What makes Bellator so special, and why should we support it? There are many explanations, but two of them need special attention.
The first, and maybe most important, is that the material is well-liked by the audience. There is still a need for more mixed martial arts even as the UFC releases more and more show year. Accordingly, in light of current television ratings and pay-per-view purchases, the often-proposed idea that MMA has hit its saturation point is a clear non sequitur. It’s as ridiculous as complaining that there are too many footballs, basketball, and soccer games on TV.
Although it lacks the UFCs depth of skill, the California-based organization Bellator still
regularly features top-tier mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts.
As time goes on, MMA gains more and more public attention, and its fan base expands rapidly. Fighters are becoming more than just celebrities to their fans; they are becoming the subjects of education and empathy. Some fans are beginning to have a more in-depth understanding of the history and technique behind their favorite forms. However, with this expansion came the need for pivots and choices.
In comparison to other promoters in the sport, both current and historical, the UFC stands head and shoulders above the competition. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the largest platform in the globe and features some of the best talents in the world. However, the UFC has a unique structure for its athletes.
The second reason we like Bellator is that it provides more employment options for the rising number of people who see MMA as a profession.
Due to the UFCs restricted roster size, Bellator is essential to the survival and development of the MMA business. The company not only hires athletes with UFC aspirations but also gives them a chance to prove their stuff against competent opponents.
Bellator, on the other hand, is willing to shift gears and play a new role in the sector.
To be clear, I don’t have anything against ambition per, and I even like Bellator, but this
shift in perspective is bad for business. On several fronts, Bellator is failing our athletes right now. Bellator follows the same strategy that the UFC did in its infancy. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) used a tournament format until UFC Ultimate Brazil at the end of 1998, after which they began creating major shows with many bouts.
Since its first show in 2009, Bellator has featured only tournament action. Where championship shots are earned, not granted is Bellators tagline.
These tournaments are held by Bellator in seasons, each of which has eight competitors in a certain weight class and typically lasts for three months. Although quite different from the UFC, this structure provides competitors with fresh promotional opportunities and spectators with a new way to follow the sport.
With the tournament format, Bellators fans and athletes are provided the groundwork for understanding that championship opportunities are determined exclusively by the
performances of each participant. The tournament victor is the only one who can challenge the ultimate victor. Bellator may provide some structure and regularity that the UFC lacks, which is something that some fans would prefer.
Regardless of whether you think of Bellator as the heroic underdog, you have to readjust your priorities and come to terms with the fact that the promotion has been shockingly dishonest in its dealings with fighters as of late.
Some may say that Bjorn Rebneys drive is to blame for Bellators problems. The more I think about it, the more I think they are the result of his own deception.
A good rule of thumb is that healthy competition between businesses is beneficial. Bellator
appears to be proving that this is not always the case.
It’s subjective, and there will always be proponents and detractors in every MMA fan argument. Whether or not "better" is the right word in the context of fan opinion is moot; the more important question is whether or not one is better for the development of MMA as a sport.
