By: Gabriel

Gabriel — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:56:47 +0000

Awe yes, the age old question: Will MMA take over boxing? The short answer is NO. Especially not when a non-title belt match sells over 1 million PPV’s. I look at MMA as the “indoor-soccer” of the fighting world. People love it, not for the skill or athleticism of it, but for the quick and dirty knock-outs. As someone who has occasionally tuned into MMA fights, I left feeling like most of the guys fighting were just average joe’s with so-so talent looking to earn a few extra bucks. While the same exists in boxing, those boxers will seldom make up a big under card for a major fight. There is also something to be said about watching a live MMA fight. And this is just my observation from seeing it on television, since most fights eventually end up on the mat, how does someone watching the fight in attendance enjoy it when they can’t see a damn thing? Even in the cheap seats at a boxing match, I can still make out what’s going on without having to see the giant screens. I think this tiny fact makes for most people wanting to see it on PPV vs. in person. I really feel that MMA is just not ready yet to take over or even compete for top talent. The purse money is not there yet and the household names are just not there. And as for the hate you mention, keep in mind that most of the hate comes from MMA fans that are ever so quick to remind me and boxing fans (when I mention that I like boxing) how “boxing in dead, on the decline, sucks.” I agree that there is room for both sports, but MMA needs to remind their fans of that one sport really isn’t superior over the other, because in the end, it’s a sport who’s participants may someday be interchangeable (however unlikely that may seem today. )

Comments on: Boxing Versus Mixed Martial Arts, Part II

By: Gabriel