ESPN

subgenius · 05-21-2006, 09:40 AM

Well, we have been waiting for ESPN to start coverage of MMA (and specifically the UFC). Well, today at 9:30 AM, on a show hosted by Bob Ley, ESPN's Outside the Lines Sunday Edition they did a big segment on the UFC and MMA. They interviewed a lot of people. They highlighted the next UFC event. They mentioned the rising money involved in MMA -- like sold out arenas, and $400-$1000 ringside seats. They even talked about TUF.

The discussion was about the Kobe Bryant and Art Bell basketball fiasco. Kobe mentioned that the scuffle belonged in the octagon. From there they transitioned into a brief history of the UFC, Dana White, and more. They showed a lot of clips and interviewed Dana White. A lot of comparisons were made in the segments between boxing and MMA. And, the britality question was brought up a lot.

the preach man · 05-21-2006, 12:43 PM

sounds good man. Do you know how I can check a listing for reruns for that program?

subgenius · 05-21-2006, 04:00 PM

The show is a weekly show, and not scheduled again today... sorry.

I looked at the ESPN website, but did not come up with much.

The segment of the show did deal with a guy named Ratner, and Ratner was on the show defending the UFC. It was a sort of ambush with two other guests in a three way interview. One of the other guests was anti-MMA and the other was neutral. The anti-MMA dude was fat and insisted that he does "not understand" MMA and the UFC. "I just don't get it..." was another thing he said. Of course they had the boxing versus MMA and the UFC discussion. I was surprised that they did not mention the WWE and pro-wrestling, LOL.

Fist of Fury · 05-21-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subgenius

The show is a weekly show, and not scheduled again today... sorry.

I looked at the ESPN website, but did not come up with much.

The segment of the show did deal with a guy named Ratner, and Ratner was on the show defending the UFC. It was a sort of ambush with two other guests in a three way interview. One of the other guests was anti-MMA and the other was neutral. The anti-MMA dude was fat and insisted that he does "not understand" MMA and the UFC. "I just don't get it..." was another thing he said. Of course they had the boxing versus MMA and the UFC discussion. I was surprised that they did not mention the WWE and pro-wrestling, LOL.

Man, I wish I would have seen it and that sucks it isn't going to be on again today. I can't believe people are still against mma after all the rules that have been put in place to safeguard the fighters. I mean, come on, every year you hear about a person dying in a boxing match from going 10+ plus rounds in dominating fight. That sort of thing would never happen in UFC or Pride. I can't say that about the smaller organizations because I don't know much about them.

the preach man · 05-21-2006, 07:58 PM

thanks for the info

AikaImmortal · 05-21-2006, 08:08 PM

Do you mean Marc Ratner, former NSAC head that got hired up by the UFC?

angryjonny · 05-21-2006, 08:17 PM

I didn't get to see it but I have a good idea of how it went. And I am not surprised people still are against MMA. Like the "fat guy" said a lot of people just don't get it. They (UFC) still has the bloodsport/human cockfighting image they are trying to shake, and they are actually still promoting that way, not the human cockfighting but they do promote the blood and violence because that is one thing that is a draw for the 18-34 demo, but they aren't doing it as bad as SEG did though. MMA still has a long way to go before it will ever be mainstream.

GSPALLTHEWAY · 05-21-2006, 09:11 PM

mma is pretty much mainstream right now.... its on cable tv and has more then one PPV every month, which get alot of buyers... the fighters are becoming celeberties.... sounds pretty mainstream

angryjonny · 05-21-2006, 09:19 PM

No it isn't. I don't think it will be for a while. UFC 60 hasn't even sold out yet. I don't know how much it seats but it isn't that much bigger than the last venue. You think the definition of mainstream is being on cable tv and the fighters being celebrities? That's an interesting take on it.

subgenius · 05-22-2006, 08:39 AM

MMA has finally broken the surface of mainstream, but has not really reached it fully -- MMA is still treading water. That was part of the discussion. They had a few clips of interviews with Dana White where he is discussing how MMA has begun to supplant boxing as the dominant fighting sport worldwide.

The neutral guy even added that no one has been killed in MMA, but that boxing has a lot of deaths. The fat guy had no reply to that. Ratner was very good about defending the UFC by listing a lot of statistics and facts about fighters -- highlighting the training and discipline aspects.

BTW, sorry that I did not get all the names of these guys, but I have seen them on other sports shows giving commentary... They did not dig them up from nowhere. I think that the show ended on a positive point for MMA.

subgenius · 05-22-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

Do you mean Marc Ratner, former NSAC head that got hired up by the UFC?

Yeah, I linked his name to an article about Ratner from last March. I had never heard of him before, honestly. I expected Dana White to be the center of this show. Having a former NSAC representative on this show added a tremendous ammount of wieght to the MMA side of the discussion. He really sounded upbeat and positive about MMA.

Crashsti · 05-22-2006, 01:48 PM

its unfortunate how its still cool to hate MMA. while MMA itself generates alot of positive attention there is still a segment of the population that would rather bring up the negative, which for the most part is out of date information that was originally brought up by Senator John. McCain back when MMA & NHB was originally being waged war on by just about everyone. we really have SEG entertainment to blame for MMA in the USA being so far behind the rest of the world, they never tried to work with the athletic commisions, they chose to hide from them. also as mentioned they promoted it as a blood bath which is what bit them in the end.

JoeRoganismyhero · 05-22-2006, 02:14 PM

Just an FYI Marc Ratner is the guy who does the Weigh in's on TUF3, he just took a position with the UFC after being involved with boxing for the last 20+ years. "The Fat Guy" LOL Was Mark Canizarro, a good New York post writer. It's funny at first Mark bashed UFC as being brutal(despite he being a boxing fan) but then as the interview went on he admitted that UFC was gaining poularity and Boxing better get it's act together or it could be in trouble. Overall I think it was a good piece for the UFC.

marnold · 05-22-2006, 02:56 PM

I saw this episode of OTL. It was great. I started a thread about 6 months ago wondering when ESPN would get on the bandwagon. Yeah, original thought, hu? Anyway, the sad part of the program was when UFC was being questioned as to whether or not it is a sport. Seriously?! One guest said no but boxing is. Riiiight. Boxing is a sport but UFC isn't? Well Ratner is a huge asset and spoke in a moderate, albeit firm, tone. He will be a sober and necessary part of the growth of MMA in general. Why does FOX Sports advertise Pride? ESPN needs to advertise UFC.

JoeRoganismyhero · 05-22-2006, 04:54 PM

Yeah Canizarro said UFC isn't a sport. How can boxing, which is only fists be a sport but not UFC which uses strikes and grappling not be? Mark definately sounded like a boxing fan trying to protect his sport from the bulldozer known as MMA!

marnold · 05-23-2006, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeRoganismyhero

Yeah Canizarro said UFC isn't a sport. How can boxing, which is only fists be a sport but not UFC which uses strikes and grappling not be? Mark definately sounded like a boxing fan trying to protect his sport from the bulldozer known as MMA!

Definately. Dana's smirk was very telling. MMA is about to eat boxing becuase the fights we want to see in boxing never occur. In the UFC everybody fights.