Are you wondering whether UFC prelims are worth watching?
In this article, we’ll go through the five reasons why UFC prelims are worth watching.
Contents
Are UFC Prelims Worth Watching?
In short, UFC prelims are worth watching because they feature fast-paced action, upcoming future stars, new and old fighters competing for their lives, local MMA fighters where the event is based, and a great mix of experienced and inexperienced MMA fighters offering a different dynamic to the main card.
So while UFC prelims are perceived to not be as good as the main card because there isn’t the same hype around the fights, the above factors mean the prelim fights can be just as good, if not better than the main card fights.
Let’s take a closer look at the 5 main reasons why the UFC prelims are worth watching.
1. UFC Prelims Feature Future Stars
The first and most obvious reason UFC prelims are worth watching is they feature the upcoming MMA stars of the future.
Here are where some of the greatest UFC/MMA fighters of all time started:
- Jon Jones’ UFC Debut: UFC 87 Prelims
- GSP’s UFC Debut: UFC 46 Prelims
- Demetrious Johnson’s UFC Debut: UFC 126 Early Prelims
All UFC fighters have to start somewhere, and for most fighters new in the promotion, UFC prelims are the place they start.
The exception to this is when a fighter has been a champion in another top MMA promotion or they have huge hype and credentials such as NCAA Wrestling Championships.
For example, Bo Nickal made the UFC PPV main card on his debut at UFC 285, despite having an MMA record of 3-0.
Overall, by watching UFC prelims, fans get a chance to discover future stars, hype trains, and top 15 fighters before they hit the mainstream.
2. Increased UFC Competition
As the UFC and MMA continue to develop, competition increases across the globe and this means UFC prelims are worth watching because their fight quality is constantly evolving.
The UFC prelims feature not only future champions, but also fighters from The Ultimate Fighter, Dana White’s Contender Series, and the best upcoming talents they’ve scouted.
While fighters on the PPV are for the most part safe because they have a history in the promotion and have built up credit, the majority of fighters on the UFC prelims are quite literally fighting for their lives.
UFC prelim fighters are vulnerable to being released if they lose or their fights are boring. Most of the time this pressure leads to tense and high-quality fights where fighters are gunning to finish their opponent in epic fashion.
It’s also about what they can gain. Higher pay, a name, a new better contract, fans, Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night award bonuses of $50,000, and more.
Overall, UFC prelims are worth watching because there’s a lot on the line, either way. This brings the best out of new arrivals and also fighters ranked around 10 to 15 who know their place in the UFC rankings is at stake with another loss.
3. Features Local MMA Fighters
Another reason UFC prelims are worth watching, especially if you’re going to a live UFC event, is how local fighters are featured.
This gives the fans the chance to enjoy and support their home-grown talent, whereas the main card mostly features fighters of any nationality but who are in the top 10 of each weight class division.
The support given to the local fighters makes live UFC events special and UFC prelims worth watching.
4. Experienced vs Inexperienced Fighters
UFC prelims also offer experienced fighters in the prime age of 30 to 35 and even older against young inexperienced fighters in their early 20s.
Most fighters on the main card are highly experienced and in the same age bracket most of the time, so the UFC prelims offer you a different dynamic and a chance to see how the young guns fare against the veterans.
Watching inexperienced and unpolished fighters who are more error-prone and not as defensively sound makes the fight easier to follow, and gives you more of an appreciation for the champions and elite-level fighters on the main card.
It also produces very entertaining fights as offense often becomes the best form of defense in the UFC prelims.
5. Faster Action
The last reason UFC prelims are worth watching is because of how the fights are one after the other with little time between.
Compared to the main card, which features longer post-fight interviews, more advertisements, more conversations, and is generally slower to bring fighters out, the UFC prelims are strictly business and fast-paced.
The Bottom Line
So, ‘Are UFC prelims worth watching?’
Yes, UFC prelims are worth watching because they feature fast-paced action, upcoming future stars, new and old fighters competing for their lives, local MMA fighters where the event is based, and a great mix of experienced and inexperienced MMA fighters offering a different dynamic to the main card.
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