Serious Question: If boxing is the Sweet Science then what's MMA?

[OfTheCross]

This post got me thinking:

GSP's boxing was definitely better and I'd probably give him the slight edge in wrestling because he had no prior wrestling experience. He was just as dominant a champ as Jones despite his lack of finishes. I'd say GSP is more skilled, but Jones is the better fighter.

Isn't the more skilled fighter the better fighter?

It doesn't seem like the criteria for greatness is the same for these sports.

Is the objective in MMA to hit and not be hit?

 

[OfTheCross]

I'm driving so I apologize if the OP isn't my best... Just had to get the question out there before u got home and forgot

 

[Monster]

The objective of mma is to win, by any means necessary. Guys like Anderson Silva and Mcgregor do it by hitting and not getting hit.

But a guy like Big Nog was known for taking a lot of damage before winning with a submission. I think that's an old school mentality that's going away in mma though

 

[#SOG_soldier]

savagery

 

[jackswstd]

This post got me thinking:


Isn't the more skilled fighter the better fighter?

It doesn't seem like the criteria for greatness is the same for these sports.

Is the objective in MMA to hit and not be hit?

Jon Jones is a unique type of fighter in ways GSP isn't. A guy who is 6'4 and has the wingspan of a 7 footer is very rare, and he uses his reach effectively. His boxing has improved but is not his greatest attribute, his most effective striking comes from his use of elbows and using his range to stifle his opponents.

In MMA you have to be well versed in many disciplines, you can get away with excelling in one but eventually you'll get exposed if you don't work on other aspects . Like boxing, you have your brawlers, you have your hit and not get hit guys but also grapplers. I think the criteria for greatness in either sport is to win but in the UFC in particular you needn't accomplish much to be considered great according to Dana White or the media. Case in point Ronda Rousey and now Conor McGregor. Conor is a legit fighter and very skilled but he hasn't accomplished anything yet.

 

[Master Teacher]

The objective of mma is to win, by any means necessary. Guys like Anderson Silva and Mcgregor do it by hitting and not getting hit.

But a guy like Big Nog was known for taking a lot of damage before winning with a submission. I think that's an old school mentality that's going away in mma though

mcgregor gets hit a lot, the featherweights just can't hurt him

anderson was elusive in his prime

 

[Turbulent]

This post got me thinking:


Isn't the more skilled fighter the better fighter?

It doesn't seem like the criteria for greatness is the same for these sports.

Is the objective in MMA to hit and not be hit?

not necessarily. because skills is a component of fighting (a very big one, arguably the most important one) but it's not everything. you could be a technical prodigy, know all the techniques, nuances, etc, be close to perfection when it comes to footwork, striking, grappling, etc. that's what skills is about. but fighting is that PLUS physical conditioning, psychological preparation (having heart, managing your emotions, fears, rage, frustrations), the art of war (strategizing) when to attack, be more on the defensive, at what round in the fight. having all this could give you the edge if you had to face a slightly more skilled fighter than you. there comes a point when the skills gap would be too wide for these other attributes to matter though.

but yeah, not even speaking on GSP and Jones. Just in general, that's what people mean when they say the most skilled fighter isn't always the best fighter. the best fighter is the person who knows how to maximize his chances to get the W regardless of the circumstances IMO

 

[Big D Bangston]

The "Savage Science"

 

[Scottie Drippin]

The Bro Science

 

[Monster]

mcgregor gets hit a lot, the featherweights just can't hurt him

anderson was elusive in his prime

I agree he does get it, but his goal is to land the more precise more powerful shots, and he does. He doesn't have a 'take one to give one' mentality like a lot of the old school guys.

 

[Master Teacher]

I agree he does get it, but his goal is to land the more precise more powerful shots, and he does. He doesn't have a 'take one to give one' mentality like a lot of the old school guys.

He's reach advantage is too great for those with poor striking skills

he can knock out the light weights too, but they have the length to get to them, conor doesn't have really good head movement or anything, his defense relies on his ability to control the distance using his reach

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

I think that this will change once more athletes join MMA. We went from the Dan severns and tank abbotts to then the chuck lidells and rich franklins then to what I'd consider the modern athlete like gsp, Anderson Silva and is now epitomized by jon jones. More attention to different disciplines, more knowledge on health issues, better camps, etc..

 

[Another Man]

MMA is still a very young sport, and hasn't been around nowhere near as long as boxing. It's a constant, rapidly evolving sport.

 

[southpawstyle]

I'm driving so I apologize if the OP isn't my best... Just had to get the question out there before u got home and forgot

make a memo breh.


Imagine dying while submitting a thread on thecoli

 

[y que]

pseudo science