Whats harder MMA or Boxing?

Question

i respect both of the sports

im more into boxing but id have to say MMA is harder you have to be more conditioned due to the grappling which takes ALOT out of you

but boxing is more of a technical sport and more scientific due to the fact that

you have to find the best way to use just your hands alone and you have to master timing and instinct

i think a boxer would beat a MMA fighter (not in all cases) just due to the fact that all fights start standing up and getting around a boxers hands is a very hard thing to do

if you shoot in on him you leave yourself open to a wide array of hard punches to the face especially if you know how to keep a fighter at the end of your jab moving in and out when necessary

if a guy shoots in you can just take a step back and throw the jab

at the same time if that boxer makes a mistake and goes to the ground...well you can consider that fight over

what do you think

Answer 1

there are a lot of guys who love to stand up and box in MMA. they always end up on the ground though.  I like both too. I wouldnt want to box for too long. too many shots to the head.  You have seen old boxers that hardly function. not cool.  

Answer 2

Both are IMO equally difficult. In training, MMA can be very exhausting. Cardio and strength training can be a pain in the ***. Don't get me wrong, boxing training is hard too. But in MMA training, the cardio-strength-mental training had me sleeping for 12hours daily in my first weeks of MMA training. In boxing, cardio is necessary. Quite tiring too coz' boxing has more high-intensity aerobic movements involved.

But when it comes to sparring, I find boxing more punishing when I come to think of it. After each sparring day of boxing, My face stings and some swelling on different areas. My gut hurts.

In MMA sparring, I don't usually feel battered afterwards. Because, hitting is not really the only way to approach the fight. Yes, stand-up kickboxing is there but more often than not we end up wrestling and play the jujitsu game. The point is, by the end of MMA sparring, I have less swelling and stings to attend too.

When it comes to the difficulty of techniques... I say, (drumroll please...) Both are just the same. Ok hear me out. In boxing, only hands, footwork, and head/shoulder movement is generally involved. But the techniques can be very difficult and diverse. Some takes a lifetime to master because it takes lots of rounds of sparring to master it. There is specific timing, amount of movement, and reflex to pull-off these boxing techniques.

In MMA, yes, yes, there are lots of techniques to learn. But you can be very successful in MMA if you concentrate on mastering some techniques in each discipline. Don't have to learn all the techniques! this is my approach, In takedowns, I just try master the single legs the rest are just instinctive. In ground control, I just mainly practice drills and learned instinct just takes place. Submissions, just a few in various positions. I'm quite successful with my approach. I feel like GSP. LOL.

In MMA, its like learning overall algebra. But in boxing, its like learning specific integral calculus.

I love both sport. My friends constantly tell me to give one up. But I cant.

One time,  I'm losing to this guy in a boxing match; being an MMA trainee and all, I almost wanted to take him down and do the peruvian necktie to him. Hehehe... eventually, I lost. He's just outbox me the whole 5 rounds. Maybe, i really need to give one up? Its s******g me up!

Answer 3

mma!

Answer 4

Boxing overall because all of their training is equal to MMA but when they are trying to make weight is when i really respect them

Answer 5

As a fighter I can tell you that boxing is far tougher physically and mentally. MMA artists are basically beginner/intermediate level in each of their martial arts. Boxers are way beyond that as they are able to become masters of boxing.

The reality is that sport is a poor way of comparing their effectiveness. The only way to truly test combat effectiveness is in the street. I am one of the only people that have done this experiment.

Over the course of 100's of streetfights with blackbelts, mma instructors, muay thai boxers, and many other martial arts disciplines, I can confidently say that boxing is the superior street defense method (with some small modifications like the addition of street awareness tactics and dirty boxing).

Answer 6

MMA is harder you need more conditioning and all around skill in different fighting styles.  if a boxer fights a mma fighter the mma fighter will win hands down. the first thing he will do is get you on the ground by going low or putting you off balance with a kick so you won't be able to stop the attack. then the ground and pound will start tad that is the end of the boxer.

Answer 7

MMA easily, it takes far more skill and understanding. I boxed for a while and it doesn't even begin to compare with what it takes to do MMA. There have been many many boxers try to get into MMA and they have all suffered defeat far more often than winning. There have been a few who have done pretty well, but only those who had already spent time training in something more than just boxing alone.

Answer 8

MMA is definately harder... it involves aspects of all different kinds & styles of fighting.

Answer 9

Can anyone slip your jab or bob and weave under your hook or cross. I am guessing the answer is yes as I have never seen a boxer who lands 100% of their punches. Whenever this happens that is the opening for a takedown that a boxer wont know how to defend against.

Answer 10

I like your question btw.

I believe when it comes to training, neither is more difficult.  Both are hard and take alot out of you.

In MMA, you must become a "jack of all trades", but in boxing you must become a "master of one".

Although, I personally train MMA.  I absolutely love to watch and train boxing.  It really is one of my favorite parts of the game and here's why:

A boxer with good footwork is a wonderful thing to see.

I agree with you that if you have a good boxer that can keep people at the end of a jab they will be hard to beat.  Absolutely true.  But it will take one h**l of a skilled boxer to do that against top notch MMA guys.

I also like to give credit to boxers for the amount of cardio they do.  Wrestlers and boxers have to be the most conditioned category of sport athletes in the world.

But on the ground...yeah, a one dimensional boxer is in serious trouble.

Answer 11

In my opinion they're both equally difficult.

However, as for a boxer winning, that would be a very uncommon situation. an MMA fighter just has more ways to win. Take it from me; I've been practicing Boxing and Kickboxing for several years before I started any type of grappling or MMA training.

A boxer has the advantage in the hands department, clearly, but kicks completely change the game. So he would have to stay on the inside to neutralize the MMA fighter's legs. Of course, from the inside, the boxer wuold get wrapped up in a clinch and get kneed to death or taken down.

As for shooting, an MMA fighter who's confident in his striking and defense could easily take down a boxer. Just catch the boxer coming in, and shoot under his hands. Any time that you slip or duck a punch that could have been a shot. .

Answer 12

Boxing involves one Combat Sport Discipline, MMA involves several Combat Sports Disciplines. You can never have enough different combat sports disciplines in MMA. On the other hand, if you don't have the right skills at the right time in the right situation, you lose.

Answer 13

boxing is but a small part of mma training. both kinds of athletes have similar training. making weight, cardio..etc etc.

i think a good mma fighter would destroy a good boxer any day of the week in a fight. ...in a boxing match, the boxer obviously has the upper hand.

if you try to jab your way out of a shoot attempt..you're going down. lol