Why Doesn’t UFC Get More Love?

Gary Andrew Poole questions why the Ultimate Fighting Championship (and its now-sister league, Pride) don’t get more mainstream coverage:

When I reported a piece a couple years ago for TIME (check out Robert Gallagher’s excellent photo essay from the story) about the UFC I came away impressed; I was given a lot of access to the fighters and management, and I studied the fighters in the dressing room doing their pre-fight routine and I watched some bouts ringside (UFC legend and current heavyweight champ Randy Couture graciously sat with me and explained strategy), and I thought the fighters had decent athleticism, and the passion and intelligence of the fans went against the prevailing attitude that the sport’s spectators were blood-hungry grunts.

I am not a UFC devote, although I’ve caught a few fights over the years, going back to the Royce Gracie days. But UFC seems primed for mass market ascendancy, offering all the drama of pro wrestling without the embarassment and all of the physicality of boxing. In our little crew there are several unabashed UFC fans—and they’re not watching it out of irony.

UFC may not be getting its due from ESPN and SI yet, but I suspect it won’t be long.

Is the UFC getting its due? [Gary Andrew Poole]