how many real mma fans are out there?

Because they're bored. Sure, there are "fake" fans out there, but a lot of them are just NEW fans who don't understand the sport yet. Anyone who starts watching MMA without a background knowledge has no idea what's going on when fighters grapple on the ground. Give them time and they'll come to appreciate it; they obviously want to, or else they wouldn't keep watching.

As far as why fans boo, I would assume it's because high up in the stands it's hard to see what's going on when two people are grappling. It's not like on TV where you can see everything close up.

If you want the sport to grow, you're going to have to deal with new fans who are confused and bored; if everyone switched it off as you suggest, MMA would still be underground.

I appreciate that it may be a lot harder than stand up but If I'm honest the majority of the fans prefer some punching and kicking not a grappling match, to the fans it just looks like two men climbing on each other inside a cage and they want to see knockouts and blood spewing everywhere!

I think the majority of fans are 'fake' fans but being a fan of MMA means being a fan of MMA which is MIXED martial arts so it's not only Boxing, Muay Thai and any other striking martial arts it's also Brazilian Jiu jitsu, Judo, Jujitsu, wrestling etc. I think fans have to accept it as part of the sport and if they don't like it, then there's no point of watching it.

I love MMA, and as someone who has some grappling experience I can appreciate how hard it is to fight on the ground. There are many subtleties that people miss in ground fighting. Hip movement, arm placement, little slight movements that sometimes can't even be noticed if your not looking for it.

Unfortunately the average fan just wants to go watch people get beaten bloody and make MMA seem like what all its detractors already claim it is.

I don't even watch MMA, but if most fights go the ground wouldn't you get a bit bored of it always ending the same?

i love MMA but i admit i hate it when the fight stays on the ground for a while like the GSP vs Dan Hardy/Shields vs Hendo the only grappling fight i actually enjoyed watching(no homo) was the Jake Shields vs Mayhem that was a fun fight to watch due to all the reversals i just hate when guys just go out there and just lay on their opponents GSP destroyed BJ on the feet why cant he do that all the time???????

Because they're blood thirsty and they want to see two guys swinging, and windmilling at each other with 4 oz gloves. And they don't understand the training of Jiu Jitsu, and wrestling, Some really hard sports. Especially wrestling.

Hi well i love the sport, but i think there are alot of people who don't understand the MMA game yet, and thats why you still have alot of people booing... but i am sure it will improve with time.

Thanks . . .

Some don't understand the ground game.