UFC bantamweight fighter Saidyokub Kakhramonov started a Twitter war between MMA fans and NFL/NBA fans with his big claims about the sport.
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The Uzbekistan-born mixed martial artist stated MMA will surpass major American leagues like NBA and NFL one day on his Twitter account. His statement sparked a major debate among the fans of the sport.
“I believe one day MMA going to be bigger than NBA/NFL,” Kakhramonov wrote on in his tweet.
I believe one day MMA going to be bigger than NBA/NFL
Many fans opposed the UFC fighter’s statement and also gave a reason for the same. However, there were several others who also agreed with the Uzbekistan fighters’ beliefs.
Here are some of the tweets from the fans:
One fan bashed the PPV model of the company. He also drew differences between women’s and men’s MMA.
No it won’t, it’s already dying. The PPV model UFCs using is garbage with how watered down the cards are. On top of that, WMMA has killed the sport. I know tons of old fans that refuse to buy PPVs with women on them. The skill gap is just to big between men/woman at the moment.
No one cares about NFL and nba outside usa especially NFL
Another fan pointed out that the UFC is an individual sport. Meanwhile, NBA and NFL have teams.
The one thing MMA lacks for that level of popularity is the tribal aspect. Fighters come all over the world, but they're individuals- not teams (tribes/armies) representing your team (tribe/army). Team sports' fans say things like "we won that match"
If boxing hasn’t done it then MMA won’t either. Maybe in developing countries, but definitely not in the US.
Another fan suggested MMA has a limited audience, as it is a violent sport. Hence, according to him, it won’t generate a huge audience base compared to other sports.
How the UFC is growing; Can it become bigger than NBA and NFL?
Despite some criticisms, UFC is one of the fastest-growing MMA organizations in the world. UFC supremo Dana White is majorly responsible for the success of the company. Although it is not a league like NBA or NFL, the UFC has generated a loyal fan base in America and other countries.
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GLENDALE, AZ – JUNE 12: Dana White meets with the press following UFC 263 on June 12, 2021, at Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. (Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It is also interesting to note that NBA and NFL events are restricted mostly to North America. Meanwhile, the UFC constantly has events in numerous countries, including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, England, and more.
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Additionally, the UFC held its events on an Island in the United Arab Emirates while the entire world was under a pandemic-related lockdown. Thanks to Dana White, this was the only sports organization to host such an event at that time.
Also, the UFC once passed the NFL in terms of Instagram followers, marking a significant milestone. Overall, even though the UFC may not be as big as the NBA or NFL, the organization has achieved enough success to rival and occasionally even outperform those two major leagues.
What are your thoughts about the comparison? What is your reaction to Kakhramonov’s tweet? Let us know in the comments section below.
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