https://bloodyelbow.com/2023/06/19/ufc-became-hates-safe-champ-mma%c2%b2/
With no more mountains for UFC to climb, what's left to do but hold on?
And much like a safe champ, the first challenger to actually bring the fight to them might get it done and dethrone them
ONE is on the rise. Their roster talent is just good enough and their production in phenomenal.
I have been a massive UFC fan for over 15 years, but the product just isn't as good any more. It's turned into a soul-less money making machine, instead of being the premier MMA organisation.
I never gave ONE much of a chance, I didn't have much interest as I didn't know the fighters. But with the UFC having maybe the worst bunch of events ever recently, it made me check it out, and man is ONE fun to watch. Even the guys I don't know I really enjoy watching, especially the muay thai.
I like how they mix in BJJ, Muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA into the same event. The production is good, commentary is good. Whereas UFC has become so annoying to watch, constant talking all the time, twitter feed is annoying and distracting, too much off-topic commentary, etc.
I hope ONE continues to grow, and gets more top Western or Dagestani fighters, because their muay thai roster is good, but their MMA roster isn't the best. Once they improve that, they would definitely become better than the UFC.
I watch at least part of every ONE event now. But for the UFC, I'm only really watching the PPVs, the fight nights had become so bad most of them aren't worth the time to watch.
UFC gets all the free coverage it wants on ESPN and is easily able to bring in the casual viewer
ONE is kinda just off in the corner on Amazon where you only know about it if you already know about it
just look at the number of comments those banger Friday night ONE events have on r/mma, nowhere near a UFC fight night at the Apex
ONE has the roster and Production, but they really need to step up their discoverability and promotion
MMA outside of the UFC is considered to be minor league.They aren't getting dethroned.
That is eventually going to begin to change in some regard as the UFC has shifted its strategy of filling its ranks with lower tier guys to fill cards. There's a reason you don't hear of them making big free agent signings much, if at all, anymore.