the reason MMA is more popular than kickboxing is because most americans are like this, and MMA appeals to these types of people much more than kickboxing. The general public are more concerned about winning a "bar fight" than being an athlete.
MMA Poser
typical american "tuff guys" that train "UFC"
If there is anyone in here that rides motocross( i used to race). A very similar comparison would be MX racers, vs FMX riders, vs "bros". Theres a shit load of beer drinking weed smoking bro's that are all about FMX that dont even ride, they are nowhere near being an athlete. Lets take a look at some picstures for example.
mx athletes
fmx rider "twitch"
MX posers
so just like FMX formed a gathering of followers/posers/wannabees because it was/is the cool thing to do.
MMA has done the same. MMA is the "cool" thing to do. Kickboxing is not.
Its much easier to be a FMX Bro, or a MMA Bro, than an actual athlete. Now pass me the roids, beer, cigs, protein shake, tap out jersey, bandana, and lets go lift weights at UFC gym bro. Then well go to the bar afterwards in our affliction shirts and try and pick fights with people half our size so everyone knows how badass we are. Kickboxing is a sport (so is mma). To the public mma is a fight, not a sport. Just like basketball is a sport, not a fight. I cant wait for the day I go to a bar and see guys walking around wearing NBA jerseys challenging people to basketball games.
What I think America really needs, instead of kickboxing this and kickboxing that, and changing the rules to appeal to the public etc. I think America just needs to be exposed to pure, high level muay thai, just as it is in thailand. We need full muay thai rules, we need live thai music, we need top level fighters, and we need to be able to bet at the fights. Just the simple act of being able to bet on the fights would increase its popularity drastically IMO. Now I know someone is going to say well we already have lion fight, well lion fight is still very americanized IMO. They dont play music during the fights, I dont recall ever seeing any wai krus, and you cant bet on it. Muay Thai is big in australia, has been for a long time, MMA is big there too. If muay thai can catch on it australia, it should be able to catch on here.