UFC, Lost it's appeal?

[reptilian_storm]

When the Ultimate Fighting championship started in 1993 it was exactly that, a tournament to find the best fighter in the world.

UFC 1 in November of 1993 had virtually no rules, no eye gouging and no biting and rounds of 10 minutes each not that the fights ever lasted more than 10 minutes. Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock did battle ending up with Royce becoming champion of UFC 1. The Gracie family has pretty much dominated UFC since.

UFC now however is nowhere near as exciting. A sport that once had no rules now has well over 30 rules and regulations including weight classes. Having weight classes has totally screwed UFC up. How can you find the best fighter in the world when the competition is divided into weight classes?

I don’t know whose idea it was to change the competition, maybe the law required it but UFC has lost its appeal for me.

For those who havn't seen UFC in action here's a few clips from when it was actually good.

Frank Shamrock (http://static.hugi.is/martial_arts/movies/11-FrankShamrockLQ.zip)
Royce Gracie (http://static.hugi.is/martial_arts/movies/04-RoyceGracieHQ.zip)
Ken Shamrock (http://static.hugi.is/martial_arts/movies/10-KenShamrockHQ.zip)
Tito Ortiz (http://207.44.200.49/highlights/01-TitoOrtizHQ.zip)
Mark Coleman (http://www.martialartsnews.co.uk/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=8)

I have a friend who does Brazilian ju jitsu actually got his purple belt from Royce Gracie, he used to watch UFC religiously but no longer bothers because of the way it’s gone.

Anyone other EX UFC fans here feel the same way?

[JerkyMyTurky]

I wouldn't say I am an Ex UFC fan, I still enjoy the fights. The reason you may think the UFC is not what it used to be is, because when it initially came out, like anything else that initially comes out, it was something original and unique and never before seen. After awhile, things start to calm down and the level of interest fades out, but the die hards will remain. Also, the rules that were placed may look like it took away from the sport, but it really hasn't. The fighters chosen are better suited to fight in mixed martial arts, unlike before, fighters entered in trying to show case their own style of fighting, now there is a technique and style to mixed martial arts fighting. Stand up fighters will have to train on their ground game before entering. The weight classes are an important addition and without it, it would create for disadvantages in fights and you would see extremely one sided fights, which may be nice to watch someone get destroyed, but it would not be fair to the fighters to decide who was a good fighter or not. UFC also has alot more competition to deal with, they have Pride and K1 and a few others who have signed fighters. When UFC first came out, they were the only mixed martial arts organization and that's where all the fighters went to fight. I can't give up on the sport in general, because I enjoy watching mixed martial art fights. It's seriously alot better than what boxing has to offer. I think more inter-organizational events, like K1 vs Pride or UFC vs Pride would help out and these events occur occasionally.

[reptilian_storm]

The weight classes are an important addition and without it, it would create for disadvantages in fight

I agree, but if you are entering a competition to find the best fighter in the world, weight should not be an issue. Take a look at this (http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/pictures/HackneyDefYarborough_TKO.jpg). 600lbs Emmanuel Yarborough Vs Relativly small Keith Hackney....Emmanuel got the shit kicked out of him.

“UFC is the ultimate fighting championship. It is an almost no holds barred event that challenges all comers to practice their martial arts skills against each other in a real street fight setting. A few have come away victorious. Most have discovered that their years of training have done them no good.”

That was quoted from a UFC website.

How many real street fights do you get to pick and choose how heavy your opponent is?

UFC rules, as approved by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission - July 23, 2001

Weight classes:
Lightweight - over 145 lbs. to 155 lbs.
Welterweight - over 155 lbs. to 170 lbs.
Middleweight - over 170 lbs. to 185 lbs.
Light Heavyweight - over 185 lbs. to 205 lbs.
Heavyweight - over 205 lbs. to 265 lbs.



Bout duration:
All non-championship bouts shall be three rounds.
All championship bouts shall be five rounds.
Rounds will be five minutes in duration, with a one minute.
A one-minute rest period will occur between each round.



Fouls:
Butting with the head.
Eye gouging of any kind.
Biting.
Hair pulling.
Fish hooking.
Groin attacks of any kind.
Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
Small joint manipulation.
Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
Grabbing the clavicle.
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
Stomping a grounded opponent.
Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
Spitting at an opponent.
Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
Holding the ropes or the fence.
Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
Interference by the corner.
Throwing in the towel during competition.

From 2 rules to all those.

What i'm saying is its hardly a good way of finding the best fighter in the world with this system as it is.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

Back in the day, my family would order the championship every year :bang:

This was in Cali, we lived around a bunch of mexicans :bang:

We would have people over and my parents would drink :bang:


:bang: :bang:

[JerkyMyTurky]

Well, you are wishing for an oxy moron that occured for a few events. You are asking for an organized street fight, which it was for awhile. You are not going to have state commissioned fights without rules, its too risky to have fights where fighters can become severely injured or even risk death. Most of the rules are not that limited in what you can do in a fight, except for some of the hardcore aspects of fighting. The only rules that bother me are...

No headbutting
No small joint manipulation
No striking down with the point of the elbow
No spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
No kicking to the kidney with the heel.

I don't know what they mean by "no fish hooking" and "no grabbing of the clavicle", but I have no problem with the other rules. I see your point in how the rules may limit what the fighters can do, but I don't think it limits them that much, where we can't watch and enjoy a very good fight. It is not like there is no punching and kicking.

About the weight classes, I think the categories should be decreased into only 3. This will force the better fighters to face each other, 5 weightclasses is limiting the number of good fights. I still think it needs weightclasses, because it would be unfair and set too much of a disadvantage for some fighters to fight larger opponents. I watched the fight with Yarborough and Hackney and it's not a good example. Sumo wrestlers are not ideal fighters, they lack punching and ground skills. A better example would be Vitor Belfort beating Tank Abbott, but I don't mind the weight divisions that much. Good set of divisions would be...

Lightweight: over 145 lbs. to 170 lbs.
Middleweight: over 170 lbs. to 205 lbs.
Heavyweight: over 205 lbs to 265 lbs.

What I do miss about the old UFC is how each fighter had his own style, such as Karate, Juijitsu, Wrestling, Shoot Fighting, etc. I liked to see how the different styles would match up against each other. Now, I notice most of the fighters classify themselves as Mix Martial Artists and don't represent a specific style.

[Splatter]

Fish Hooking I believe is where you place your index finger in somones mouth.Like at the corner of the mouth where the upper and lower lip meet and pull it backward towards the nape of the neck.
I am not certain but I think that is it.


I have not watched UFC since the weight classes were implemented.Used to be like a 20 minutes or 30 minute round no breaks.Except if the ref seperated due to lack of action.That was when it was good.Its total shit now.
I have yet to see any K1.Only clips but it looked kinda cool.I may have to order it next time to find out.Has anyone here seen K1?If so how does it rate to UFC?

[JerkyMyTurky]

K1 has alot of action, because there are no take downs. It is mainly kick boxing, but with knockout stages where one fighter will have to fight 3 or 4 times to be crownded the winner that night. Here is a nice fight...

Mirco 'crocop' Filopovic vs Bob 'the beast' Sapp...
http://www.toomuchtimeonmyhands.com/gallery/main.php/view/videos/fights/K1_Bob_Sapp_vs_Mirko_CroCop.wmv

I'll post some more later.

[sharpemark]

I disagree, I went to one of the first UFC's in Detroit. The fight at the end was between Shamrock and Severn......total bore. The guys were so exhausted they would just tie up and try to regain strength. It was so bad that the crowd started to get rowdy and in typical Detroit fashion there were about 6 fights near me in the crowd. The tourney system was a good idea but just not practical.....I like the way Pride does their tournaments.

The thing I don't like is the way fighters take two ppv's off between fights like they are boxers or something. Its a little too structured for my liking. Also, both Pride and UFC space their ppv's out way more than they used too :sleeping:

[Tool]

i agree the old ufc's are much better than the new ones.

[JerkyMyTurky]

Another good K1 fight...

Kimo Leopardo vs. Bob Sapp...
http://www.toomuchtimeonmyhands.com/gallery/main.php/view/videos/fights/K1_Kimo_vs_Bob_Sapp.mpeg

[Avo]

I forgot where I read it at in a magazine but it said if UFC wanted to go as big as other sports such as Boxing. They said if they are really serious about taking this uniqe idea mainstream, that they need to fix a couple of things ( such stuff as ya are stating in your post) if anyone is gonna take them seriously they need to change things.

UFC is still badass cause where in the hell do you see an actual martial arts fight. I want to see fist to face, blood on fist... UFC is where I go to see that type of stuff.

[Tool]

Another good K1 fight...

Kimo Leopardo vs. Bob Sapp...
http://www.toomuchtimeonmyhands.com/gallery/main.php/view/videos/fights/K1_Kimo_vs_Bob_Sapp.mpeg

sapp is one big nigger. Rep for you

[mike42]

UFC now however is nowhere near as exciting. A sport that once had no rules now has well over 30 rules and regulations including weight classes. Having weight classes has totally screwed UFC up. How can you find the best fighter in the world when the competition is divided into weight classes?

I'm still a fan of UFC fighting. But I understand and agree with you on this. This is true. Reps for you bro.

[Avo]

I'm still a fan of UFC fighting. But I understand and agree with you on this. This is true. Reps for you bro.

waa hoo I'll give you reps....dont say that out loud cause your reps are shit right now...not to mean though.

[FireEater]

UFC now however is nowhere near as exciting. A sport that once had no rules now has well over 30 rules and regulations including weight classes. Having weight classes has totally screwed UFC up. How can you find the best fighter in the world when the competition is divided into weight classes?


Well if you remember they were banning the events all over the States and were just about to ban them right out of the U.S. because of the lack of regulations and rules they had.

Wieght classes were coming and it was only a matter of time because of what I said above. They had to organize properly to stay in the U.S. and no going outside the States was not an option for the investors. The UFC was just to hot of a ticket in the States to let go abroad.

I think it all turned out for the best and either way you look at it they still kick ass. These guys train like there is no tomorrow and it is still a brutal sport. Anyone who thnks or says different should try and just train with one of those guys let alone get in the Octogon with one.

I've known a few of them through the other boards I hang on and they are some tough fuckers.

Rule #1 in life is do not pick a fight with a califlower ear fucker.

FE

[mike42]

waa hoo I'll give you reps....dont say that out loud cause your reps are shit right now...not to mean though.

you didn't have to say that either. No reps for you. LOL. J/K

[Snowman333]

Yeah of course there trying to find the best fighter in th world. They Just need to be in there own weight class. Chuck Liddell Is the best fighter in the world at 205 lb. You also complain that there are to many rules. have you read any of them!? there almost all the same, and make sence to. Lots of them are common sence, unless your a fucking pussy and try to break a guys finger or you like to pull hair or pinch/ bite. You don't see guys doing that in a street fight, so what are you saying "oh its nothing like a street fight like it used to be". What kind of fucking loser bites or pinches in a street fight? The other rules like no throwing an oppenent over the fence just is obvious! How many of these rules would have been broking during the first UFC fight??? Back to the weight classes, how many people would want to fight against someone that weighs two times there weight? So that had to be changed. Its a no brainer. How can you find the best fighter "in the world" if some 500 pound guy can just jump on the other guy and win? There has to be rules, its like saying " boxing should have no weight classes so we can find the best boxer" it would be fucking boreing and repetative. I love the new and old UFC and someday would like to be apart of it. And if you can't respect the UFC then don't watch it, you don't have to bitch and complain about it. And now come to think of it, im glad it changed, its not meant for one family to "dominate the UFC". With there being rounds with breaks in between its become more exciting, if you don't believe me, Watch the fight between Forest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar, one of the best fights i've seen. Two fighters working hard at what they do to become what they want. Great fighters like this would not be around if it hadn't changed or had weight classes introduced. So if you don't like what its become, tell that to one of the Champions and they will tell you to fuck off because they train hard and long to do what they enjoy, sorry if its not appealng to the "Bigest Fan Of the UFC" but thats there last worry.

[wsuwarrior]

Holy shit, a n00b brought back a fucking 2 year old thread

[Snowman333]

Exactly!
I agree, it should turn out to be one of the best rival fights there are!

[Snowman333]

ahahah yeah it sure it!!

[Snowman333]

wait no, he Vitor Belfort... by split decision ahah

[snyderman]

FE is right. When Zuffa bought the UFC, they implemented the rules to get approval from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This gave the sport legitimacy and saved it from having to be only held on Indian resevations like it was in the late '90s.
I belive the UFC is much better now. Any rules they have are for fighter saftey, and dont take away from the brutality. PRIDE allows soccer kicks and stomping to the head of downed opponents, and that is too much, IMO. Since Zuffa has controlled the UFC, you can now see fights for free on regular cable, and venues are getting bigger. 59 will be held in the Pond in Aneheim, and sold out in 3 days. It is more popular than ever, and will only get better. Sorry for the disjointed rambling, but Im drunk as shit right now.

[Snowman333]

snydermans got it all right

[cottonzway]

The biggest thing is understanding as a fan what you are looking at. I hate nothing more then hearing idiots boo when a fight goes to the ground. Ground fighting is really important in MMA. Grappling in general is more important then striking. I have been taking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo among various striking arts for abotu 3 years now. So I can tell when a guy is trying to pass guard and attack with subs or is stalling. That is something the mainstream fans has no clue about. They boo when a guy is trying to set up a sub. Once you understand grappling then you will enjoy the fights a lot more. It's like physical chess.

[j-ro_daz]

me personaly i used to go f-ing mad for UFC, but for years now. ive only watched Gracie fights (kuz you gotta show love for the family name <im a gracie too>), and tank abbott before he got kicked out

[Sherlock]

UFC is coming to Manchester very soon. A couple of guys I know at the gym have tickets. Some people are trying to get it banned from Britain before it even arrives.
Im not a fan of the Gracies. Yeah they are practically unstoppable, but I just dont like watching thier fights. I prefer to watch a fight with less grappling on the floor and more punches and kicks while standing.

[crocop]

Ufc going to manchester?Have'nt heard anything about that probably ufc 61.
Cause the next 2 ufc are going to be in california

[Sherlock]

Ufc going to manchester?Have'nt heard anything about that probably ufc 61.
Cause the next 2 ufc are going to be in california
Your right, its not UFC. Its WCFC. Same thing though....

Mike Tyson is the referee.

[snyderman]

Im not a fan of the Gracies. Yeah they are practically unstoppable, but I just dont like watching thier fights.

You should ask this guy (http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?fighterID=84) how great the Gracies are!:bigwink:

[Sherlock]

You should ask this guy (http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?fighterID=84) how great the Gracies are!:bigwink:
Heh, I looked at his fight stats. He has never lost to a Gracie.:lol:

[crocop]

Sakuraba got lucky that Rickson Gracie got to old and retired cause he would have kicked sakuraba's ass.Rickson Gracie holds an undefeated record with over 400 wins

[snyderman]

Sakuraba got lucky that Rickson Gracie got to old and retired cause he would have kicked sakuraba's ass.Rickson Gracie holds an undefeated record with over 400 wins

Helio, Rickson, and Royce are the def the greatest Gracies. I have no doubt Rickson could have beaten Sak... and how would he have won? Everybody now "Rickson by armbar!!"

[firepiss]

When the Ultimate Fighting championship started in 1993 it was exactly that, a tournament to find the best fighter in the world.

UFC 1 in November of 1993 had virtually no rules, no eye gouging and no biting and rounds of 10 minutes each not that the fights ever lasted more than 10 minutes. Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock did battle ending up with Royce becoming champion of UFC 1. The Gracie family has pretty much dominated UFC since.

UFC now however is nowhere near as exciting. A sport that once had no rules now has well over 30 rules and regulations including weight classes. Having weight classes has totally screwed UFC up. How can you find the best fighter in the world when the competition is divided into weight classes?

I don’t know whose idea it was to change the competition, maybe the law required it but UFC has lost its appeal for me.

For those who havn't seen UFC in action here's a few clips from when it was actually good.

Anyone other EX UFC fans here feel the same way?

100% agree. UFC back in the early part of the 90s, had no rules. I loved watching the old stuff, where you would see a 500 pound dude take on a 200 pounder. I miss those days. I'm not much of a fan anymore.

I can't stand UFC as of late, it has turned into the NFL when it comes to rules.

UFC will become a snowball rolling down a hill with rules. It'll keep adding on, turning UFC into pure shit.

[Snowman333]

Alright Alright Alright, I've said it before, and i'll say it agian... HOW MANY OF THOSE RULES WOULD HAVE BEEN BROKEN BACK THEN!? WHO WOULD BREAK THEM?? THATS FUCKING DUMB, UNLESS THEY WANTED TO KILL THERE OPPONENT!! SO SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT THE DAMN RULES!!

[MiKe]

100% agree. UFC back in the early part of the 90s, had no rules. I loved watching the old stuff, where you would see a 500 pound dude take on a 200 pounder. I miss those days. I'm not much of a fan anymore.

I can't stand UFC as of late, it has turned into the NFL when it comes to rules.

UFC will become a snowball rolling down a hill with rules. It'll keep adding on, turning UFC into pure shit.

Couldn't have said it better myself. It used to be badass, now I'm expecting it to be like the WWE in a few years.

[Snowman333]

Couldn't have said it better myself. It used to be badass, now I'm expecting it to be like the WWE in a few years.


hahahahah FUCKING IDIOT!!!!!! WWE Is fake incase you didn't know, now, get it together, if you don't like UFC don't watch it, you don't see the "amazing Gracies" bitch and complain about it. Oh and by the way, the rules kept the UFC alive... DUMBSHIT. It still is "BADASS" not many people would want to join it. not so badass WHATS CHANGED ALOT!!?? Nothing, maybe a few rules here and there, they've always been around, now there inforced so it won't be banned, these rules are what people call "Common Sence". Use it once in awhile will ya!

[snyderman]

Couldn't have said it better myself. It used to be badass, now I'm expecting it to be like the WWE in a few years.

*Gasp* Blasphemy!!

I dunno man. The UFC will always be two guys in a cage actually trying to K the other guy TFO.

[Snowman333]

Fucking rights, thats the way its always been!

[BMB1985]

Hey guys,

Firstly, great topic. I've actually been thinking the same thinng for quite a well.

When I first saw the UFC I was amazed that there were people out there who would get involved in such a no-holds-barred contest. I must admit that most of the reason I watched it was to see somebody get the s**t kicked out of them.

But I think the rules are overall designed so nobody gets seriously injured in the ring. It's all well and good to have mixed martial arts fighting with no rules, but I think that it was getting too crazy there at one point and it wasn't about the fighting anymore... I think the UFC degenerated into a bloodsport where the whole point wasn't victory, but simply to make the other guy hurt as much as possible.

In that sense I think the rules are a good thing, because it's more of a sport now, and less of an exhibitionary thing.

I still enjoy watching the UFC, even with the rule changes. I L O V E seeing the different styles in action.

[Turek]

I c/s this whole thread. I used to watch all the time,..but not anymore
I think because of the weight classes..that ruined everything

[wsuwarrior]

Guys jump weight classes all the time so it really doesnt matter. They are talking about adding more weight classes...

Joe Riggs used to fight pretty sucessfully at 270 pounds, now he fights at 170 and has fought at 205 as well.

[BuellersIt]

I c/s this whole thread. I used to watch all the time,..but not anymore
I think because of the weight classes..that ruined everything

yes, the weight classes ruined everything......are u kidding me????

who the hell wants to see Fedor fight Gomi?????? back in the day when fighters weren't cross trained u could see a fight like Royce vs. Akebono and have the little guy win......today, the top fighters NEED to have their own weight classes because the guys are all so close skill wise, that advantages like size and strength would be the main deciding factor for the victor of the fight, not skill....

[Kommercial]

I'm sorry, but back in the day, it was just a pissing contest. I mean, you could sit there for 20 minutes, and being they didn't get a break, by the fifth minute, the bout usually went straight downhill, because they were so damn tired.

I like having weight classes, and I love they actually have "rounds" now.

I've watched the UFC for awhile now, and I won't quit watching anytime soon. It's real, and that's all you can ask.