I enjoy watching both boxing and MMA, each for completely different reasons.
I like boxing for the classic strategy. I appreciate when a fighter has the chance to systematically take apart a lesser opponent over the course of a fight-something that a fighter rarely has the opportunity to do in the shorter MMA fights (although some MMA fights are longer than 3 rounds)
I like MMA for the interesting matchups that can occur--take tonights UFC fight between Roy Nelson and Brendan Shaub- experience vs. athleticism. MMA certainly is the modern incarnation of Gladiatorial competition--where they would purposely match up different style fighters for an interesting fight. However, when you have two grapplers fighting it gets pretty dull-it's like watching olympic wrestling.
Like I said I love 'em both and don't really understand why boxing fans have such a problem w/ MMA as you can appreciate it for what it is--something completely different. On the flip side I don't understand MMA fans that think boxing is boring-- sure, it can be, but so can a bad MMA fight. I don't agree that MMA is becoming popular at the expense of boxing. I think they can both co-exist and be healthy. However, I still think boxing gloves should be reduced in size slightly.
-Rhett
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