Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Boxing vs. MMA

By Denise I Smithson

Mixed martial arts has grown in popularity exponentially after the last several years. This is due in part to a variety of factors, including a reality television show from the UFC that brought the sport to the masses for the first time. The UFC continues to produce high quality fights since all of the fighters are under their control, which helps to add to their popularity. Some people feel that MMA is replacing or has already replaced boxing in our culture but in truth they are different sports and you don't have to like or follow just one.

Boxing has suffered from a decline in popularity, but this development predates public awareness of MMA by many years. Boxing has a core fan base made up of enthusiasts whose dedication to the sport is at no risk of waning. Many have predicted the death of boxing over the years, but it doesn't look like the "sweet science" is going the way of the dinosaur anytime soon. Nonetheless, there are boxing fans who resent the popularity that MMA has won, feeling the sport to be a sensational, cheap ripoff of boxing.

There are also boxing fans who have found themselves drawn to MMA while still being every bit as loyal to boxing. There is plenty here for boxing fans (and anyone else) to enjoy in MMA. Mixed martial arts does include some elements drawn from boxing, but also incorporates techniques from MuayThai, kickboxing, judo and wrestling, among other fighting styles. This amalgam of different techniques and styles makes MMA something very different than boxing.

Boxing fans and MMA fans in fact can find a lot to enjoy in both sports. MMA events don't feature much in the way of advanced boxing techniques and since these fighters don't specialize in the discipline, the work of athletes in professional boxing is worlds apart from what you'll see in a MMA match.

However, with smaller gloves that serve merely as knuckle guards, there are many more knockouts and fights can seem more exciting in that fashion. It depends on what you are looking for, a finer display of skill and technique or a potentially more explosive display. People can like both and turn to each for separate reasons.

There is no reason why you can't be a fan of both boxing and MMA. You can appreciate the finer elements of each sport while watching each one for different reasons. While the sports contain similar themes and elements, they are completely different from another. Nobody laments the fact that now that they watch soccer they can't watch hockey anymore. Both have similarities, but they are viewed rightly as different sports and so the conversation never takes place.

For both boxing and MMA to truly be appreciated, people have to come to the realization that they are separate from one another and that both can be enjoyed for any number of reasons. Of course you don't have to like both, any fan is free to appreciate whatever sport appeals to them. The point is that there is no reason that you cannot like each sport for what it is.

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