Do you sense Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather is a bigger deal today than when the fight was first announced? Why or why not?
FRANK HYDEN, MMATorch Contributor
I think it’s a bigger deal than when it was announced, but only by a little. The release of the McGregor sparring video, the decision to go with eight ounce gloves, all that adds just enough doubt to people’s minds that McGregor might actually be able to pull this off. That increases the interest and makes people want to perhaps take a chance on buying the fight.
JOHN HARRIS, MMATorch Contributor
I would say it’s about the same. All of the major sports outlets on TV and online are still talking about it. The press conference tour they did this summer was a train wreck to watch but it created a lot of buzz with the back and forth trash talk. The announcement of a major fight always creates a huge buzz, but I think it has become an even bigger deal this summer as we grow closer to fight night.
ANDY MONSON, MMATorch Contributor
It might seem like some of the heat has cooled, but we’ve had some time to get over the initial novelty of the announcement. Come fight night, this will dominate the niche markets and get its due coverage in the mainstream media as well. The public can only stay so hyped for so long, but on Saturday we’ll be glued to our screens and packed into the bars.
ZACK HEYDORN, MMATorch Contributor
Unfortunately, my sense is that the buzz has waned a bit to this point since the fight was announced. In my mind, the general public got tired and worn out by the four city promotional circus which ended up making the fight look more like a circus rather than a sporting competition. That said, fight week changes everything and I think between the final press conference, weigh-ins, and other media blitzes, the buzz will rebound and everyone will be raring to go come Saturday night.
JOHN KIM, MMATorch Contributor
I never thought this fight was a big deal. This fight is just pure entertainment. It doesn’t prove anything. To me this fight has always been a freak show, but I love a good freak show.
MICHAEL GROCKE, MMATorch Contributor
The four city promotional tour definitely captured the attention of the casual fan. Hardcores saw the tour for exactly what it was, a show, or theater if you will. For me, the best part of the promotion of this fight was during Media Week and both fighters gave sit-down interviews. McGregor chatted with Ariel Helwani and Mayweather sat down with Stephen A. Smith. Both men came off infinitely better than during the promotional tour. I think the fight feels bigger now, but I might be too far into the forest to see the trees.
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