During the 70's, the films of Bruce Lee and TV series like "Kung Fu" (with Carradine) generated a massive interest in the disciplines of karate and kung fu - and dojo memberships swelled worldwide. Films like Raging Bull and Rocky (No's 1-6 or whatever) were enormous commercial success but I don't think boxing gyms filled up as a result. Boxing as a spectator sport will always be bigger than boxing as a participant sport - muay thai in the west being a relatively young sport, suffers possibly from the opposite, ie, there are loads of people who train, but it is tough to fill up a venue; Whereas with MMA not so many people training, but put on a big event in the UK and it will fill up the Albert Hall. Depends how you want MT to develop -would you rather have a venue with about 500 proper muay thai enthusiasts who understand and appreciate the subleties and techniques or have 10,000 joe publics in a massive arena who know bugger all and just want to see some blood? And chances are you might have to tone down the rules, get rid of the Ram Muay etc... You could have commercial success but lose the value of the art eg look at the shit boxing they have on Eurosport in Germany, thousands of people turn up to watch sub standard overweight eastern europeans have a brawl. There's money in that for the promoter but it has downgraded boxing's standing and the audience have no appreciation of boxing.Look at the shite on K-1 - Hong Man Choi v Akebono, Sapp et al - but the Japs love it, the freak factor and the place gets packed. Entertainment = spectacle and larger than life characters = interest = $$$ - this is why boxing/K1 at the top is so huge. Dunno if MT would ever get that big.It is a niche sport but it is growing in popularity, there are some people on here who have put on great shows over the years.