Originally Posted by Kriss E
I enjoyed the UFC back in the days more so than I do today. When you had guys like Abbott, Belfort, Ortiz, Shamrock, Rizzo, Barnett, Ricco Rodriguez, Randleman, etc, I truly enjoyed the spectacle. Maybe it's because it was simpler and a lot less main stream then it is now. Perhaps I get disappointed because I find the matches are usually way over hyped. Maybe it's also because it's been the exact same concept, without any changes, for I don't know how many years now. They don't hold tournaments and they don't make fighters fight more than once anymore.
I never watched the UFC because I wanted to see some precision technical fighting. I mean, it was great when it happened, especially back then when there was a lot more brawling going on. It was refreshing to see Royce Gracie put on a BJJ clinic in the very first UFC.
But first and foremost, I watch the UFC to be entertained and don't kid yourself on saying that isn't important. Maybe you get entertained from watching a GSP, stuff a few takedowns, cycle and mainly throw jabs for 5rounds, but I don't. I'm not saying you are wrong to feel that way, you are free to enjoy anything you please. A lot of people enjoyed watching the Titanic, I thought it was pure crap, but nobody is right or wrong. Same thing here.
I expressed my view before on why I preferred Pride. I felt they had the better fighters, I also enjoyed watching different concepts like tournaments, and I thought they had developed rules that ensured more action as well (allowing kicks and knees to the head of a downed opponent and point deduction for lack of action surely pushed fighters to be a lot more proactive during fights). If you preferred the UFC, then good for you man, nothing wrong with that.
But those times are over. I can enjoy Dream once every blue moon, and although Strikeforce can be entertaining, they don't have too many high level athlete. With the UFC signing Miller and according to White, trying to make a deal to see Diaz fight in the UFC, I'm sure it'll only be a matter of time before they bring all the better fighters in as well. The UFC has the deepest pool of talent, and no matter how boring I think GSP has been fighting, I'm always going to be interested in seeing him fight. Just like no matter how crappy the Habs will ever be, I'm always going to support them and want to watch the games.
I enjoy the sport of fighting, not because I'm a fighter myself and trying to learn new things on how to fight, but simply because I find it entertaining. Lately, personally, I've noticed that I've been less entertained, and it pretty much coincided with the downfall of Pride.
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