UFC 133 Results: Casual MMA Fans Need to Shape Up or Ship Out

As far as we may believe MMA has come since its controversial beginnings, the sport still has a long way to go in terms of educating viewers.

While sitting on press row at UFC 133, it became painfully obvious that a large percentage of the audience sitting behind me had little or no knowledge of the sport they had just paid money to see.

Every single time a fight went to the ground, a chorus of boos would immediately rain down toward the Octagon. After even the briefest periods of clinch work against the fence, fans would begin to make snide remarks about the fighters abilities and scream for the referee to break the competitors up.

Essentially, the majority of fans were only heard cheering when both fighters were throwing haymakers at one another. While these uneducated fans are aplenty and a big reason for the growth of the sport, their ignorance is simultaneously holding MMA back.

Not only is their attitude disrespectful to fighters, but casual fans are likely a major reason why MMA is still illegal in states like New York. For every one accurate description of MMA that legislators hear, they are likely to be informed of several inaccurate portrayals of MMA from those who misinterpret the sport. 

Many casual fans have likely taken the time to learn the rules of other sports such as football, so it is time for them to start trying to comprehend the intricacies of MMA. Why spend hundreds of dollars every year to watch a sport in complete cluelessness?

If it is simply blood and mindless slugfests that these fans are looking for in every fight, then, for the betterment of MMA, it is time for them to look elsewhere.

Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. Sean has also had his work featured on UFC.com. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.