The age old debate. Which is harder? Which was more views boxing or MMA? Which is the most dangerous. Boxing vs MMA lets go!
Boxing vs MMA – Popularity
MMA in general has gained massive traction over the last couple of decades almost single-handedly by way of the UFC. The UFC’s marketing and production has changed the face of MMA. Long are the days of illegal basement cage fighting. However, boxing has a much longer richer history. With boxing came equality of race and has always played a part in the political world from Muhammad Ali to Manny Pacquiao.
Marquess of Queensberry Rules (traditional boxing rules) have been in play since 1867 and have specific standards that all fights today still follow. This hasn’t been the case for MMA in general and the sport has evolved it’s own set of rules as time has gone on. Many organisations had very lose rules which allowed for soccer kicks, 12-6 elbows and spiking (slamming the head/neck into the ground)
The lack of rules added to the ‘dirty’ feel to MMA for the masses. As time has gone on the UFC has established rules they feel protect fighters without much detriment to fights. The UFC and all its partners have lead the way and although MMA currently isn’t as popular as boxing (yet) Doesn’t mean the tide wont change soon.
Out of the top 50 PPV sales, boxing holds 25 spots, while UFC has 15. The UFC and the other big players Bellator, Cage Warriors and so on have events very regularly, much more often than the ‘big’ boxing matches. It’s only took MMA 20 years to (almost) catch up with traditional boxing (155 years)
If things keep going the way they currentley are MMA will be more popular than boxing in the next 10 years. For now in this category of boxing vs MMA – boxing wins.
Boxing vs MMA – Which is the most dangerous?
If we are going of data and data alone you would have to say boxing is more dangerous than MMA. More deaths are recorded by result of boxing than MMA and more long term damage – Brain injuries being the biggest (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and so on) Volume is the key driver of this.
On the face of it MMA is more brutal than boxing, knees, elbows, submissions and so on. However all UFC / MMA fights last less than the average boxing match. The UFC non title fights are booked for 3x5min rounds vs boxing *up to 12×3 minutes. Even at the peak boxing matches last 11 minutes longer per fight. What does this mean? Accumulation.
Around 185 punches land on average per fighter per fight in boxing vs UFC average 60. More than 3 times as many blows can cause much more damage over time. Boxing also has the most knockouts (would you believe it?) It’s common for heavyweights to have over 80% KO rate. Nobody in MMA has ever come close to this. This is why I believe boxing is more dangerous overtime but MMA looks more dangerous.
MMA sure looks more dangerous but the facts speak for themselves Boxing vs MMA 2 – 0
Boxing vs MMA – Which is harder to do?
This used to be an easy question to answer and it used to be boxing by a long way but things have changed. The reason boxing used to be much harder was that the majority of fighters in MMA was limited to one discipline which meant they was susceptible to another (imagine rock, paper scissors) puncher looses to kickboxer, kickboxer looses to wrestler (I know there’s more but that’s the gist of it)
What this meant was that a fighter that spent time in various disciplines had a huge advantage of other fighters – GSP, Jones, Silva etc. Now these fighters have lead the way the competition is much more matched and there is less X beats Y going on.
The issue with being successful in boxing has remained the same – you have two arms there is only a limited number of punches and you are confined within tight rules. Which means you lack options. Which makes it more competitive. This used to be the reason boxing was harder but with the style changes in MMA I would have to say its harder to lean multiple disciplines and have more options used against you.
Boxing vs MMA 2 – 1
Boxing vs MMA – Which is more entertaining?
This is a hard question to answer but for the general demographic both sports are directed to you would have to say MMA is more entertaining (most of the time) we are going of the average here. Many people would watch a UFC fight not knowing either fighter simply from the entertainment value however, most wouldn’t do the same for boxing.
Boxing promoters do a great job at getting you to like fighters and be interested in them this is why big fights in boxing I believe are more entertaining than MMA. You are fully invested in the fighters, they get a lot of coverage from media outlets and you feel you get to know them on a personal level.
There has been so many memorable boxing matches and not nearly as many MMA matches. Going back to the first point though – average fight, average person – MMA wins.
Final result boxing vs MMA – It’s gone to decision and its a draw! Sorry if it’s not the result you was hoping for! Both great sports both interesting for different reasons.
Which is harder mma or boxing?
Boxing is considered harder than mma because of the lack of options and creativity. Often better game plans can be used in MMA and you can attack the weaknesses of your opponent.
Who would win in a fight boxer or mma fighter?
In a no rules situation the MMA fighter would win 9 times out of 10. The only chance the boxer has is a one punch knockout.