Is MMA surpassing boxing?

[Onetimeonly]

Front foot weight eating leg kicks is probably the biggest issue standard boxing in mma.

[Grilling Machine]

I've seen better punching in Muay Thai where the same applies, but I guess that's in a ring without takedown worries.

I just feel there are lots of missed opportunities for KO punches in UFC, often because fighters lack the high-level insight that leads to better positional skills. My interest in UFC would soar if such a fighter came along.

[littlepug]

One is no threat to the other, they’re poles apart, I don’t watch MMA because it’s nothing like the sport that I love and I doubt hardcore MMA fans watch much boxing apart from Wilder/Joshua fights, you won’t see their fans tuning in to see Roman Gonzales next fight or searching out Chavez v Taylor on YouTube, I respect the sport but it doesn’t float my boat.

I watch both, I've been a boxing fan 40 years, but I enjoy MMA cards way more. Far fewer mismatches.

That’s fair enough, nothing wrong with being a fan of 2 different sports, I just can’t get my teeth into it the same way I can boxing

[jamesmcdonnell]

I've seen better punching in Muay Thai where the same applies, but I guess that's in a ring without takedown worries.

I just feel there are lots of missed opportunities for KO punches in UFC, often because fighters lack the high-level insight that leads to better positional skills. My interest in UFC would soar if such a fighter came along.

I think its more because fighters have to consider being kicked, grappled or taken down.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Do you watch much MMA?

most successful fighters have good stand-up

Randy couture wasnt a good stand up guy and he was double weight world champion,wrestling back ground,you may remember him for putting James Toney's "lights out" lol

That's 15 years ago

[ALI]

I have tried to like MMA but the striking is so horrible it makes me cringe. I love the technique and skill of boxing.

but the lack of punching skill leaves me cold. I'm probably not much heavier than Khabib and I'd honestly be happy to face him in a 4-rounder with only amateur experience,

To be fair to Khabib, and i'm no fan of his boxing skills either, Mayweather lost some rounds to McGregor, and struggled to land big shots on him until McGregor tired down the stretch, which he is known to do in MMA, so no surprises he completely gassed in a 12 round boxing match. Khabib, when on his feet against McGregor, landed a peach of a right hand leading punch to floor McGregor. Mayweather only wishes he could have landed that shot, ss do all of McGregors other oponents, so maybe a little bit of credit where its due for Khabib

McGregor landed more shots on Mayweather than most of Mayweathers elite boxing opponents, including a cute uppercut. What does that say about MMA fighters boxing skills? Sure Mayeeather was retired 2 years, did not train properly, was only playing around etc etc etc, yawn yawn yawn. IMO he struggled a bit with McGregor, which i found a little bit embarassing for boxing to be honest.

[jamesmcdonnell]

but the lack of punching skill leaves me cold. I'm probably not much heavier than Khabib and I'd honestly be happy to face him in a 4-rounder with only amateur experience,

To be fair to Khabib, and i'm no fan of his boxing skills either, Mayweather lost some rounds to McGregor, and struggled to land big shots on him until McGregor tired down the stretch, which he is known to do in MMA, so no surprises he completely gassed in a 12 round boxing match. Khabib, when on his feet against McGregor, landed a peach of a right hand leading punch to floor McGregor. Mayweather only wishes he could have landed that shot, ss do all of McGregors other oponents, so maybe a little bit of credit where its due for Khabib

McGregor landed more shots on Mayweather than most of Mayweathers elite boxing opponents, including a cute uppercut. What does that say about MMA fighters boxing skills? Sure Mayeeather was retired 2 years, did not train properly, was only playing around etc etc etc, yawn yawn yawn. IMO he struggled a bit with McGregor, which i found a little bit embarassing for boxing to be honest.

Mayweather toyed with McGregor, he fought completely differently to normal, walking him down behind his guard.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I have tried to like MMA but the striking is so horrible it makes me cringe. I love the technique and skill of boxing.

Yeah, I'm no snob when it comes to UFC and I'd like to enjoy it, but the lack of punching skill leaves me cold. I'm probably not much heavier than Khabib and I'd honestly be happy to face him in a 4-rounder with only amateur experience, but in a wrestling match he'd bend me like a noodle.

A lot of boxing skills don't translate TBF — move a certain way and your face might find a foot, but lateral head movement with quality feinting's super rare from what I've seen. McGregor's a noted striker in it. I understand that not being able to stay at boxing range makes it much easier to fall in with punches and generally get untidy, but even making allowances I'm unimpressed by the majority of UFC punching. Movement seems so heavily focused on watching out for kicks that the spatial awareness for punching goes out the window.

And the kicking's of a pretty high standard in fairness, and I do enjoy watching Ferguson, just because he's like someone from a '90s martial arts film. But ultimately, I'd fancy a high-level boxer in his prime with basic grappling skills to do much better in UFC than McGregor did in boxing, and that's why I prefer the latter.

Khabib is a professional fighter, he would ruin anybody on here in any form of combat using striking. Your amateur experience wouldn't count for Jack unless you are currently competing.

[ALI]

To be fair to Khabib, and i'm no fan of his boxing skills either, Mayweather lost some rounds to McGregor, and struggled to land big shots on him until McGregor tired down the stretch, which he is known to do in MMA, so no surprises he completely gassed in a 12 round boxing match. Khabib, when on his feet against McGregor, landed a peach of a right hand leading punch to floor McGregor. Mayweather only wishes he could have landed that shot, ss do all of McGregors other oponents, so maybe a little bit of credit where its due for Khabib

McGregor landed more shots on Mayweather than most of Mayweathers elite boxing opponents, including a cute uppercut. What does that say about MMA fighters boxing skills? Sure Mayeeather was retired 2 years, did not train properly, was only playing around etc etc etc, yawn yawn yawn. IMO he struggled a bit with McGregor, which i found a little bit embarassing for boxing to be honest.

Mayweather toyed with McGregor, he fought completely differently to normal, walking him down behind his guard.

Sure he did, once McGregor started to tire, which we all knew he would if it went past 6.

It would be a bit farcical to get into a debate over a fight that was a bit of a gimmick, but i will say you are over rating Mayweathers performance and underrating McGregors. The lad from MMA did good. Sure Mayweather approached this without the same conviction as he would normally, but still, i wont take nothing away from McGregor, his footwork, feints, jab and attacks kept Floyd guessing and lets be honest, took the TBE 10 rounds to get the stoppage. You believe its because Floyd toyed with him, i on the contrary think Mayweather would have wanted to outbox him, he would have preffered a much earlier stoppage, even a quick KO early, but he was not capable of getting it that night, stack up the reasons for that as you wish. I personally found his performance a bit embarassing for boxing.

[ALI]

.

[smiling assassin]

Mayweather toyed with McGregor, he fought completely differently to normal, walking him down behind his guard.

Sure he did, once McGregor started to tire, which we all knew he would if it went past 6.

It would be a bit farcical to get into a debate over a fight that was a bit of a gimmick, but i will say you are over rating Mayweathers performance and underrating McGregors. The lad from MMA did good. Sure Mayweather approached this without the same conviction as he would normally, but still, i wont take nothing away from McGregor, his footwork, feints, jab and attacks kept Floyd guessing and lets be honest, took the TBE 10 rounds to get the stoppage. You believe its because Floyd toyed with him, i on the contrary think Mayweather would have wanted to outbox him, he would have preffered a much earlier stoppage, even a quick KO early, but he was not capable of getting it that night, stack up the reasons for that as you wish. I personally found his performance a bit embarassing for boxing.

I don't think he did mate. He looked fvcking Jank. As was said before Mayweather toyed with him

[jamesmcdonnell]

Mayweather toyed with McGregor, he fought completely differently to normal, walking him down behind his guard.

Sure he did, once McGregor started to tire, which we all knew he would if it went past 6.

It would be a bit farcical to get into a debate over a fight that was a bit of a gimmick, but i will say you are over rating Mayweathers performance and underrating McGregors. The lad from MMA did good. Sure Mayweather approached this without the same conviction as he would normally, but still, i wont take nothing away from McGregor, his footwork, feints, jab and attacks kept Floyd guessing and lets be honest, took the TBE 10 rounds to get the stoppage. You believe its because Floyd toyed with him, i on the contrary think Mayweather would have wanted to outbox him, he would have preffered a much earlier stoppage, even a quick KO early, but he was not capable of getting it that night, stack up the reasons for that as you wish. I personally found his performance a bit embarassing for boxing.

All mayweather cares about is money.

[Onetimeonly]

To be fair to Khabib, and i'm no fan of his boxing skills either, Mayweather lost some rounds to McGregor, and struggled to land big shots on him until McGregor tired down the stretch, which he is known to do in MMA, so no surprises he completely gassed in a 12 round boxing match. Khabib, when on his feet against McGregor, landed a peach of a right hand leading punch to floor McGregor. Mayweather only wishes he could have landed that shot, ss do all of McGregors other oponents, so maybe a little bit of credit where its due for Khabib

McGregor landed more shots on Mayweather than most of Mayweathers elite boxing opponents, including a cute uppercut. What does that say about MMA fighters boxing skills? Sure Mayeeather was retired 2 years, did not train properly, was only playing around etc etc etc, yawn yawn yawn. IMO he struggled a bit with McGregor, which i found a little bit embarassing for boxing to be honest.

Mayweather toyed with McGregor, he fought completely differently to normal, walking him down behind his guard.

I believe he could have finished him much sooner but no way Floyd allowed him to land clean as many times as he did.

Edit: walking guys down behind his guard is something Floyd did in many fights.

[ALI]

Mayweather toyed with McGregor, he fought completely differently to normal, walking him down behind his guard.

I believe he could have finished him much sooner but no way Floyd allowed him to land clean as many times as he did.

Agreed.

Saying Mayweather toyed with him is make belief, and not the reality of what went down that night. Mayweather 'should'
have toyed with him, instead he took a lacklustre, subdued approach and ended up loosing rounds, getting hit clean more times than in any other fight i can remember him in. He was never in any real danger, but if McGregor had a good gas tank and could maintain a proper pace for 12 rounds, it could have went the distance and been close on the cards, some might even feel McGregor could have nicked it that night if he could have maintained his early pace and gone the distance

Now, if they have a rematch, which is certainly a possibility, how do you think that plays out?

[Impractical Poster]

Sure he did, once McGregor started to tire, which we all knew he would if it went past 6.

It would be a bit farcical to get into a debate over a fight that was a bit of a gimmick, but i will say you are over rating Mayweathers performance and underrating McGregors. The lad from MMA did good. Sure Mayweather approached this without the same conviction as he would normally, but still, i wont take nothing away from McGregor, his footwork, feints, jab and attacks kept Floyd guessing and lets be honest, took the TBE 10 rounds to get the stoppage. You believe its because Floyd toyed with him, i on the contrary think Mayweather would have wanted to outbox him, he would have preffered a much earlier stoppage, even a quick KO early, but he was not capable of getting it that night, stack up the reasons for that as you wish. I personally found his performance a bit embarassing for boxing.

I don't think he did mate. He looked fvcking Jank. As was said before Mayweather toyed with him

This is a convenient argument I often hear MMA haters give regarding Mayweather's performance which there is no way to prove. Not that much later Floyd fought a kickboxer/mixed martial artist in Japan and wasted no time in dispatching him within one round. Why would he toy with a bigger more dangerous McGregor and not a smaller practitioner? I legitimately feel Floyd had trouble with Conor early, Conor is big, strong, and unconventional. Whenever I hear someone say he was toying with Conor, I understand they have an agenda.

[TheGman]

Randy couture wasnt a good stand up guy and he was double weight world champion,wrestling back ground,you may remember him for putting James Toney's "lights out" lol

That's 15 years ago

Ye i know,Randy was still successful tho and stsnd up wasnt his game.

[Wee Tommy]

I don't think he did mate. He looked fvcking Jank. As was said before Mayweather toyed with him

This is a convenient argument I often hear MMA haters give regarding Mayweather's performance which there is no way to prove. Not that much later Floyd fought a kickboxer/mixed martial artist in Japan and wasted no time in dispatching him within one round. Why would he toy with a bigger more dangerous McGregor and not a smaller practitioner? I legitimately feel Floyd had trouble with Conor early, Conor is big, strong, and unconventional. Whenever I hear someone say he was toying with Conor, I understand they have an agenda.

Agenda

[Onetimeonly]

I believe he could have finished him much sooner but no way Floyd allowed him to land clean as many times as he did.

Agreed.

Saying Mayweather toyed with him is make belief, and not the reality of what went down that night. Mayweather 'should'
have toyed with him, instead he took a lacklustre, subdued approach and ended up loosing rounds, getting hit clean more times than in any other fight i can remember him in. He was never in any real danger, but if McGregor had a good gas tank and could maintain a proper pace for 12 rounds, it could have went the distance and been close on the cards, some might even feel McGregor could have nicked it that night if he could have maintained his early pace and gone the distance

Now, if they have a rematch, which is certainly a possibility, how do you think that plays out?

I imagine Floyd would win a rematch more handily. Conor surprised him.

[liamlion]

To answer the original question, I’d say yes, MMA and specifically the UFC is surpassing boxing.

I love the boxing and have since the very early 90s. I can’t get enough of two undefeated prospects destined for good things fighting each other in a big British title fight on their way through. But top level MMA fighters are like wrecking machines and the the UFC boys are literally amongst the elite total fighting machines on the planet,

The UFC market themselves incredibly well and importantly, look to put the best against the best at the majority of their events. It so often delivers spectacular and clinical fights. Life would be poorer without big UFC events.

[ALI]

Agreed.

Saying Mayweather toyed with him is make belief, and not the reality of what went down that night. Mayweather 'should'
have toyed with him, instead he took a lacklustre, subdued approach and ended up loosing rounds, getting hit clean more times than in any other fight i can remember him in. He was never in any real danger, but if McGregor had a good gas tank and could maintain a proper pace for 12 rounds, it could have went the distance and been close on the cards, some might even feel McGregor could have nicked it that night if he could have maintained his early pace and gone the distance

Now, if they have a rematch, which is certainly a possibility, how do you think that plays out?

I imagine Floyd would win a rematch more handily. Conor surprised him.

Nobody gave McGregor a prayer before their fight, and his good performance is written of by many as Mayweather just playing with him. Once again, its easy to think Mayweather will win easily in a rematch, simply by preparing better for it. I dare not write this, but i'm not so sure. I would expect him to win for sure, but McGregor could do well again, every chance of it IMO.

Mayweather likely wants the bread it brings, so every chanceit can happen.

[Onetimeonly]

I imagine Floyd would win a rematch more handily. Conor surprised him.

Nobody gave McGregor a prayer before their fight, and his good performance is written of by many as Mayweather just playing with him. Once again, its easy to think Mayweather will win easily in a rematch, simply by preparing better for it. I dare not write this, but i'm not so sure. I would expect him to win for sure, but McGregor could do well again, every chance of it IMO.

Mayweather likely wants the bread it brings, so every chanceit can happen.

I hope not. Too many big fights in the UFC for McGregor I'd also be more interested in the 2 fights with Crawford.

[Grilling Machine]

Khabib is a professional fighter, he would ruin anybody on here in any form of combat using striking. Your amateur experience wouldn't count for Jack unless you are currently competing.

I'm not saying I could beat him, just that I wouldn't be fearful enough to dismiss a 4-rounder for decent journeyman coin (so long as I didn't bugger myself training for it). Whereas I wouldn't go near oldman Mosley, who landed a shot on Mayweather that McGregor could only dream of. I'd fight Pacquiao in a wrestling match but wouldn't go near him in boxing, and so on.

I just don't appreciate a lot of the punching in UFC (Derrick Lewis as a heavy, anyone?), and while I realise that the efficacy of punching's compromised by the nature of the MMA beast, for that reason it's not my thing. Personally I'd rather watch Khabib in pure wrestling matches, but obviously that's not as lucrative.

Nobody gave McGregor a prayer before their fight, and his good performance is written of by many as Mayweather just playing with him.

Every non-boxing person I know backed McGregor to bully the older, smaller man, coming off a little worse on skills but triumphing through toughness and higher output. A modern Collins. I think his training partner Malignaggi would've been a fair fight for him.

I do agree that Mayweather was wary enough to let him tire rather than force anything and start making mistakes or tiring himself. But that's Floyd, and his aggression towards Ortiz is the only exception I can recall in the past decade.

[TheLeprechaun]

this is comical stuff here. Boxrec is better than this. Mayweather CARRIED McGregor.

[JxhDel.]

I have always loved watching MMA, despite boxing coming before and having more importance for me. It is still a young sport and lacks much of the historic and anthropological importance needed to really make the surpass, being also still a work in progress as long as it talks about being organic in terms of technique and organization. UFC maybe is a greater phenomena than boxing in US, but the latter has far more recognition all over the world. MMA is still non-existant as a system in many nations.

[JamieM]

I prefer the ufc over boxing most the time. Boxing prides its matchmaking on "timing", that statement in itself is embaressing. UFC usually the best fight the best in evenly matched contests. I remember one card where 3 titles changed hands on one night. For example tonight's mtk card people think that's a good card? It's an over the hill haskins moving up in weight, an inactive joe Fitzpatrick who hasnt been living the life, an inactive john thain and an argentinian who doesnt travel that well and been stopped early a few.times. did anyone in the home corner lose? Bit scunnered by boxing most of the time. But hey.