Mixed martial arts has made a big splash with sports fans in recent years. A reality TV show about the UFC (the official organization of MMA fighting) brought a lot of publicity to the sport; leading many take an interest in the sport. There has been some concern on the part of boxing fans that the ever growing popularity of MMA has detracted from the attention paid to boxing. However, the two sports are very different from each other and there is no reason why the popularity of one should be in inverse proportion to that of the other. MMA isn't boxing and doesn't pretend to be. There's no reason at all that the two sports (and their fans) can't coexist.
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.
MMA fans likewise often enjoy boxing. The boxing seen in MMA matches leave a lot to be desired when compared to the expert footwork, advanced techniques and finesse which is on display in a boxing match. Since MMA fighters don't tend to specialize in any one style (and even if so, this style is rarely boxing), the fighting styles of the two sports are worlds apart.
There are more TKOs in MMA matches than in boxing proper, however. This is due to the very small, light gloves used in MMA. Little more than knuckle guards, they don't cushion the impact of a blow the way that traditional boxing gloves do. This is in line with MMA in general - it's less focused on skill than on force and raw physicality than is boxing, which is unarguably a more refined sport. Both MMA and boxing have their own appeal to fans due to the differences in approach between the two.
You can certainly be a fan of boxing and MMA; there are different reasons why people enjoy each of these sports. There's no need to feel as if you're betraying boxing by enjoying a MMA match or vice versa. After all, you never hear people talking about how they can't take in a basketball game since they're also hockey fans. The two sports are different and are not in direct competition with each other, simple as that.
Boxing and MMA fans need to come to an understanding that the sports are two different animals and have different things to offer fans. Naturally, you don't have to like both; no sport will appeal to every fan. However, you should approach each sport on its own merits rather than in relation to other sports.
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.
MMA fans likewise often enjoy boxing. The boxing seen in MMA matches leave a lot to be desired when compared to the expert footwork, advanced techniques and finesse which is on display in a boxing match. Since MMA fighters don't tend to specialize in any one style (and even if so, this style is rarely boxing), the fighting styles of the two sports are worlds apart.
There are more TKOs in MMA matches than in boxing proper, however. This is due to the very small, light gloves used in MMA. Little more than knuckle guards, they don't cushion the impact of a blow the way that traditional boxing gloves do. This is in line with MMA in general - it's less focused on skill than on force and raw physicality than is boxing, which is unarguably a more refined sport. Both MMA and boxing have their own appeal to fans due to the differences in approach between the two.
You can certainly be a fan of boxing and MMA; there are different reasons why people enjoy each of these sports. There's no need to feel as if you're betraying boxing by enjoying a MMA match or vice versa. After all, you never hear people talking about how they can't take in a basketball game since they're also hockey fans. The two sports are different and are not in direct competition with each other, simple as that.
Boxing and MMA fans need to come to an understanding that the sports are two different animals and have different things to offer fans. Naturally, you don't have to like both; no sport will appeal to every fan. However, you should approach each sport on its own merits rather than in relation to other sports.
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