Advertisers dream: Ultimate Fighting becomes huge hit with key demo

Sports Illustrated ^ | 4-25-06 | Jon Wertheim

[SShultz460]

The male 18-34 demographic is the Yeti of sports, an elusive, amorphous beast that marketers will go to great lengths to glimpse and then capture. There was an unlikely sighting April 15 in Anaheim as a capacity crowd of 17,000 fans -- most sufficiently old to vote, but insufficiently old to run for president -- packed the Arrowhead Pond for ... an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

The card, titled UFC 59: Reality Check, had the feel of a marriage (shotgun, to be sure) between a Vegas heavyweight fight and a Lollapalooza tour stop. Suffice it to say, the tattooed outnumbered the untattooed by a significant margin. "Maybe older people haven't even heard of UFC," says 27-year-old Andrei "the Pit Bull" Arlovski, a past heavyweight champ who was upset in Anaheim, felled by a series of punches from his 6-foot-8 opponent, Tim "the Maine-iac" Sylvia.

The tableau in Anaheim was just the latest indication that however repugnant some may find it, UFC has entered the arena as a formidable sports property. The week before the fight, Spike TV's companion reality show, The Ultimate Fighter 3, drew record ratings for the network and, among the coveted 18-34 male demo, outdelivered the TNT NBA doubleheader

That week, "UFC results" was the second most popular topic entered in the Yahoo! Search engine. The first was Super Bowl XL. Days after he defeated Arlovski, Sylvia threw out the first pitch at a Dodgers-Giants game. "It's a combination of the sport itself and personalities," says Dana White, UFC's 36-year-old president. "Young people see it on TV and they dig it. Boxing is your dad's sport. This is something way more exciting." UFC is perhaps singularly well-suited to Generation Y, combining the brutality of video games with a rapid-fire pacing familiar to serial channel surfers.

[SShultz460]

I would point you to Rich Franklin's website (MW Champion)
http://www.richfranklin.com/home.asp

Also, look to Matt Hughes, who wears an Army of The One t-shirt.

They are God fearing people that look to lay beatdowns on others :)

[bereanway]

No, I think it will end in a submission. And it will be Hughes winning.

But then again, what do I know!

[RedRightReturn]

Tank Abbott is the MOST FEROCIOUS hitter I have EVER seen! EVER!!! Absolute raw, unbridled power!

[Junior_G]

Frank Shamrock used to fight in UFC all the time didn't he?

[FearlessFreep]

Tank Abbott is the MOST FEROCIOUS hitter I have EVER seen! EVER!!! Absolute raw, unbridled power!

----

He was unreal. But he couldn't handle the grapplers. He tried, but was unsuccesful. I would hate to face him.

[SShultz460]

I have never seen Royce make a mistake...I've seen Hughes make them...

I go decision Hughes to Sub Royce....I'll take Decision Hughes :) just because i'm a Hughes fan.

[Paradox]

I watched the first 10 or so, it was great to see Gracie choke out Severn from the ground, or watching Kimo get some of his hair pulled out. Savage stuff, really made the fancy pants martial artists look like the softies that they WERE (at the time, today a good MA artists knows all about ground techniques).

Tank Abbot was an a-hole, I hated him, but I did like his one quote "Wrasslin, America's Martial Art"...

[SShultz460]

Yes, but he will never fight in the UFC again.

[LanPB01]

I'd like to join the UFC/MMA ping list, please.

[SShultz460]

The UFC has changed alot since those days. I remember and respect that stuff, but I like where the UFC and the Sport has gone since then.

I'd encourage you to watch the newer stuff

[chris1]

Got to be honest, after Ortiz's showing against Griffin, Shamrock may have a shot.

[SShultz460]

Agreed

[Richard Kimball]

, The Ultimate Fighter 3, drew record ratings for the network and, among the coveted 18-34 male demo, outdelivered the TNT NBA doubleheader

The NBA better be worried. That is not a good sign for them.

[Paradox]

I sort of followed it for several years without actually paying to watch it, but I sorta lost interest. Having said that, each time I see the previews for it on DirecTV, I get the itchin to watch it again. Maybe if I can get a few buddies to go in on it with me...

My interest in it came partially from my experience as a member of my High School wrestling team. I knew that flashy MA were over rated, because of movies and TV. It was great to see the grapplers do so well.

[ScudBud]

I am addicted to MMA! Please add me to your ping list. My two cents on the Huges, Gracie fight, Huges by submission.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Tyson was invited several times but refused. His management obviously decided that it wouldn't help his "killer" image if a 150-pound Brazilian choked him out. Those who only box haven't done so well in MMA. It's a skill you need as part of the package, but is not enough.

[SShultz460]

I tell you what, there is nothing more exciting than watching MMA with friends. It's strait insane watching it in a Bar loaded with fight fans. You talk over the matchups and even put a little money where your mouth is. All over fine tastey beverages.

Good Times :)

[ImProudToBeAnAmerican]

Sign me up too!

(I can't believe I'm signing up for a UFC ping list on Free Republic...but it rocks!)

[calljack]

My son gets some work as a photographer for some of these fighters. Some are nice guys who can fight and some are just guys who really like to fight. You would not want to meet any of them in a dark alley.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Royce did make a mistake. After his first UFC win, he didn't train and prepare as he should have to defend his title. Kimo just about took him. If he had cut his hair short and didn't have wrist wraps, Royce could have lost. His ill preparing for that fight (over confidence from his first UFC) is the reason why after Kimo he was unable to continue.

But I'm sure he wouldn't make that mistake twice.

There ain't a horse that can't be rode. There ain't a rider who can't be throwed. (Old cowboy saying and a wise saying for fighters.)