04/19/24
July 09, 2009
MMA the new boxing?: As UFC 100 approaches, the audience for MMA is as large and diverse as it has ever been. Is this something boxing won't be able to overcome? The superstars in UFC are bigger than ever (No pun intented, Lesnar) and coming from all parts of the world. Boxing will never be dead, but do they need to do something to get back into the main stream audience?
posted by sgtcookzane to boxing at 06:10 PM - 9 comments
Honestly, isn't this a bit premature? Boxing still pulls better numbers internationally. Not to mention that boxers still pull paydays that would make Lesnar plotz!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:38 PM on July 09, 2009
It's amazing how little respect MMA gets from so many boxing personalities. It seems as if every time I watch boxing on HBO, one of the commentators makes some ignorant comment about a sport they clearly don't understand. Larry Merchant seems to think it's barbaric and lacks technique. That blowhard Jim Lampley implies that it only appeals to middle-class white guys. Floyd Mayweather Jr. says "UFC's champions can't handle boxing. That's why they are in UFC", and the UFC "ain't shit".
I've never heard the same kind of trash talk from the mixed martial artists, other than in Dana White's response to Mayweather. Most MMA personalities seem to understand that their fighters' boxing skills are not as refined as those of full-time boxers. Most of them have a lot of respect for boxers.
Boxing and MMA can, and probably will, coexist. I think, though, that more members of the boxing community should recognize MMA as a legitimate sport, and in doing so may learn a little from the UFC's success. The article's not about MMA replacing boxing; it's merely about it's growth and the general bigness of events like UCF 100. The UFC has a smaller payroll because they put together fight cards that sell the show; fans don't pay just to see the main event. Maybe if boxing promoters put together more similar events with multiple exciting bouts, they would be less dependent on the few big superstars to sell pay-per-views, and wouldn't have to pay their fighters $20 million.
posted by Adam at 10:40 PM on July 09, 2009
As a sport, no.
Boxing is a very particular sport - some say a science.
Mixed Martial Arts is a mutt, by definition.
Whether it (MMA) is the new boxing by popularity or money is different, I suppose. But definitely not as sport.
It's WWF without the fake.
posted by bobfoot at 12:58 AM on July 10, 2009
Mixed Martial Arts,Mutt?Well this ones on HGH.Where else can you watch a HUGE Lesner tap out to Royce Gracie(170lb Martial ARTIST).Lyoto Machida is what 14-0,easily my Fav.Anybody see Lyoto Knock out Rashard Evans?Priceless,(Larry Merchant's a horsesass).Mayweather would'nt last the 1st round in the Octagon.I have a nephew in Golden Gloves,who i gave a lil grief over this article(all in fun).Was'nt there something about Boxing a couple yrs.back about fixed bouts,thought i heard it on Jim Rome Show,help me out fellas.
posted by kckurtbusch at 05:36 AM on July 10, 2009
Where else can you watch a HUGE Lesner tap out to Royce Gracie(170lb Martial ARTIST).
I don't know what fight you're referring to but Brock Lesnar has never...and let me emphasize this, NEVER has fought or tapped out to Royce Gracie. The fight you're speaking of is the first Lesnar vs Frank Mir fight where Lesnar was basically beating the pulp out out Mir and did a rookie mistake by leaving himself open for a submission, and Mir capitalized on it but putting Lesnar in a knee bar.
If this second fight between the two is anything like the first one, Lesnar will again beat the pulp out Mir and should have learned from his mistake from the first fight and will not leave himself open. Mir has lit a fire under Lesnar for not only being the first loss of his MMA career but for also kncoking Lesnar for being a former WWE wrestler. We all know that wrestling is scripted, entertaining & very physical but scripted, and Mir has made Lesnar out to be a joke but I really do not see that. I see a massive guy that's 6'3 and close to 300lbs but moves like a cat...a very big cat that is with fists like cinderblocks.
I predict either an early KO by Lesnar or the ref calls the fight to save Mir's ass.
posted by BornIcon at 08:28 AM on July 10, 2009
I guess you can't argue with the gates and PPV revenues, but I wonder how much boxing will decline with the death/retirement of the older generation of sportswriters who have rhapsodized the sport for years as the "sweet science," etc. That, plus the absence of any Ali (or even Tyson) type of boxer who transcends the sport and becomes a cultural icon suggest to me that boxing will continue to wane.
posted by holden at 12:07 PM on July 10, 2009
It's WWF without the fake.
And boxing without the corruption. Does anyone seriously believe there's any meaningful difference between, say, Don King and Vince McMahon? Other than McMahon being more honest about scripting the wins?
posted by rodgerd at 04:17 PM on July 10, 2009
How many weight classes and different title belts does boxing have. I think that really has boxing watered down. Super fly feather weight? I tend to agree with those that describe boxing as a science, for those that aren't that familiar with MMA like to call it WWE. If you look into it a little more, I'm sure you would be suprised at the technical aspect of MMA. In MMA there are so many areas that you have to be great in to be a great fighter. If you concentrate too much on your stand up your gonna get beat as soon as your back hits the mat(Cheick Kongo). If you only rely on ground game, you will be predictable and your take downs are gonna get stuffed. This article is just explaining how far MMA has come, its still a young sport. Zuffa is doing a good job on getting it recognized globally.
posted by sgtcookzane at 04:46 PM on July 10, 2009
I was just thinking that the boxing vs. MMA argument is getting really old. Lucky for me then that this article has nothing to do with boxing at all.