Can female MMA go mainstream?

[boromma]

Given how hard Male MMA is finding it/has found it.. do you think we'll ever see female MMA accepted by the general public?

I've only seen 1 female mma fight live, at a Battleground event and it really was one of the best fights of the night, not becuase it was women but because it was a great fight!

Having people like Rosi Sexton involved must help, doesn't it?

But will it ever happen?

[Alex Gold]

I am a fan of all MMA, but I can't see female MMA going mainstream (as in prime time/main event on a big show) in the near future, because (from what I've seen) standards are lower on the whole, and also a lot of people I have talked to do not want to watch two females fighting. This point of view isn't just from the 'human cock fighting' crowd, but alleged MMA fans as well. Whether it's right or wrong, I don't think the minds of a large number of people will be changed. Although people like Rosi are perfect for breaking stereotypes and articulating what the sport is about (as well as being more talented than a lot of guys), there are still a lot of people that'll just stick to 'women shouldn't fight', which is a shame IMO.

[stapes360]

Personally i dont think it wil. Simple reason being, look at all other "predominantly male" sports (EG football, boxing, rugby) , They have had female competitors trying to make it into the mainstream for years and it just hasnt happened.

[DianeB]

standards are lower on the whole, and also a lot of people I have talked to do not want to watch two females fighting.

The standard depends on what you're measuring them against. I've never been to a show where the female fight was the worst fight on the card. As far as i know, any show that had a female fight on it, received a positive response.

People may say they don't want to see females fighting, but i'm sure almost everyone enjoys watching the skills of the top female MMAers.

[Rosi]

I think attitudes in the UK, and Europe generally, seem to be light years ahead of the US on this one.

Mind you, americans seem to have issues about female sport in general. While in the UK, if guys aren't interested in watching women play sport they're quite happy to just ignore it, every thread about female MMA over on sherdog, for example, attracts an inevitable 8 page response from people saying "i have no interest in women fighting / playing sport" .... figure that one out :confused:

A lot of people are also bothered more by the idea of female MMA than by the thing itself. Put a good fight in front of them, and many will change their minds.

The biggest limiting factor in female MMA right now, at least on this side of the atlantic, is the small number of top level fighters available. I'm sure many more shows would be happy to have female MMA fights if they could get the talent.

This is gradually changing though - there's some VERY talented women coming through. Hopefully Aisling Daly will get an opponent for Cage Rage, and if that goes ahead it'll definitely to be worth watching.

[MMAlien]

I think female MMA goes along side male MMA very well. If the promoters can get the fights on the card its great!

[James Saville]

i really enojy watching women fight.

its nice and fast , i really like megumi , and the other japanses female fighters.
i dunno i suppose women train harder and fight harder to try and prove that they shouldbe there do , well i sort of get the impression watching female mma.

they really go for it. which is good.

[HuseyinBerik]

it can go mainstream, there is no limit

[boromma]

There are definately more obsticles in the way of women.... Stereotypes and closed-mindedness (is that even a word!?!) for sure.

It is great to see a female fight on the cage rage card, we'll see how that is received. As you have said Rosi, if the talent is there it can be great for a card to have women on it.

In martial arts generally female competition has been embraced, so I do feel there is a chance for the ladies here.

[Augustus Gloop]

why have a separate forum? that wont help popularity it'll just alienate female mma from the main mma forum to an area where fewer people will see the threads/discussions?

[Rosi]

why have a separate forum? that wont help popularity it'll just alienate female mma from the main mma forum to an area where fewer people will see the threads/discussions?

i can see arguments in both directions so i don't have particularly strong feelings either for or against

for example... to play devil's advocate, there are several threads here now that probably wouldn't have been posted on the main forum :)

[die hard]

I watched rosi fight in coventry and thought afterwards wow what a great display of skills from both women , i look forward to the future when all mma is liked by all.

[apex]

Boxing was the same no ladies then, Christie Martin burst on to the scene on the under card of a lot of Tyson,s fights, fight fans wanted to see her fight because she was so entertaining to watch (big ,big KO,s.)
Then came Laila Ali, these ladies could beat ok pro male fighters at their weight class.
In mma with a new breed of fighter & spectator we need the ladies to be accepted & respected for the skill they have & for the hard work they put in to the sport.

[K3YM4N6]

firstly id like to say that i think female MMA would be good for the sport but i dont think it will ever go mainstream
i think it will just be the odd flash in the pan type thing not sexiest but look at the facts:
look at football for example, the female world cup drew in millions of fans and broke records for attendances and such. but now its nothing again and no one takes much notice.

but one day maybe, will have to see

[Tez]

I think the thing holding back female MMA is the lack of fighters, we've been trying very hard to get female fights on the cards and it's proving very difficult. We have recently been scouring the UK and Europe for a pro female to fight top of the bill no less and could we find anyone? Absolutely not. It's so frustrating. We have several shows planned for this year and would love women on them fighting. There are encouraging signs, Rosi in Bodog of course... the American martial arts forum I go on has some of her biggest fans! (do you have a website or anything I can post up for them so they can tell you themselves?) CR of course with the female fight which I think will be terrific.
It seems acceptable to have mediocre fights on a show if they are male but immediately there is a female fight on some guys start saying oh well it's a lower standard than the male fights, that I find very annoying.
Female football in Italy btw is on par with the mens in popularity and the rates of pay.

[NIKUMAN]

Japan has a strong female MMA scene which is doing well and there are no shortages of female fighters who are willing to step into the ring. The problem might be here in the West.....:confused:

SMACK GIRL : FEMALE MMA EVENT JAPAN
http://www.smackgirl.com/

Even DEEP a well known shooto event in Japan holds female fights along side male fights on the same day and broadcasts it on national TV:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_JtWDxM7d8&feature=related

Mega Megumi is the current female MMA star in Japan from AACC-SPORTS in Japan with a record or 14 Wins 0 Loss........
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=11512

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJjZa5CXoWM&feature=related