Any long time fans feel like the UFC has lost its magic?

[XociDe]

The UFC has had multiple different eras and being nostalgic about the "old days" is normal, but there was always a certain magic throughout all of those years. Even when it went fully mainstream with Conor and millions of new fans came flooding in, it still kept that feeling. I just don't feel it anymore.

The UFC is obviously not dying, and that's not what I'm saying. I can't put my finger on what it is.

Anyone else feel the same?

 

[dc007]

Yeah, I think I'm just aging out of it. I barely watch outside of big PPVs now. I don't even bother with fight nights and I don't really feel like I'm missing out.

 

[J'Ghasta]

Yeah, I think I'm just aging out of it. I barely watch outside of big PPVs now. I don't even bother with fight nights and I don't really feel like I'm missing out.

Im aging out of it but its objectively getting worse as a product at the same time.

 

[wrestlefan]

Honestly, it just doesn't feel the same. I miss the Rogan/Goldberg/tapout days.

 

[Deceasedxo]

The UFC has had multiple different eras and being nostalgic about the "old days" is normal, but there was always a certain magic throughout all of those years. Even when it went fully mainstream with Conor and millions of new fans came flooding in, it still kept that feeling. I just don't feel it anymore.

The UFC is obviously not dying, and that's not what I'm saying. I can't put my finger on what it is.

Anyone else feel the same?

Nah, you've changed. Whatever got you into the UFC mentally has changed for you as you've aged.

 

[dc007]

Im aging out of it but its objectively getting worse as a product at the same time.

For sure. It's been oversaturated fro a while and I don't know if a lot of these fighters just aren't good or I have have so little interest in watching them.

 

[Joe_Armstrong]

It´s a combination of not much supertalented guys and not to much
colorful personalities.

I mean, back in the day you had Chuck, Randy, Rampage and Wand in LHW alone.

 

[IndyCovaHart]

What has really changed other than more money creating divas

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

The UFC has had multiple different eras and being nostalgic about the "old days" is normal, but there was always a certain magic throughout all of those years. Even when it went fully mainstream with Conor and millions of new fans came flooding in, it still kept that feeling. I just don't feel it anymore.

The UFC is obviously not dying, and that's not what I'm saying. I can't put my finger on what it is.

Anyone else feel the same?

It has changed so much.

Incrementally, so we did not notice as much as we might have.

I realise it most when I watch old fights. Indeed, it seemed a lot more special back then.

 

[Conor Strickland]

It just doesn't feel like there's any stars anymore. Conor doesn't fight anymore, Jones hardly does, Khabib had an aura for a bit but then retired, list goes on lol

 

[sdpdude9]

At times. I think it’s because majority of the events don’t have any meaningful fights.

 

[Ladder Master]

Next to no superstars.
Apex cards that are worse than watered down.
Overpriced PPV's
ESPN+ app crashes on PC on a regular basis.
Poor ruleset. No kicks/knees to down opponent.

It's not dead but we are in super mediocre times.

 

[IronGolem007]

The UFC has had multiple different eras and being nostalgic about the "old days" is normal, but there was always a certain magic throughout all of those years. Even when it went fully mainstream with Conor and millions of new fans came flooding in, it still kept that feeling. I just don't feel it anymore.

The UFC is obviously not dying, and that's not what I'm saying. I can't put my finger on what it is.

Anyone else feel the same?

Yes, there are no actual stars right now ... with Topuria, Makhachev, and Pantoja possible exceptions.

Maybe also Aspinall, but I'm not sold on his chin yet.

Obviously, I'm a fan of Pereira, but he is getting up there in age. If Pereira flatlines Hill, then Ankalaev, I change my mind.

 

[BFoe]

Yup. There are fighters I like to watch, sure, but I just haven’t found any that I really become a fan of the way I was with Fedor, Silva, GSP, Nick Diaz, and so on. I also hate the lack of meritocracy, I hate how social-media driven shit is, and the insane price of PPVs. I still follow the sport, but I’m nowhere near as much a hardcore fan as I used to be.

 

[g*r*b]

When you're contractually obligated to pump out content on a (usually) weekly basis per your ESPN contract, but keep it as economical as possible to produce per expectations from your corporate overlords at Endeavor, it's inevitable that a certain sweatshop factory stink starts to permeate...

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

What has really changed other than more money creating divas

Overall, fighters made A LOT more money from their sponsors, before Dana took that from them.

This has had far reaching consequences for the sport.

 

[aunshi189]

Look buddy, if you're looking for negative views about the UFC you're on the wrong website.

 

[XociDe]

Yup. There are fighters I like to watch, sure, but I just haven’t found any that I really become a fan of the way I was with Fedor, Silva, GSP, Nick Diaz, and so on. I also hate the lack of meritocracy, I hate how social-media driven shit is, and the insane price of PPVs. I still follow the sport, but I’m nowhere near as much a hardcore fan as I used to be.

I've just realized that this is what it is, at least partly. I'm not a real fan of a single fighter anymore, LOL. If I watch the fights now it's because I want to watch a fight, not because I'm invested in a specific fighter. Back in the day, every fan had fighters they loved, then fighters they really liked, then fighters they just hoped would win, then everyone else. Now it's just everyone else. I don't really care who wins 95% of fights.

Damn.

 

[Brigfa2]

I can't imagine watching the same shit for 20 years. But even now i'm not watching it that much, looking at sherdog and mma pages on instagram is better lol
But one of the biggest reason of that is main card starts at 6:00AM in my country

 

[RockyLockridge]

Post-Mcgregor era is soulless cashgrab matchmaking that only looks to cash in on whatever is the flavour of the month. Nothing feels truly special.

not as much about best vs best, we look for most interesting vs most interesting these days. Makes things feel a bit less important than they used to.