Mixed Martial Arts vs. Boxing

Mixed Martial Arts is quickly taking over one of America’s greatest past times, boxing.

 

Due to MMA’s unconventional tactics, multiple forms of fighting and above all excitement, it is easy to see why MMA is becoming so popular.

 

The main source for the unconventional tactics comes from Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesner.  Lesner, like many of the MMA fighters, started his career as a college wrestler before joining MMA.  Once coming on to the scene, Lesner has degraded the sport in multiple ways by making obscene gestures and comments (youtube) towards opponents after matches have been completed to appeal to fans.

            

MMA is also different in its techniques.

 

Lowen Sniff, an up-and-coming Mixed Martial Arts fighter and SCC student, said, “It is difficult to choose which one is better because MMA and boxing are totally different.  In boxing your hips are to the side and in MMA they are squared up. However, I think MMA is better because it’s more than a one-dimensional fight; there are all kinds of ways to ware down an opponent.”

 

Furthermore, Alec Davis, SCC student and huge sports fan, prefers “MMA over boxing, but when it comes to a big fight, no sport can compete with boxing.”

 

Davis is correct.   With stars such as Miguel Cotto, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., dominating the sport of boxing, boxing has the slight advantage.  In boxing’s last big bout featuring Pacquiao vs. Cotto (espn), the fight had 1.25 million buyers resulting in $70 million.

             

Even more remarkable, when Mayweather fought Juan Manuel Marquez in September, the fight generated more than 1.05 million buyers, making it the first time in a decade that boxing had over a million purchases in the same calendar year.

 

Also adding to the equation is HBO Sports Series “24/7.”  The series takes an in-depth look into the lives of the fighters before their big event, allowing fans to connect and see more of the emotional side of fighters and all preparation and hard work which goes into each fight.

 

Although MMA is rising to forefront, it is safe to say that boxing will be the leader for a long time.