Josh Donaldson is moonlighting as an MMA fighter in the offseason

[JaysFan4Ever]

This guy really does go all out doesn't he?

 

 

 

http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2016/12/10/210864514/video-josh-donaldson-works-out-with-ufcs-stephen-wonderboy-thompson

[Abomination]

This guy really does go all out doesn't he?

 

 

 

http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2016/12/10/210864514/video-josh-donaldson-works-out-with-ufcs-stephen-wonderboy-thompson

 

He'd better not injure Donaldson or he'll probably have a mob after him. He may be able to fight off a couple dozen, but we'll sacrifice the Reddit guys in wave 1.

[Jonn]

He likes to have fun more power to him. He will be ready. I'm just glad that hip is feeling better.

[JFD]

He's getting ready to drop Shatkins if they don't do anything.

[Jonn]

Is he finally ready to fight Gibby? Lesser men have tried and failed.

 

Problem is he loves Gibby.

[burlingtonbandit]

He's getting ready to drop Shatkins if they don't do anything.

 

He praised him and Shapiro in his interview.

 

[Atothe]

Is he finally ready to fight Gibby? Lesser men have tried and failed.

 

He knows Gibby ain't the one

[reedjohnsonfan]

That was a great interview by Ariel, considering the context. It's funny to see him be a fanboy at times... clearly the Jays are a hugely popular team that should right below Dodgers, Yankees in terms of spending.

 

Nice to find out Donaldson's a pretty big MMA fan, shouldn't surprise anyone.

[Brownie19]

People still watch/follow MMA?

[Jonn]

People still watch/follow MMA?

 

Yup lots actually

[FrozenRopes]

Keep in mind this is training. There is nothing aggressive about what he is doing. Rougned would still explode through him. He needs sparring time. I would like to see him sparring.

[reedjohnsonfan]

People still watch/follow MMA?

 

By all measures I've seen, it's more popular now than it ever has been... Do you have some measure I haven't seen? Or are you posting for the sake of posting again?

[TheHurl]

clearly the Jays are a hugely popular team that should right below Dodgers, Yankees in terms of spending.

 

By all measures I've seen, it's more popular now than it ever has been... Do you have some measure I haven't seen? Or are you posting for the sake of posting again?

 

Although measurements don't appear to be your strength, you are not 100% incorrect as buy rates are at their all time best when McGregor fights. Non-McGregor fights are near all time lows.

Edited December 12, 2016 by TheHurl

[Maahfaace]

Although measurements don't appear to be your strength, you are not 100% incorrect as buy rates are at their all time best when McGregor fights. Non-McGregor fights are near all time lows.

 

A large portion of people stream the fights for free these days, I read an article a while back that the majority of ppv buys are from establishments and not individuals, and that the popularity of MMA is still growing.

[Brownie19]

By all measures I've seen, it's more popular now than it ever has been... Do you have some measure I haven't seen? Or are you posting for the sake of posting again?

 

Feisty little guy aren't ya.

[TheHurl]

A large portion of people stream the fights for free these days, I read an article a while back that the majority of ppv buys are from establishments and not individuals, and that the popularity of MMA is still growing.

 

Still doesn't change that McGregor's PPV's have 1.650M buys and the next card will have 200K. It's like most sports it's driven by stars.

[AdamGreenwood]

Did his appearance on Vikings come up yet?

[reedjohnsonfan]

Still doesn't change that McGregor's PPV's have 1.650M buys and the next card will have 200K. It's like most sports it's driven by stars.

 

Sure, but the point is it's still growing. It was like that before- GSP (and Lesnar when he was there) were huge draws, and Silva to some extent.Before that it was Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and a couple others. Other fighters didn't draw at all. Buy rates outside of the top stars have always been weak.

 

I agree the top stars are always the main draw, but there is much more publicity around it now than there ever has been.

[burlingtonbandit]

The card in Toronto actually was really good. Maybe fight of the year with Choi and Swanson.

[Brownie19]

I'm sure there's a core fan base - I must just be sheltered from it. I mean I see the commercials and you see Dana White on TV every once in awhile (he reminds me of Vince McMahon for some reason), but I work in an office with over 50 people (mostly men) couldn't tell you the last time it came up in discussion (maybe when Rousey lost?). I couldn't name one person I know who follows it closely.

 

I had friends who bought the PPV regularly back when it was GSP & Silva to have the boys over. Haven't done that in years now. Reminds me of hold'em poker. Seems like it was a new fad that's lost it's luster outside of the core fans.

[Governator]

I'm sure there's a core fan base - I must just be sheltered from it. I mean I see the commercials and you see Dana White on TV every once in awhile (he reminds me of Vince McMahon for some reason), but I work in an office with over 50 people (mostly men) couldn't tell you the last time it came up in discussion (maybe when Rousey lost?). I couldn't name one person I know who follows it closely.

 

I had friends who bought the PPV regularly back when it was GSP & Silva to have the boys over. Haven't done that in years now. Reminds me of hold'em poker. Seems like it was a new fad that's lost it's luster outside of the core fans.

 

They aren't really comparable. Poker lost all it's steam because the American Government cracked down on online poker 5+ years ago by adding some BS to an unrelated security bill for ports that was going to be passed (Look up Black Friday). It basically made deposits to online gambling sites illegal for Americans. This created a massive ripple effect, Poker on TV was always just a paid advertisement for the online sites, it was never about the ratings but about the advertising for the event sponsor. Since they can't target Americans anymore the shows quickly died (outside of the WSOP). Sites shut down everywhere, advertising came a halt as the main sites like PokerStars shifted all their focus to European market. I worked for an online site at the time, we were at the peak of our success when s*** hit the fan.

[Brownie19]

They aren't really comparable. Poker lost all it's steam because the American Government cracked down on online poker 5+ years ago by adding some BS to an unrelated security bill for ports that was going to be passed (Look up Black Friday). It basically made deposits to online gambling sites illegal for Americans. This created a massive ripple effect, Poker on TV was always just a paid advertisement for the online sites, it was never about the ratings but about the advertising for the event sponsor. Since they can't target Americans anymore the shows quickly died (outside of the WSOP). Sites shut down everywhere, advertising came a halt as the main sites like PokerStars shifted all their focus to European market. I worked for an online site at the time, we were at the peak of our success when s*** hit the fan.

 

All I know is there was a time when someone brought poker chips to every house party I went to and there was interest from almost everyone there to play. That's completely died off over the past 4-5 years. Even when someone brings the chips - half the guys aren't interested. I don't think that's a result of the US banning online gambling sites. It was a just a fad. UFC seems similar. It was new - everyone wanted to check it out....they did, lost interest and it faded into the background. Maybe I'm just old and kids changed things.

 

I have a friend who's a professional online poker player. Has been for 10+ years now. Put himself through university with it and lives in downtown Toronto driving a Land Rover. Brilliant guy. He doesn't tried to be the best, he just learned to prey on amateurs who basically give him their money online. It's a good gig...although he said he's growing tired of it and is looking to change professions.

[Governator]

All I know is there was a time when someone brought poker chips to every house party I went to and there was interest from almost everyone there to play. That's completely died off over the past 4-5 years. Even when someone brings the chips - half the guys aren't interested. I don't think that's a result of the US banning online gambling sites. It was a just a fad. UFC seems similar. It was new - everyone wanted to check it out....they did, lost interest and it faded into the background. Maybe I'm just old and kids changed things.

 

I have a friend who's a professional online poker player. Has been for 10+ years now. Put himself through university with it and lives in downtown Toronto driving a Land Rover. Brilliant guy. He doesn't tried to be the best, he just learned to prey on amateurs who basically give him their money online. It's a good gig...although he said he's growing tired of it and is looking to change professions.

 

 

You could watch televised poker almost all hours of the day 6 years ago, there were commercials during every sports break, ads in every magazine. I don't think you realize how much that encouraged people to play at home. If UFC didn't hype their fights by spending millions of dollars in advertising they wouldn't be getting million dollar PPV buys either.

[Brownie19]

You could watch televised poker almost all hours of the day 6 years ago, there were commercials during every sports break, ads in every magazine. I don't think you realize how much that encouraged people to play at home. If UFC didn't hype their fights by spending millions of dollars in advertising they wouldn't be getting million dollar PPV buys either.

 

Are you saying my personal decisions are influenced by mass marketing schemes? That's crazy. I don't have time for this - I have to go make a smoothie in my magic bullet, while cooking my homemade burger on my George Foreman grill.

[burlingtonbandit]

Are you saying my personal decisions are influenced by mass marketing schemes? That's crazy. I don't have time for this - I have to go make a smoothie in my magic bullet, while cooking my homemade burger on my George Foreman grill.

 

He's saying most of the population, not you personally lol.

[burlingtonbandit]

Same thing happened with DFS. As soon as some States ban it, it dries up. The advertising for it has dried up and you never hear people talking about it anymore really.

[Brownie19]

Same thing happened with DFS. As soon as some States ban it, it dries up. The advertising for it has dried up and you never hear people talking about it anymore really.

 

Daily fantasy sports is dead? I got an e-mail from Fanduels asking me to send personal information to them and blah blah blah, couldn't be bothered and donated the 20 odd dollars I still had on the site to them.

[Brownie19]

He's saying most of the population, not you personally lol.

 

Oh right - just my dumb friends. Good point.

[TholesWeirdEye]

The card in Toronto actually was really good. Maybe fight of the year with Choi and Swanson.

 

That was a great fight!