5 Reasons MMA Is Better Than Boxing

Both boxing and MMA are highly effective martial arts and very popular combat sports.

The point of this article is to compare these two most popular combat sports and bring you closer to the core competencies of each one. We will try to determine which of the two does things better when it comes to different aspects such as rules, promotion, injuries, etc.

In the end, which sport is more exciting and better is primarily based on personal preference as both sports have their own unique qualities and appeal.

In this article, you will learn more about the unique advantages that MMA has over boxing, and why, if you are a boxing fan, should also engage and start following cage fighting.

MMA is More Versatile

MMA is a sport where athletes can use techniques from all martial arts as long as these are in line with the limited rule set. They can strike on the feet using all limbs, grapple and strike in the clinch, and fight on the ground using submissions and ground-and-pound striking. The versatility makes MMA fighters more well-rounded, adaptable to different combat situations, and in the eyes of the viewer, superior to athletes from other combat sports in terms of real-life street fighting.

It is also more exciting to watch as there are so many variables, strategies, different styles, and ways one can win/lose a match. In terms of entertainment, fans witness far more highlight-real finishes, big underdogs winning big fights, fighters with unique styles, unorthodox techniques, and exciting matchups. One fight might be packed with striking action, the next one would be a high-level grappling match, while the third might be a mix of all aspects.

On the other side, boxing is quite one-dimensional as it includes only footwork and punching, and in the eyes of the laymen, the majority of the matches look similar.

Reduced risk of repetitive head trauma

Statistically, MMA includes the highest rate of injuries meaning that there is a greater chance you will suffer any type of injury in MMA than in other sports, including boxing. However, severe injuries such as concussions or repeated head trauma are actually less likely to happen than in boxing due to versatility.

MMA fighters spend a lot of time fighting in the clinch and grappling on the ground so the overall number of strikes thrown is much lower than in boxing. Next, there is also a lot of striking on the ground known as “ground and pound” and these shots are not as powerful as the ones thrown on the feet. So we must take this into consideration when talking about the numbers, as well as the fact that MMA matches are shorter in duration.

High-profile boxing matches include 12 rounds of action during which fighters throw around 800 punches and land with an accuracy of 30–40%. The majority of these 300 punches land directly to the head which is the main reason why boxing has such a high risk of brain injuries. On top of that, broken noses, jaws, and other facial injuries are quite common as well.

MMA Has Fewer Organizations

The sport of boxing has dozens of different organizations out of which the following four are considered the major ones: WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF. Each of these organizations includes 18 world champions, so in total, we have 72 world champions in boxing. And we don’t have to spend too much time talking about politics and corruption. All of this creates a lot of confusion among the fans, including among the most dedicated ones.

The world of MMA is not that complicated because there is only one absolute leader in the industry and that is the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The UFC has a monopoly on the market which on one side is certainly not good for the fighters and their position. But on the other, it makes it much easier for the fans to follow the sport and keep up with recent trends and news. UFC also has 12 weight classes in total or 12 world champions which is much less than in boxing.

An MMA fighter who wins the UFC title is considered the undisputed world champion. In boxing, there are 4 different world champions per weight class and to become undisputed, a champion needs to beat other 3 champions from other organizations. That’s just too complicated.

Spectacle and entertainment value

MMA combines various martial arts styles such as Muay Thai, Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Karate, and Taekwondo. This makes fans from different combat sports and martial arts interested in MMA and seeing how these combat systems work in freestyle fighting. 

The matchup between Conor Mcgregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov is an ideal example of why MMA is so exciting to watch. On one side there was this incredible striker, while on the other we had an incredible grappler and the entire event was hyped up around which fighter was going to impose their will inside the cage.

The diverse range of techniques and skills define various fighting styles which create more unpredictable matchups and exciting fights. This is notably true for fights where fans get to see fighters constantly switch between striking and grappling and you just can’t predict what’s going to happen until the last minute of the match.

MMA is More In Line With Real-Life Fighting

Back in the early 90s, the sport of MMA emerged as a platform where athletes from different martial arts could compete in style vs. style type of matchups. The early UFC events, for instance, were promoted as legal street fighting venues where people fought under literally no rules. Over the years, many rules have been introduced and changed but the core concept of freestyle fighting has remained the same.

Yes, MMA is a combat sport but it is still very much in line with the type of fighting that happens in real life. There are certain limitations as you can’t use weapons, or dirty techniques such as gouging eyes, hitting the groins, or pulling hair. But, it is more in line with a real-world scenario than boxing and just about every other combat system or martial art. It includes striking on the feet with all limbs and at all ranges, including the clinch, just as in real life. It also includes takedowns, throws, ground fighting with strikes, and submissions with very few limitations.

This is the main reason why world champions in MMA are considered the “ultimate” fighters because, as far as street fighting is concerned, they are superior to athletes from other combat sports.

Better Matchups

MMA fans always get the matchups they want to see. There is not much room for the fighters to avoid each other, especially when it comes to championship fights. The only thing that can stop fans from seeing a favorite matchup could be an injury or if they miss weight. Other than that, the UFC always puts on a fight we want to see. This is mainly because they have a monopoly and the UFC roster includes only the finest MMA fighters in the world, or a vast majority of the best. 

Boxing is much different primarily because you have so many promotions with each one wanting the most for their fighter. Due to all the politics, greed, and corruption, it may take years before you can see the two most dominant boxing fighting against each other if that ever happens. A good example is Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The two have been ruling the boxing heavyweight division for so many years, often calling each other out in the media, but they never fought, and probably never will. The same stands for the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao matchup that took many years of negotiations before the two finally fought.

These things do not happen in MMA. If fans want to see a specific matchup, the UFC will eventually put it together.