Mixed Martial Arts: Why MMA Is Better Than Boxing

It’s became the question of great debate, is mixed martial arts better than boxing?

It’s a difficult question to answer, if you’re a boxing fan.

The question is only difficult for those in denial.

MMA has dethroned the reign boxing has carried as the top combat sport.

I’m sure that there are people who will disagree with me, and that the beauty of an opinion article. I get my opinion out and wait for someone to try to influence me the other way, just let it be known this one I will be hard to sway on.

Boxing has been the champ for so long as the only true combat sport that is in the mainstream.

With the emergence of the UFC, boxing lost a huge advantage.

The overall advantage for popularity at this point has to go to MMA because of the exposure it is getting from nearly every TV outlet.

Ask yourself this, when was the last time that you watched a live boxing event on cable television?

UFC does these events every couple of months. Not to mention The Ultimate Fighter finales and the overall success of the reality-based TV show.

Boxing has repeatedly been called the sweet science, which fits the sport perfectly. The majority of boxing fights have numerous rounds where fighters feel each other out like a science experiment.

Hey if you got 12 rounds to do it with, go for it

Every boxing fight I have ever watched has about 75 percent holding.

Referees break them up and then about four punches later, it’s time to hug again.      

With MMA, fighters are constantly going for position. It’s simply the nature of the sport.

You can’t lay idle on the mat or you are going to tap out, or the refs are going to stand you up.

In boxing, if a boxer wins it is going to come from one of two ways.

Boxers can win with a knockout or a judge’s decision.

Granted there is still some anticipation when waiting for a knockout punch, but it still lacks the surprise factor that is found in many MMA fights.

In a MMA fight, a win can come from anywhere—literally.

A fight can be won through a knockout punch while fighters are standing or while on the ground.

MMA fighters can win fights from submissions.

Submissions are a huge part of why MMA fights are more exciting than boxing.

Even when fighters are on the ground in what would normally be a boring position is exciting because of the possibility of submissions.

Now for my most dominant point that sets MMA apart from boxing.

MMA is by far the safer of the two sports.

In boxing, boxers are given a standing eight count after a knockdown. This is very unhealthy to the actual boxers

What causes a fighter to be knocked down by a punch is still a mystery but many doctors agree it is from major trauma to the brain stem.

Other doctors say a knockout punch is caused when your brain is bruised and slams into your skull.

When your brain slams into your skull at a rapid pace, there is a huge opportunity for a concussion. While majority of concussions are not serious, they still pose a serious risk.

Boxing basically allows you to compete after suffering knockdown.

The huge risk is posed if you actually do have a concussion and get knocked down again causing multiple areas of swelling on the brain.

In MMA, once a fighter is knocked down the ref stops the fight immediately preventing further harm to the fighter.

It can lead to early stoppages, but in the long run as a fighter I feel safer in a MMA fight than a boxing match.