BJJ34 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 3:05 pm
uscbucsfan wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 6:53 am
You can absolutely see fighter endorsement contracts.
You keep pointing this at me ignoring everything else I'm saying. I don't know why I thought you would be able to have a real conversation.
When have fighters ever had endorsements thay were mainstream? And the UFC killed that anyway with Reebok(now Venum). We have Poirier owning his own Hot Sauce company. The Good Fight is making millions for kids.
I’m having a conversation. i’m just disputing what you’re saying. It’s not 2010 anymore but people are certainly interested. You’ve yet to address my “business plan for UFC is international growth” statement. That’s what they’re doing and it’s quite obvious. See Abu Dhabi.
I don't think you understand how big MMA was 2004-2016. Affliction, Tap Out, lists and lists of supplements, TV show appearances, Movie cameos, and yes, individual mainstream endorsements. Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, GSP, BJ Penn, SIlva, etc. all had mainstream endorsements. MMA was the fastest growing sport in the world. It's not anymore.
I'm ignoring your "international growth plan" because it's irrelevant to the conversation. The UFC and MMA's ratings/interest are down which is what we are talking about. Even if they are focusing on international growth, I repeat their viewership is down and has been, outside of Conor since 2016-ish, which seems to be where the UFC and MMA in general was at it's peak.
It's not an opinion that less are watching, legally or illegally, MMA in general. We can prove that. The question is why?
The number 1 thread on Sherdog a few days ago was people blaming the sale of the company for UFC's downfall, but I think it goes beyond that.