The final bell rings. One fighter gets their hand raised, while the other walks back to their corner in defeat.

Before either fighter can even leave the cage, MMA Twitter is going crazy, with fans calling one fighter overrated, another saying the judges are corrupt and the opponent is washed, someone complaining that the fight was boring and, apparently, none of it mattered because someone lost their parlay.

Welcome to modern MMA fandom.

When did watching a fight become so complicated? Since the UFC’s explosive rise to the mainstream, moments of actual enjoyment of the sport and competition have been whittled down by fans’ individual expectations.

Sure, we’ve had collective moments where fans are actually on the same page and all of it simply came from watching the fight.

A few moments come to mind: Justin Gaethje’s upset over Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway’s fifth-round knockout at UFC 300 and Leon Edwards’ come-from-behind knockout over Kamaru Usman at UFC 278.

Those special moments have happened, but most of the time, nothing is ever good enough and no one is ever satisfied. There are a multitude of different avenues in which my frustrations with modern MMA fandom lie, but the first and most prominent for me is the unrealistic expectations placed on fighters.

Love it or hate it, fighters are not WWE superstars. They are not obligated to entertain you, nor do they need to produce a highlight every single time they compete. 

These fighters are athletes. They train, condition themselves and formulate carefully coordinated game plans while studying their opponents’ weaknesses. Could that mean a boring fight? Of course. But, at the end of the day, they need to win. That win is what puts a paycheck in their pocket and pays the bills.

I also feel some fans don’t understand what a “boring” fight actually entails. Control, positioning, finding ideal angles, cutting off the cage and, most importantly, having the cardio to execute a game plan for an entire fight are all skills that go into MMA.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 09: Michael ‘Venom’ Page of England warms up prior to his fight during the UFC 299 event at Kaseya Center on March 09, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Just because a fighter isn’t throwing wild combinations or hunting for a knockout doesn’t mean they aren’t doing their job.

As someone who watches MMA as a fan but also trains myself, I can see both sides of the sport. I can admit when a fight is boring. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t sat on my couch and thought, “Come on, guys, give me something.” However, I also know what it takes to get there. I understand the work that goes into controlling an opponent, trapping them against the cage while still scoring, maintaining momentum, conserving energy and having the discipline to stick to a game plan.

A fight can be boring to watch, but that doesn’t mean the athlete didn’t perform well. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Think about it: If you’re watching a baseball game and the score is only 2-1, are you going to say the pitchers, as well as the infield and outfield, performed badly? No, you wouldn’t. Newsflash, fight fans: Your personal enjoyment does not equate to an athlete’s performance.

Also, there’s never a fight night or numbered event without some mention of betting odds and parlays. Sports betting doesn’t just affect MMA and the UFC; it has become a part of nearly every sport on the planet. There’s always someone trying to make a bet, and that frustrates me because I feel like it takes away from the enjoyment of the sport and clouds the minds of viewers.

Fight fans are constantly bombarded with betting odds and “free” bonus bets, taking their attention away from actually watching and understanding the sport. And if a parlay doesn’t land, all of a sudden the fighter is at fault or the fight was fixed.

SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 29: Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia reacts after a knockout loss against Song Yadong of China in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Could you imagine being an athlete who has worked their ass off in the gym, winning or losing fair and square, only to see the first thing posted online be, “They didn’t do enough,” “The fight was a work” or, even worse, “The fight was boring”? Way to go. You just dismissed an entire athlete’s performance because you lost money.

I understand that’s not every sports bettor or fan, but from what I’ve been seeing, it feels like nothing but complaints.

I still love this sport and the community I’ve built and found through viewing and admiring it. There are good fans out there still. However, I needed to address this as a return to form. Watching fights, or sports in general, is not your “make-or-break” financial opportunity or a place where personal interests are manifested.

Stop making watching fights complicated. Remember those moments of awe and respect the two people in the Octagon who have put in the work and hours that many don’t understand. You don’t have to love every fight. You don’t even have to like every fighter. Just remember that there are human beings in there who have dedicated enormous portions of their lives to doing something most of us couldn’t do. 

SHANGHAI, CHINA – AUGUST 29: Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia prepares to face Song Yadong of China in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)