UFC vs Boxing – Part IV

This is the fourth and final post in the series detailing why I think the UFC is a better sport right now than boxing. Part I talks about the mess that is the various ranking systems and title belts in boxing. Part II looks at the better marketing efforts by the UFC, and part III claims the UFC has better pay-per-view events.

Reason #4 – Better Fighters

The topic of who would win in a fight, great boxer X vs great MMA fighter Y, has been an often discussed topic among fight fans. Recently, however, the argument has been given a unique twist in that the fighters themselves have begun to weigh in on the issue. For whatever reason, it seems the more vociferous arguments have come from boxing world with Bernard Hopkins and Floyd Mayweather Jr. being the most publicly opinionated on the matter. Mayweather Jr. claims the UFC fighters are lesser athletes and that any boxer could easily transition to MMA and be dominant. Hopkins equates the UFC with unskilled, drunken thugs slugging it out at the local bar.

Not surprisingly, Hopkins and Mayweather Jr. have made no attempt to back up their claims with any type of action whatsoever. A lot of words but no action, despite the promise from Dana White (UFC President) that he would make it financially worth their time. I'm not surprised by this, and you shouldn't be either. Why? Because the UFC guys are better fighters, and Mayweather and Hopkins know it.

It may seem strange to bring up Lance Armstrong in a discussion about fighters, but there is a point to be made here. Armstrong is probably the best cyclist in the history of the sport. He dominated cycling biggest stage, the Tour de France, like nobody in history. But other than riding a bike and having incredible endurance, what particular skills does this require? Would you think he is a better athlete than Kobe Bryant? Roger Federer? How about LaDainian Tomlinson or Derek Jeter? The range of skills required by these others athletes to excel in their respective sport is far greater than that required of Armstrong. I contend that with the proper training, any of these other athletes I just mentioned would have a greater chance at succeeding in cycling than Armstrong would in any of their sports. Why? Because they are better athletes.

It is for these same reasons that I think the UFC guys are better fighters than boxers. I would not go as far as to say Chuck Liddell could beat Bernard Hopkins in a boxing match. Hopkins is too good of a boxer. The same reason I would not predict Derek Jeter to beat Lance Armstrong in a cycling race. But when we talk about MMA, we are talking about a fight, which can (and will) require a larger set of skills than a boxing match. And who would you put your money on in a fight – a one trick poney or somebody who knows boxing, muay thai, wrestling, and jujutsu? I'll take the more skilled fighter, and my guess is that deep down inside Hopkins and Mayweather know where the smart money would be too.