The issue also published results of an August ESPN sports poll of 1,433 Americans ages 12 and older, listing MMA in with eight other major sports, NASCAR, NBA, College Football, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the NFL, College Basketball and the NHL.
Of those nine sports, MMA -- and this would likely be far more UFC as the dominant brand -- has the youngest fan base. The average MMA fan is 34.9 years old. That's a positive, particularly since UFC is not that strong with children. MMA, more than most established sports, still hits strongly in a target group, males 18-49.