MMA News and Notes on ESPN (Video)…

ESPN gradually jumping on the banwagon….

by www.flyingheadkick.com on May 5, 2008 8:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pat – the big four are NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. It’s North America not Southern States

by Derrick Fox on May 5, 2008 8:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What do you think the NA in NASCAR stands for?

by PW on May 5, 2008 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, NASCAR’s ratings in the U.S. as a whole are WAY ahead of NHL. As I stated before, they are only second to NFL.

by naturalshadow on May 5, 2008 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think it will be permanent, espn can no longer deny how huge the ufc and mma has grown. ican easily see them having a i hr weekly show like hd-net does now, but not 2 hr one. im glad he didnt call kimbo the elite hw champ for a change. as far as kimbo being on the cover, it is what it is. you cant deny the mans maketability right now, but i think that his 15 minutes of fame are almost over. chuck was on the cover first so no big deal. it would also be nice to see the magazine and sports illustrated to have at least a monthly if not bi-weekly column in their mags.

by b.w. on May 5, 2008 10:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah huerta vs florian is official. That will be a great fight. Florian is superior in every aspect of the game

by Davlat on May 5, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Florian 3rd(tko)

by Davlat on May 5, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree, there is no way Huerta wins this fight. I see this fight ending a lot like Kenny and Creepy Joe!

by jimmy_dean on May 5, 2008 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree, Huerta by rear naked choke at the end of the first round.

by Trsigley on May 5, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ESPN is just getting started. Their coverage will only grow from here.

I’m surprised some of you guys don’t think Huerta has a chance. Kenny’s on top of his game right now, but so is Roger. I can’t wait to see that scrap.

by TonyDrip on May 5, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think huerta,s got a hell of a chance w/ his size and strength and now training w/ team jackson. alot of guys just dont like huerta cuz of his looks. who gives a sht what a fighter looks like as long as he is an exciting fighter and gives it his all, wich huerta always does.