I watched UFC from the beginning, was big into the Pride FC days, trained for over twenty years. The culture changed, even in smaller MMA gyms, and I drifted away from it. It's so much harder nowadays to find an MMA gym that doesn't inject their shitty politics into things (bjj gyms aren't quite as bad, but they have gotten worse).
I mean yeah that is what’s driving it so to be fair to the original commenter, maybe they meant that it died away in their area… but if they meant that it died away in general, that’s wishful thinking.
I think the popularity really trailed off after McGregor fell off.
Love him or hate him he was extremely funny and entertaining, and there’s really no replacing him.
Then Jon Jones and BJ Penn, exc exc all have retired. As for myself once Periera hangs it up im probably done, as it is he’s the only fighter I care to see fight.
DJT has been a fight fan (all kinds) since childhood.
He did a lot of promoting, especially during his Atlantic City/ casino years. Boxing, WWE, MMA, Wrestlemania, you name it. Including helping UFC recover from near failure.
Same experience here. The PPVs would be big events at bars or people's houses. It was a big deal then. Now I don't know a single person who watches anymore.
My Uncle Carl started a UFC club at his local pond but couldn’t get enough united fishermen to join his club so now he just fishes by himself and is sad.
I had some friends who were into it in college, so about 10 years ago I guess, but haven’t heard anything much about it since.
Not complaining, I love sports but don’t really see what’s interesting about 2 people seemingly just beating the fuck out of each other with hardly any rules.
If I have to watch a combat sport give me boxing or wrestling over UFC.
In Washington among my crowd it peaked around 2007 with a really solid follow until maybe 2018/2019 when it slowly started losing fans and then it cratered in popularity since 2023 when Ngannou left without fighting Jones while boxing has had a huge resurgence. And then in 2024 Trump winning turned a lot of people into "fuck Dana white and the UFC".
UFC used to be good at making the best fight the best. Not so much anymore.
I don't think it's regional, it's more.. demographical. It has a pretty specific age/gender group for its fanbase and if you don't hang with them, you probably forget it exists.
Pretty popular here in the Midwest I feel. Although it would not be at all popular in the Reddit crowd so I’m not surprised no one here has heard of it.
I have no idea. I have zero interest, and I don’t think I know anyone who does, but there must be someone watching that stuff.
I remember the wrestling on TV, long before Jesse Ventura got in/ out/ ran for mayor of a suburb and then Governor of MN. So I’m guessing there’s a fan base here somewhere.
The only real exception to that seems to be with younger gym rats, without university degrees.
I’d say it has become the most popular blood sport, but most people don’t follow blood sports that much. (Pro wrestling is a simulated blood sport, not an actual one and is far more popular.)
Not very (central Virginia). Martial arts have a substantial presence, but its more people actually *doing* BJJ or TKD than people following the sport as a spectator.
When I lived near a massive Army base, it was more popular.
DustyComstock@reddit
I personally don't know anybody who watches UFC.
I feel like it kind of had a little uptick in popularity like 6 or 7 years ago, then fell off again.
Aclearly_obscure1@reddit
In my experience, the majority folks that enjoy UFC are rarely, if ever, on Reddit.
jesusmansuperpowers@reddit
I’m the exception. But I also quit watching all the time about 10 years ago.
Impossible_Memory_85@reddit
Was a big thing 15ish years ago, and then it turned into a meathead, almost MAGA-type crowd, and it died away.
LaPimienta@reddit
It’s actually more popular than ever before…
A_Possum_Named_Steve@reddit
Yes...with the meathead, MAGA crowd.
I watched UFC from the beginning, was big into the Pride FC days, trained for over twenty years. The culture changed, even in smaller MMA gyms, and I drifted away from it. It's so much harder nowadays to find an MMA gym that doesn't inject their shitty politics into things (bjj gyms aren't quite as bad, but they have gotten worse).
Bstallio@reddit
the common denominator here isn’t the gyms big dog
LaPimienta@reddit
I mean yeah that is what’s driving it so to be fair to the original commenter, maybe they meant that it died away in their area… but if they meant that it died away in general, that’s wishful thinking.
MyUsername2459@reddit
Almost?
They are literally building a ring on the White House lawn for a huge UFC fight hosted by Trump.
It's pretty explicitly MAGA now.
Bstallio@reddit
I know this is Reddit but try not to be so partisan, UFC viewership has hit new record highs and is growing lol
Alvalade1993@reddit
I think the popularity really trailed off after McGregor fell off.
Love him or hate him he was extremely funny and entertaining, and there’s really no replacing him.
Then Jon Jones and BJ Penn, exc exc all have retired. As for myself once Periera hangs it up im probably done, as it is he’s the only fighter I care to see fight.
FormerlyDK@reddit
I have no idea what UFC is. Does that answer your question?
Riyko@reddit
I don’t know how popular it is in my state. I do know that I make sure to watch every event my friend fights in.
Sad_Supermarket_176@reddit
I've never heard it spoken about in real life by a person, only ads.
paka96819@reddit
Very. Holloway
IamGleemonex@reddit
20 years ago, it was popular. Now it’s basically “oh that still exists?” whenever I hear about some upcoming UFC event.
fakesaucisse@reddit
That is the exact reaction I had when I first heard about the match on the White House lawn.
OldBlueKat@reddit
DJT has been a fight fan (all kinds) since childhood.
He did a lot of promoting, especially during his Atlantic City/ casino years. Boxing, WWE, MMA, Wrestlemania, you name it. Including helping UFC recover from near failure.
https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/donald-trump-mixed-martial-arts-227461
Pleaseappeaseme@reddit
I bought Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz PPV way back in the day.
Appropriate_Copy8285@reddit
We'd have huge PPV events 15 years or so ago, now I dont know anyone who still wastes much time or money on it.
CarbonInTheWind@reddit
I believe they moved away from ppv and have a contract with Paramount/CBS now.
Impossible_Memory_85@reddit
Same experience here. The PPVs would be big events at bars or people's houses. It was a big deal then. Now I don't know a single person who watches anymore.
sneezyailurophile@reddit
Zero
Bob_12_Pack@reddit
I enjoyed it for 5 minutes back in the 90s while my brain was still developing.
BalrogRuthenburg11@reddit
My Uncle Carl started a UFC club at his local pond but couldn’t get enough united fishermen to join his club so now he just fishes by himself and is sad.
vermilion-chartreuse@reddit
Not
KittiesRule1968@reddit
Extremely, unfortunately.
jeremiah1142@reddit
United FC?
haubowtdemoshon@reddit
I had some friends who were into it in college, so about 10 years ago I guess, but haven’t heard anything much about it since.
Not complaining, I love sports but don’t really see what’s interesting about 2 people seemingly just beating the fuck out of each other with hardly any rules.
If I have to watch a combat sport give me boxing or wrestling over UFC.
eirinne@reddit
I honestly do not know what this is. United Football Consortium?
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
Ultimate Fighting Championship. Think boxing without the attempts at class and 1000% more grappling on the floor.
libananahammock@reddit
So kind of like boxing meets real wrestling?
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
I was snarky, but it's mixed martial arts, so there's punching, kicking, wrestling and grappling.
eirinne@reddit
Ok sounds hot
BusinessWarthog6@reddit
The UFC. It’s the main company that puts on MMA fights. My guess is OP asked because they are doing a fight card on the White House lawn
Natural_Parfait_3344@reddit
UFC is not regional.
AutofluorescentPuku@reddit
I don’t know. I don’t care. I suspect I may be in a significant demographic that feels the same, but I have no data.
MyUsername2459@reddit
It's a niche thing.
It was a fad maybe 15 to 20 years ago, but it's time has come and gone.
I don't know anyone who cares about it.
The_Ref17@reddit
None of my friends, family, or people I know well enough to ask care about it at all, except maybe to be disgusted by it
NW_Forester@reddit
In Washington among my crowd it peaked around 2007 with a really solid follow until maybe 2018/2019 when it slowly started losing fans and then it cratered in popularity since 2023 when Ngannou left without fighting Jones while boxing has had a huge resurgence. And then in 2024 Trump winning turned a lot of people into "fuck Dana white and the UFC".
UFC used to be good at making the best fight the best. Not so much anymore.
shelwood46@reddit
I don't think it's regional, it's more.. demographical. It has a pretty specific age/gender group for its fanbase and if you don't hang with them, you probably forget it exists.
Designer_Head_3761@reddit
I know guys that watch it but I could care less
zacandahalf@reddit
UFC enjoyment feels like psyop
LaPimienta@reddit
Pretty popular here in the Midwest I feel. Although it would not be at all popular in the Reddit crowd so I’m not surprised no one here has heard of it.
OldBlueKat@reddit
I have no idea. I have zero interest, and I don’t think I know anyone who does, but there must be someone watching that stuff.
I remember the wrestling on TV, long before Jesse Ventura got in/ out/ ran for mayor of a suburb and then Governor of MN. So I’m guessing there’s a fan base here somewhere.
anneofgraygardens@reddit
I don't know how I'd measure it. Do I ever hear people in the office chat about UFC like they do about football, basketball, or baseball? No.
Pleaseappeaseme@reddit
Not at all. However, some of the dudes at the bar might be into it. Similar to knowing boxing.
RonPalancik@reddit
UFwhat? I don't know what that means and don't care.
kiefontop@reddit
Clearly you know what it means with a response like that😂
cans-of-swine@reddit
They are obviously more cultured and intelligent that the rest of us. They dont know anything about barbaric sports...
ljculver64@reddit
Idk what it is. Soooo. No.
zoppaTheDim@reddit
It isn’t
The only real exception to that seems to be with younger gym rats, without university degrees.
I’d say it has become the most popular blood sport, but most people don’t follow blood sports that much. (Pro wrestling is a simulated blood sport, not an actual one and is far more popular.)
AliveAndThenSome@reddit
What's UFC?
I personally don't know anyone who watches it here in the PNW, but I doubt it's got little to do with location and more about the circles you live in.
Bstallio@reddit
UFC is very popular nationwide, not really a regional thing
juniperroach@reddit
I don’t know what it is really and I live in Wisconsin so the north for reference.
473713@reddit
What is it?
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
It's like your problematic neighbors: fighting that ends with rolling around on the floor.
BusinessWarthog6@reddit
Kinda I guess. I only know one person who watches it regularly and he owns a mma gym
Urfubar12@reddit
It’s not at all. I forgot it was still a thing until recently…for obvious reasons 😭
onrake@reddit
I don't know one person who watches it.
hardworkinglatinx@reddit
Everyone loves the UFC.
whatshouldwecallme@reddit
Not very (central Virginia). Martial arts have a substantial presence, but its more people actually *doing* BJJ or TKD than people following the sport as a spectator.
When I lived near a massive Army base, it was more popular.
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
More than soccer (at least among people who aren't in immigrant families).
It also seems inversely correlated to education level.
she-dont-use-jellyyy@reddit
Not very.
goPACK17@reddit
I'm not a fan at all, but noticed it's way more followed in CA then it ever was in MA
donac@reddit
Not. It's not like it doesn't have a fan base, but overall it's very niche.
PrimoVictorian@reddit
Fairly popular. NJ is a bit of a hot bed for MMA in general, with plenty of martial arts and jiujitsu schools to go to.
ginger_princess2009@reddit
I'd say it's pretty popular in the south.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
I never hear anybody talking about it anymore. I used to hear about it occasionaly years ago. I think it is in decline. Central TX
Alarmed_Drop7162@reddit
UFC is popular in NorCal.
But it’s over in like 2 minutes so the attention isn’t kept
MrMojoRisin9@reddit
I live in a highly educated city, so not at all.
cmiller4642@reddit
I don’t hang out with tatted up alt right dude bros
FineWashables@reddit
I had to google it.
grand_grumpus@reddit
Not even a little
Redbubble89@reddit
There are probably gyms but not massive.
Downtown_Confusion46@reddit
Not
pushdose@reddit
I’m in Las Vegas, so, extremely.
DifficultyHappy1546@reddit
Not