Has the rise in popularity of UFC and mixed martial arts in general actually hurt the sport.

Mixed Martial Arts has become a very popular sport. I am a fan as well. The sport has become massively popular and with that comes posers. You see people sporting Tapout shirts and people seem to be flocking to mma classes (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, etc). The problem is that once something becomes popular in a way it tends to fade pretty fast. Mtv got involved in the cash cow and when Mtv gets involved it tends to milk it for all it’s worth and then drop it for the next big thing. Some people actually start thinking they are tough and get into fights. This will undoubtedly bring the sport bad publicity. Most of the real fighters have been training since they were children. They also see this as a sport and not just brutal beat down. Then you see these dolts (who are not fighters) with their tshirts, oversized baseball caps, etc basically picking fights in schools, bars, and wherever else. I saw one guy telling everyone that “he was a cage fighter and he will hurt you”. This is not good publicity for a legitimate sport. Will this harm it? What’s your opinion.