Boxing vs MMA UFC
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In recent times some of boxing’s biggest luminaries, such as world welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather and Kermit Cintron, have tried to discredit MMA and stated, with arrogance, that they can beat any mixed martial artist in their respected weight class. To these claims, McCullough scoffed “If they’re so confident then they should try it.”He added “Floyd (Mayweather) isn’t a puncher so what would he do if he hit the guy and didn’t move him? Floyd can’t run around the ring trying to box the guy because he’s not going to be able to keep him off for long. It’s a different ball game completely and he’ll take Floyd down, twist his arm, twist his leg and that would be it, fight over.”
McCullough, 37, became a spokesman for Dana White’s UFC outfit last year and feels that the constant battle between the two fighting codes is unnecessary. He feels that, like him, you can love both and that the comparisons between the two are foolish.
“To me they are two different sports. It’s like comparing Rugby with American Football, they have similarities but you can support both.”
The UFC has been perceived by some as a long term threat to boxing and, while Wayne does not see things this way, he believes he knows why, until last years resurgence, boxing was flagging.
“There are too many promoters in boxing, too many titles and it was becoming a circus act. It’s all politics and the enjoyment was being taken away. The top guys fought each other last year because they had to.
“The promotion in the UFC is unbelievable. They treat the fighters incredibly, whether they’re champions or up and comers. When I go to UFC fights in Vegas or anywhere, they always have the fighters sitting ringside. When you go to a boxing event you might see one or two of the top guys but the ordinary boxers living in the city will stay at home and watch the fights.”
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has its roots in the ancient Greek sport of pankration, which combined elements of boxing and wrestling to form perhaps the most popular Olympic sport of its time. As sensibilities changed and people tired of the violence, it gave way to wrestling, and remained dormant until the 20th century.
The modern version of the sport stems from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, largely developed by the Gracie family in Rio de Janeiro in the 1920s.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) focuses largely on ground fighting, emphasizing striking, grappling and leverage.
The family spawned the sport’s first modern star: Royce Gracie won three of the first four UFC tournaments in the early 1990s, defeating much larger opponents in the days before weight classes were established.
Modern MMA, originally devised as a way to settle the perpetual argument between boxers, wrestlers and martial artists over which discipline was superior, instead became a mix of the best of every combat sport.
Now, champions of wrestling, boxing, karate, kick-boxing and other sports litter most major MMA cards. WBC welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly is considering an offer to fight for Mark Cuban’s fledgling organization.
There was a push to ban the sport in the mid-1990s, led by Sen. John McCain, who famously described it as “human cockfighting.” It ultimately backfired, as it forced the UFC to adopt basic rules, revitalizing and legitimizing the sport for a mainstream audience.
UFC, the most recognizable form of MMA, was started in 1993 with a goal of determining which fighting style was the best. The format pitted the top fighters in different styles against each other.
Over the 14 years of its existence, the sport has evolved to fighters being capable in a number of fighting styles and using a combination of them during their fights. Popular styles include boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling and Muay Thai, a Thai version of kickboxing. Fighters must be able to fight standing up, have ground control for grappling and be able to defend from takedowns.
Like boxers, MMA fighers are categorized into weight classes: lightweight (145-155 pounds), welterweight (155-170 pounds), middleweight (170-185 pounds), light heavyweight (185-205 pounds) and heavyweight (205-265 pounds).
The way to determine winners may also be similar to boxing, such as knockouts, technical knockouts and scorecard decisions made by judges. Unlike boxing, MMA fighters can also be defeated by “submission.” Fighters can admit defeat by tapping three times on the mat or their opponent, or announce that they are done.
Fighters can also be disqualified for committing fouls or illegally hurting their opponent.
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Mayweather, who has won six world boxing championships in five different weight classes, jumped a security barricade during Sunday’s “No Way Out” pay-per-view event to confront The Big Show, who was making his return to WWE following a 14-month absence. Mayweather punched The Big Show four times, leaving him with a bloody nose and mouth.Mayweather owns a career boxing record of 39-0 with 25 knockouts. He’s tentatively scheduled to face Oscar De La Hoya this September in a rematch of their May 2007 bout, which Mayweather won by a split decision.
WWE is so fake and the same every night I just cant watch. I think it is a shame the great and professional champs go into this cheap entertainment.. Why? Do they need the money or just expand their fan base?
