One point you're overlooking is that the Gracie's had made it boring.
I remember the early days of UFC and the problem was it was a circus sideshow. Interesting, but the gimmicks made it dull after the first handful. As did Gracie's 30 minute hug fights.
White's smartest move was professionalizing the fights and the fighters. There were stories in the early days, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, and they helped elevate the UFC from spectacle to legit fighting.
That Griffin/Bonnar fight was freaking brutal. White did the smart thing by giving Bonnar a contract too. That was as smart/smarter than about anything else he did.
Oh, yeah, I think friends and I got the PPV for number 3 and then watched most of them for the next few years -- Tank Abbott, that big versus little event, was at the arena in Atlantic City when GSP got choked out by that wrestler guy . . . Matt something. Who was a good athlete, but GSP was about to dominate that fight when he got caught by that headlock just before the bell and tapped.
Anyway, yeah, cool sport. Lack of time, my love of the NFL (WHODAT!), and dislike for Dana White have led me away from UFC, but I do enjoy an MMA bout when I catch one. Would like to train in it one day -- not competitively! But when I have money, ain't got the time; and vice versa. They'll align one day!
One point you're overlooking is that the Gracie's had made it boring.
I remember the early days of UFC and the problem was it was a circus sideshow. Interesting, but the gimmicks made it dull after the first handful. As did Gracie's 30 minute hug fights.
White's smartest move was professionalizing the fights and the fighters. There were stories in the early days, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, and they helped elevate the UFC from spectacle to legit fighting.
That Griffin/Bonnar fight was freaking brutal. White did the smart thing by giving Bonnar a contract too. That was as smart/smarter than about anything else he did.
Thanks for the comment Bryant. I love the UFC story it has som wacky moments! I have the image of huge guy with kimono and only one boxing glove 😂
Is certainly exciting to have seen the birth of a specifically a combat sport which I love and always practiced.
Oh, yeah, I think friends and I got the PPV for number 3 and then watched most of them for the next few years -- Tank Abbott, that big versus little event, was at the arena in Atlantic City when GSP got choked out by that wrestler guy . . . Matt something. Who was a good athlete, but GSP was about to dominate that fight when he got caught by that headlock just before the bell and tapped.
Anyway, yeah, cool sport. Lack of time, my love of the NFL (WHODAT!), and dislike for Dana White have led me away from UFC, but I do enjoy an MMA bout when I catch one. Would like to train in it one day -- not competitively! But when I have money, ain't got the time; and vice versa. They'll align one day!