Boxing's Padded Records vs MMA's Sink Or Swim Method

[SAPFO]

Why is it you can be a 10 fight novice in boxing, yet, at 10 fights in MMA it is possible to be an elite level world champ? Why do boxers have to learn in the pro ranks, while MMA fighters pick up their skills in the gym?

:?? :?? :??

[Jeff Thomas]

Boxing will change soon I hope! In mma recent form not huge unbeaten records are important! Unbeaten records are bullshit I could get every unbeaten fighter in the world beaten right now!

[Old bones Ian]

Or is it because there isn't the amount of MMA fighters to have different learning levels?

[damianhucker1]

Or is it because there isn't the amount of MMA fighters to have different learning levels?

Thats my view too , if they could get their records built up first they would im sure .

I know pro a mma fighter that is 10-0 , its starting to happen in lower levels .

[Benelio]

There's very few novice fighters moving from the amateurs to the pros that could manage a full 12 round championship length fight. Only current option for the fighters is to build up to 12 rounders slowly. If the max number of rounds was brought down to 8 then I imagine you'd see people picking up belts much sooner in their careers.

Also, I reckon a boxer can pick up a lot more damage than an MMA fighter by jumping in at the deep end. I would assume that getting KOed by a couple of hard punches from a 4oz MMA glove isn't going to produce as much long term damage as several rounds of punches from a 10z Boxing glove. And if an MMA fighter loses by submission then he might not have taken any real damage at all.

As dull as it might be to watch, if prospects don't have those 'learning fights' then a lot of potentially top-level world class fighters might have their careers ended abruptly.

[kamicazze]

A MMA fighter is doing 3-5 minute rounds from the off. An additional 2 is whats required for championship fights. Boxing meanwhile have to adapt the fighter from amateur rounds up to 12 rounds. I believe there is far too much emphasis on an unbeaten record though. Not to say MMA hasn't got its fair share of padded records. Dan Hardy, Paul Daley, Terry Etim and Michael Bisping have a fair share of soft touches on their records, especially pre UFC.
I think the major difference being in MMA, you can be good at all things and go far. In boxing you are mastering one art. So to speak, it means you have to be exceptional to be at the top, whereas in MMA sometimes you can just be well rounded

[Night-Nurse]

There's very few novice fighters moving from the amateurs to the pros that could manage a full 12 round championship length fight. Only current option for the fighters is to build up to 12 rounders slowly. If the max number of rounds was brought down to 8 then I imagine you'd see people picking up belts much sooner in their careers.

Also, I reckon a boxer can pick up a lot more damage than an MMA fighter by jumping in at the deep end. I would assume that getting KOed by a couple of hard punches from a 4oz MMA glove isn't going to produce as much long term damage as several rounds of punches from a 10z Boxing glove. And if an MMA fighter loses by submission then he might not have taken any real damage at all.

As dull as it might be to watch, if prospects don't have those 'learning fights' then a lot of potentially top-level world class fighters might have their careers ended abruptly.

The misconception with the glove situation needs clearing up. A professional 8oz boxing glove is just as potent as the 4oz MMA glove, the differnce is only in the non striking area of the glove, if you took an 8oz glove, took the thumb off, took the wrist and forearm area off and then took the front finger area of the glove off and weighed it, it would be more or less 4oz. The reason that boxers last longer when punched is because they are smarter in defence and are much tougher in the chin area. On all the MMA You tube stuff them fighters are falling over from nothing, or quitting while lying on the floor. The skill level of boxers at championship level is miles higher to attain than getting to the level of championship MMA, which is basically unskilled boxers, unskilled thai boxers and unskilled wrestlers in a mishmash of organised street fighting. Most of them that have been down my dads gym sometimes being unbeaten 5/6/7 bouters with 14oz gloves are nowhere near as tough as 16 year old amateur kids and have many times ended up on their arse. They do say that this is boxing and that is the problem, but my dad tells them its not boxing, my little kids are just beating you up! If they boxed, you'd never hit them, but young guys fight and any 15 year old tough amateur kid will out tough any 25 year old supposedly tough MMA fighter.

[SAPFO]

I know of an MMA fighter than tried out for TUF 13 or 14 and impressed big time, (4 subs in 2 mins) but never made it though to the next round. His record I believe was 9-7 then. Dana White told him to go pad his record and come back. 3 wins (pads) later, he signs a 3 fight deal with the UFC. He recently lost his first UFC fight, but is on the Japan card. Good lad, good fighter. Not his fault, he had to do what he had to do.