Your last line
What player or backer would bet money off that?
If there wasn't a player or backer to bet we wouldn't have any matches .
I think that most players and backers would bet on their self or their horse in a race to one if that was all that was available. Guys like action. Of course they are looking to get the best of any action they can get but that would not stop them from betting in a short race if that was what was available in the big ppv events. These same guys bet big bucks in a casino while taking the worst of it. Wouldn't you play and bet on a shorter race with someone just below your level if it meant bringing in more fans and sponsors?
IMO, to bring in the big bucks, even to events like fight nights their needs to be fans. The fans lead to sponsors and the sponsors lead to money. In order to bring in the fans there needs to be entertainment and the best entertainment is short races where there is lots of emotion, every shot matters, and the fans at the events can get a little excitement going while watching. The atmosphere makes it more exciting even for the fans who are not present and watching online.
Plus the average fan has a short attention span.
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