Boxing Elitists Don't Get It

Boxing elitists don't get it. Mixed martial arts is here to stay and is not going away anytime soon. MMA is not a 'fad' as so many boxing fans like to proclaim; the sport is only growing - and believe it or not, has so much success because of boxing:

Boxing is a part of MMA. All MMA combatants start the fight standing up; boxing is just one aspect of a dynamic, well-rounded fighter. Half of MMA's viewers/fans watch boxing as well. Many boxing fans have crossed over to watching MMA, in addition to boxing, or in place of boxing. Believe it or not, boxing has not hurt the sport of MMA, it has helped it, and vice-versa. Both sports feed off of each other. Chances are, if you appreciate two athletes slugging it out in a ring wearing boxing gloves, you'll also appreciate and enjoy two combatants punching, kneeing, elbowing, and grappling with their opponent.

Boxing is certainly more popular worldwide than MMA is, but you have to remember, the sport has a long history. Boxing has been reestablished for well over a hundred years, and have a pretty decent talent pool to dip into.

As a whole, the sport of MMA draws a lot of similarities to boxing as a reestablished sport. I say "reestablished" because boxing has been around since ancient times - but so has MMA! MMA has its roots in the ancient Olympic sport, pankration. Pankration, like modern MMA, was a mix of boxing and wrestling. It combined striking (kicks too) with grappling.

Both MMA and boxing are ancient combat sports, both reintroduced as a sport to the public, after hundreds of years of exile. Both sports involve the struggle of man - one on one. Both sports overcome language or cultural boundaries, and both sports have universal appeal.

There will always be a place for boxing - it's ancient and is a form of MMA - but eventually MMA will surpass boxing for being the number one preference when it comes to combat sports. MMA is so much more diverse and dynamic; it involves boxing, kick boxing, muay thai, judo, sambo, BJJ, wrestling and any other style you can imagine that might be effective. It's the combination of striking - punches, kicks, elbows, knees - with grappling that makes the sport so entertaining and much more appealing than boxing; a sport that involves hitting with your fists only. There are so many different ways to win in MMA it's ridiculous. I think it's the dynamic nature of the sport that will eventually lead to worldwide appeal. MMA is already the fastest growing sport in America.

Boxing elitists need to accept that modern day pankration is here to stay.