Boxing vs MMA
Posted on February 1, 2010 by Aaron
Recently, psycho asked what boxer's think of MMA in the forums. I've moved the conversation here to get more opinions. I'm actually surprised it took this long for this topic to come up. Every other boxing site I've been to eventually gets into this debate.
On the one hand, you have the purist boxers who are completely against MMA.
On the other are the MMA fanatics who believe boxing has gone the way of the dodo.
And somewhere in the middle are the people who see them for what they are. Two completely different sports, both of which could learn a thing from the other.
Randy Couture: See what a top MMA has
to say about the debate
Boxing actually evolved out of something a lot closer to UFC type fights than the average boxing fan would be willing to admit. Gloves were an innovation. In the beginning, fights that lasted entire days and the bloodfest resulting from leather wrapped hands were the norm. Boxing since has been civilized. When UFC first came out, I believe it was the shock value that caused people to watch. It took the characters from WWF and threw reality into the equation. The result was comical at best. Since then, it has come a long way in regulating the sport and turning it into a real contender in terms of ratings and economics. This is due in large part to a hugely effective marketing plan.
Boxing has stagnated in that regard. The problem I see is that boxing lacks the lustre and character present in the UFC. Personally, the characters in UFC which are no more than a reinvention of what the WWF provides, seem to take away from the sport, but that's just me. From a business perspective, it is a goldmine. They took the best of the WWF and added in the thing it lacked -- the actual fight. How can a WWF fan not love watching the UFC - it's like the WWF on steroids. And, like it or not, UFC is hot. It is growing exponentially, and it is because of the characters involved.
Boxing lacks those characters. What happens when Floyd Mayweather Jr, Oscar De La Hoya, and Bernard Hopkins disappear? What happens when Klitschko or Hatton hang up the gloves? Can Hollyfield's comeback sustain boxing? There are very few matchups that can draw the big crowds and pay per view revenues, and it is the lack of showboating that keeps boxing out of the limelight. The boxers are all too similar. The names we remember are the ones who distinguish themselves from the pack in some regard, and relying on an undefeated record won't necessarily do it, unless you are dedicated boxing fan. The masses remember the character, not the statistics. Tyson, like him or not, is a household name. He distinguished himself twice -- once as a boxing superstar and then his most recent reincarnation.
Boxing vs UFC:
What happens when boxing meets UFC?
UFC on the other hand, has lively characters, costumes and outrageous entrances. Their fighters are the superheros kids will trade trading cards of. And the blood is an added bonus. The perceived brutality of the "no holds barred" fighting seems wholly uncivilized to a boxing purist when in reality UFC and MMA in general has fewer serious injuries than boxing. It seems one slamming concussive punch that draws blood or knocks out teeth is actually better for you than repeated concussive blows to the head (especially in later rounds when you are dehydrated). UFC has yet to count a fatality while boxing adds a few to the list every year.
As a boxer, I think our sport can learn a lot from the UFC and MMA, especially in terms of making it more appealing to a new generation brought up on video games and superheroes. Everyone likes the dramatic and the story behind the fighter. I have no doubt that the fighters in MMA are as athletic and as dedicated to their sport as boxers. I've done some MMA and know the same principles of battle exist. MMA fighters are more rounded, complete fighters and boxing is a big part of their standup game. I don't think anyone can really disagree with that observation. Without training, a MMA fighter would destroy a boxer on the ground.
I guess it all boils down to the fact that MMA takes the best of all the combat sports, combines them and pits them against each other. Thus, it draws the fans from all disciplines. To any purist of any sport, that in itself will be offensive and will be perceived as a threat against their "culture". To the UFC, that works to their advantage as the discussions shine even more light on MMA.
Comments
Like both..... boxers have
Like both..... boxers have the edge hands are lethal.... Boxer turned mma.... Jeremy williams undefeated knocked out a wrestler that beat randy courture... And a k1 champion kickboxer so... All these mma fools need to calm down. Cause umm that sport is one dimensional cause the fights always end up on the ground but as you can see his foot work and arm strength is enough to contain these fools.... So you mma fans quite hyping it up like these dues r so tough.....
Your facts are all wrong
Your facts are all wrong because if you look up his record on sherdog it shows some his wins are by submission and not just pure boxng and footwork. By the way he has never fought anyone who has fought couture n in mma anyways. He also fiought has beens but i will give him credit they are experianced has beens who have los to anyone whos kind of good. You funny talking about 1 dimensional because thats all boxing really is. I guys your just not that bright of a guy thiking no one will look his shit up.
Boxing as a commercial sport
Boxing as a commercial sport is dying, yes, but still has obvious life in the practice of MMA. I still think striking in MMA is a lot different from boxing though, but don't expect training to change any time soon (not going to see "street fighting" training, lol).
not sure
Im not sure where you are saying they are like wwf stars, are you talking about when they walk in? cause yeah they used to show boat but genrally everyone just walks/jogs to the ring now. the ring itself? because there are mma productions that just use the normal rings and not the cage.
and "especially in terms of making it more appealing to a new generation brought up on video games and superheroes." superheroes have been around since the 50's and most all children are brought up on them and video games? the 70's this isnt really a new gen problem as much as it is who the fuck is a the boxing champion right now? how many belts are out there if boxing wants to survive its needs to consolidate. period. period. peroid. period
UFC isnt anything like WWF
UFC isnt anything like WWF. In WWF they do crazy things like drop kicks, and fight out of the ring. UFC is very real and most of the fights are pretty exciting.
Boxing is just two hands vs
Boxing is just two hands vs two hands
mma is everything, its the
mma is everything, its the closest thing to a real fight, boxing is more of a sport, mma is more of a fight. its considered a sport so it can be legal, but everyone knows its a damn fight, this thing is man to man, the baddest man on the planet aint mike tyson or muhammad ali or that bum wladimir klitshcho. its fedor emelienenko, why? because he is well rounded and demolishes everyone in a combat sport that has very little rules, he has the will to win and hes just unreal man.
No
Boxing styles are used more in a real fight. You look at most fights you aren't gonna see someone using a guillotine.
Depends on who you are
Depends on who you are fighting. If Im fighting on person in a fight then I end up choking them in a fight. If its multiple people I use my Jeet Kune Do. Boxing is alright until you get kicked. It is only one range of fighting. It's like going to war and declaring you will only use infantry. Gotta have air and navy too. And another point to is that street fights generally happen between unskilled people. If everyone knew how to fight there wouldn't be any real fights.
I follow both sports and the
I follow both sports and the problems they have are obvious:
Boxing has been only about money for a long time. I don't think anyone really cared about the sport once big money came into play in the 70ies. Today they don't even put the amateur on tv. Right now I don't see one heavyweight who is willing to give his life (Ali, Frazier) sacrifice himself for the sport and knock out Wladimir Klitschko.
It's a pretty beat down sport. Boxing needs people who care about it! And what I don't understand is: In a time where boxing isn't that hot, then why have so many championchip belts? More than ever before. Of course they can learn from MMA. But right now they seem to think that stars are born, not build.
The problem MMA has, I don't know how to solve that: Most fights are so irrelevant. Who remembers any MMA fight in 2006 or the best submission of 2009 beside the hardcore fans?
The big fights are beeing promoted (for example Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin on July 3rd). But once the fight is over, you go: So what, next one.
There is no "Thriller in Manilla" in MMA. They have a looooong way to go and I don't know if they're ever get to the relevance and greatness boxing had.
The next problem is grappling: The ordinary joe knows what a vicious knockout is, but what does he know about grappling? If you don't train in BJJ yourself, you won't understand what's going on. How to solve that? Make every human beeing on earth train BJJ?
like all sports, boxing
like all sports, boxing promotes fitness, discipline, hard-work, etc. and personally i think it's fun to beat up a punching bag after a long day :P
I want to say another thing
I want to say another thing about stars: As I mentioned, they are build and not born or "discovered". Not even in Hollywood. When you take a look at the hottest celebrity right now: It's Robert Pattinson. They guy wasn't discovered and casted for "Twilight". He had a ton of experience in smaller projects before, in his "amateur career" if you like.
Or soccer ...I remember some coaches from a local youth team came over to our urban area where we played ball on the street. They took all 10 or 15 of us to a tryout and of course we all registered afterwards. After a couple of years only 3 of us were left, but one of the three ended up playing professional soccer for a while. Now he didn't became the next Maradona, but that's not the point.
The point is: What does boxing do?
like all sports, boxing
like all sports, boxing promotes fitness, discipline, hard-work, etc. and personally i think it's fun to beat up a punching bag after a long day :P
it all depends...
on how good you are, whatever the style. a jet li or mike tyson will hold his own against 99.9999% of people. your style of choice needs to fit your interests/strengths.
i'm reminded of something i saw on tv once... they scientifically measured the amount of force from a full-on nfl tackle and a pro-fighter's (not sure if it was boxer or mma) clean punch to the torso. both were enough to pop a liver (hospital at least).
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