Fans Refute UFC Executive’s Claims on Making the $21 Billion MMA Promotion Bigger Than Soccer in Next 30 Years

UFC is going to surpass the craze of soccer in the future? Well, some people out there are definitely perceiving the dream. The Dana White led promotion has gone from an average of 70k pay-per-view buys in 2001, to a peak of over 655k average in 2016. Looking at these highly impressive numbers, one UFC executive thinks that it could overtake soccer as the most popular sport globally in the coming days.

And while there is no doubt that the UFC has come a long way in the 30-years of its existence, it is nowhere near the popularity of soccer. What’s more, the UFC is not even the most popular combat sport globally. Reacting to the statement, fans were quick to point out the huge gulf in popularity and came out against the exec’s claims.

UFC executive predicts the promotion will overtake soccer in popularity

The UFC celebrated its thirty-year anniversary this year. As ESPN asked UFC executives, fighters, managers, and coaches how they saw the UFC’s future, the Senior Vice President, International and Content of UFC had an interesting take on the matter. Dave Shaw saw the organization having a meteoric and exponential rise in popularity worldwide, overtaking soccer as the most popular sport in the next thirty years.

And Shaw is not the first person to make this claim. Given the universality of combat sports and the exciting and thrilling nature of it, UFC CEO Dana White too, is a big believer that the promotion can be the most popular in the world.

However, many feel that the violent nature of the sport imposes a ceiling on how popular the sport could be. In the past three decades, however, there has been tremendous progress on that front too. Once described as “human cock-fighting” by a presidential candidate, it has undoubtedly become a mainstream sport today.

ESPN, the world’s largest sports broadcaster, has a dedicated MMA division today, and the promotion has been associated with the likes of Reebok, among the biggest sports brands in the world. Despite the success, overtaking the popularity of soccer seemed to be a bit of a stretch for fans.

Fans react to Dana White’s subordinate claiming UFC will be more popular than soccer

Fans did not buy Shaw’s claims, and took to social media to let their thoughts on the subject known.

One fan felt even if this were to happen, UFC fighters would still be underpaid. This was a personal opinion.

“Unlikely. But the UFC fighters will still be earning less even if that does happen 😂”

Another put the popularity of soccer in context and claimed the violence inherent in the sport will ensure it never overtakes soccer. Well, nobody has seen the future.

“Soccer is bigger than the Olympics. It’s the biggest sport in the world because it’s easy to play no matter what part of the world you’re in. MMA will never be mainstream due to the violence, keep coping”

Read More: Khabib’s Cousin Usman Nurmagomedov Removed From Bellator LW Roster After Failed Drug Test Finally Hits Dagestani Camp

Another felt Shaw was intoxicated.

“What you smoking my boy ? 😂🤣😅”

One fan treated it as a joke. Well, it’s pretty certain that Shaw was not joking.

“Lolllll good one. Tell me another”

Another pointed out that the high PPV prices may retard its popularity in developing countries.

“Yeah as soon as it’s free on TV sure, ppl in poor countries aren’t paying those insane PPV prices”

One fan, however, held out hope of the UFC actually being more popular than soccer.

“It would be cool there both great af”

With so many varied opinions, it looks like a waiting game if one wanted a definite answer. What do you think about Shaw’s predictions? Do you think the UFC will become the most popular sport in the next thirty years? Let us know in the comments section below.

Watch This Story: Watch: Khabib Nurmagomedov Invents Another Dagestani Basketball Style Game