Huge MMA fan has a question?

Question

Ive been an MMA fan since day one of UFC 1. I have recently been watching some old boxing matches. Everyone is saying that Boxing is behind MMA right now but in truth I am thinking that MMA is LIGHT YEARS from where boxing is. What do you think?

Answer 1

Wont say light years, but definatley more popular. When you cant even pronounce one of the 4 heavyweight champions, sport is in trouble. If boxing stops castrating itself by having multiple champions and crappy mandatory defenses from Joe Shmoes who no one heard off, they wouldnt be so far behind

Answer 2

How about this MMA blows.

Answer 3

Yea disco you got it right MMA fighting is light years behind boxing. I have nothing really against UFC or other mma but too compare to the 2 and say mma is better is just insane. I also have seen the first ufc when the sport was brand new .Boxing has been around a lot longer and will be here forever , I dont ever see mma becoming more popular or generating more money than boxing. It defintly takes more skill and discipline to be a pro boxer. Not only just that but the sport of boxing is much more respected than MMA. Take a look at what the fighters for each sport get paid , boxers make a h**l of a lot more than any ufc fighters. Now take a look at championship fights , boxing gets more press and also check out what celebritities show up to mega boxing bouts ... everyone. Same with the betting a lot more money is bet on boxing. I dont know why people are saying boxing is behind MMA because its not , boxing fights are still more exciting/entertaining with the exception of the current state of the heavyweight division. Which is probably the reason this arguement is being made in the first place.

Answer 4

I love the UFC and how they do business and they are trying to make MMA a mainstream sport, but I agree with you. I think boxing is still the number one combat sport and I don't see that changing anytime soon. In 2007 and so far in 2008 boxing has had several great fights and most of those fights involved the big names in boxing like Mayweather, Pacquiao, Hopkins, Cotto, Mosley, De La Hoya, Hatton, Marquez, Taylor, Calzaghe, etc. I think MMA will do very well, but I cannot see the sport being as big as boxing WAS back in the 40s or 80s. But at the same time MMA COULD overtake boxing as the number one combat sport, but like I said, I think it will still be a very long time when that happens.

Answer 5

mma is light years away from boxing right now

Answer 6

Interest is fading fast in boxing, there are no big names anymore. No Tyson, no Lenox, there are no superstar boxers who are still in there prime

Answer 7

Well financially the UFC is way behind still, and the pay it gives its fighters proves it.

As to spectator sports boxing was always ahead of norules contests all through history.

UFC type fighting has been in every culture since we came out of the trees. Ancient egypt, rome, greece all had something like it.pankration, arena fighting, etc.

Generally boxing developes from it because early promoters soon work out they get bigger crowds if the sport has less wrestling and more knockouts.

You notice the UFC is going the same way even now.

The started using rounds, standing fighters up for no action, and the crowds cheer more when they are up striking, not rolling around.

It is going the same way boxing did, step by step.

I don't think it will go all the way, because boxing is already here and here to stay, so MMA will stay as its own sport.

But I think as big as the UFC gets the natural tendency for people to enjoy bloody punching is not going to change, and it will never supplant the bloodiest punching sport of all, boxing.

Answer 8

I think boxing and MMA can't be compared. It's two whole different sports. I like both of them, but you can't say one is better than another.

One thing is sure: Boxing had much more time to develope to the level of fights there are todey and also to the public interest and recognition. Here in Europe MMA is hardly televised and nearly only known by matrial artists that practice MMA actively.  And surely MMA will never get to the stage boxing is now, because for many people it is far too violent. I think it will always be something special that will not reach the masses.