Mayweather vs McGregor-ridiculous spectacle or legitimate sporting event?

rgambs said:

Cliffy6745 said:

Where does McGregor go from here? Can he really go back to fighting god knows who in UFC for a few million bucks?  UFC won't let him become a full time boxer?

What do you mean God knows who?
Some of his potential opponents probably have greater name recognition than 2 or three weight classes worth of champs in boxing.

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

rgambs said:

Not household, but no less so than boxing's (current) big names.

I am not a fan of either, and I can definitely name more boxers than I can MMA fighters (I can name exactly one MMA fighter, in fact, and it's in the title of this thread ). I think it's because there are just so damned many MMA fights and fighters that nobody who dislikes/hates the sport can be bothered to pay attention to any of their names in passing. But when a boxer is being highlighted, that stands out because it's rarely discussed in comparison (plus, boxing is somewhat less off-putting to most people who aren't into fighting).

I can't name any current boxers. not one. 

What about Mayweather?

he's retired as of Saturday.

tempo_n_groove said:

Cliffy6745 said:

Current UFC fighters I know. Nate Diaz, McGregor, Eddie Alvarez (the wife grew up with him), Jon Jones (he grew up in my hood and not sure if he is a current fighter), Cormier.  I also know there is some pretty white boy, but I don't know his name.

Would probably recognize a few more names if you said them, but those are the ones I can come up.

Bone Jones just got thrown out of MMA again for testing dirty.

As for boxing you have two of today's BEST boxers going head to head in 3 weeks. Triple G Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez.

This will be the boxing match to watch.  These two are going to slug it out.

Everyone should watch this fight.  I can't wait.

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

HughFreakingDillon said:

PJ_Soul said:

rgambs said:

Not household, but no less so than boxing's (current) big names.

I am not a fan of either, and I can definitely name more boxers than I can MMA fighters (I can name exactly one MMA fighter, in fact, and it's in the title of this thread ). I think it's because there are just so damned many MMA fights and fighters that nobody who dislikes/hates the sport can be bothered to pay attention to any of their names in passing. But when a boxer is being highlighted, that stands out because it's rarely discussed in comparison (plus, boxing is somewhat less off-putting to most people who aren't into fighting).

I can't name any current boxers. not one. 

What about Mayweather?

he's retired as of Saturday.

Haha! Touche. Well, I was actually talking about boxers in general, not current ones. I know a lot of their names - at least a dozen off the top of my head. But, of course, I'm speaking as someone who actually has a real issue with MMA/UFC. I don't like boxing either, but MMA crosses a line of viciousness that doesn't sit well with me, mostly because of the fans, in a general sense. I'll put it this way: literally the ONLY bar fights I've ever seen in my life all happened on UFC nights. I think the sport, at least with the way it's marketed now, spawns violence, aggression, and general douchebaggery (no, of course I'm not talking about all UFC fans). I don't feel that boxing has the same effect.

I've watched UFC at bars a few times, and never saw any issue at all. There of course are going to be those types that are probably aggressive already and UFC + booze + those types of people = fights, but most MMA purists just enjoy the competitive nature of the sport. it's not all blood and broken bones like it used to be. A lot of it is highly skilled submissions. sure there are knockouts, and of course that's part of the marketing of it, the excitement of a half-second leg to the face, no different than football or hockey being marketed using massive bone-crunching tackles and bare knuckled brawling. But that's actually just a small part of it. I admit sometimes I feel conflicted about watching it. It seems odd to me that I'm such a pacifist yet I get enjoyment out of MMA. It doesn't reconcile well. 

I do know it takes skill and work. I was friends with an MMA fighter, and he was a great guy and hard worker (he got his ass kicked badly every fight, and he finally stopped and went back to teaching MMA). I can't imagine it's good for kids to watch such things for entertainment. I don't feel that hockey or football is comparable in any way, though agree that the hockey fights aren't good for kids either. I don't think football is violent at all. Tackling isn't fighting IMO.

I know they aren't the same. i was only mentioning how things are marketed, and just because it's marketed that way, doesn't mean that's what you are getting. 

I disagree. Football is incredibly violent. No, it's not fighting. But people have died on the field. Multiple concussions leading to depression and suicide is a real problem in pro football, although it generally happens years after the athlete has retired, so it doesn't get the attention it requires.