Thread: Question For You guys about Boxing and MMA

I was just wondering what everyone thought and this is a big "IF" (probably never happen) but what if MMA and Boxing kind of tag teamed a PPV say put on a Few MMA events then add a couple boxing matches to the same card and have it on the same night on the same PPV. Personally I think it would make mega money and draw allot of both sports fans together. For example lets say Golden Boy promotions linked up with Dana White and the UFC and packed a star studded PPV event?? I'm curious to everyones thoughts on this. LIke I said probably never happen but thats the beauty of message boards you can say "what if" all you want and debate it lol.

I asked a similar thing a while back, people didn't seem keen. Mixed cards happen in Holland, possible other places too. Plenty of fight fans enjoy both, plenty don't but it's fairly easy to handle, go for a pint while a fight is on you don't want to see, it happens all the time at boxing, people only turn out for the 1 fighter they want to see. I have no objection to it.

Biggest problem I see is the salaries. Big name boxers won't fight for MMA wages, and I'd have trouble seeing MMA stars being okay with fighting for a few hundred thousand while boxing stars pull in 7 figures.

It's not uncommon in Holland or Brazil, and Japan too has a lot of mixed events (K-1, for example with both kickboxing and MMA, or DEEP with grappling and MMA).

The biggest barrier to this isn't fighter purses (only the biggest name boxers make more than the big name MMA fighters, for a normal card the pay scale seems to be pretty similar) but the "rivalry" between MMA promoters and boxing people. It's absolutely stupid, but a lot of MMA people have a chip on their shoulder about being a new sport only gaining acceptance now and a lot of boxing people seem to view MMA as a bastard child that's a disgrace to the family.

Another problem is the UFC's use of the cage (which I have a number of reasons for disliking).

But, definitely this would be a good idea for ring based promotions like TKO in Canada or ICON sport in Hawaii. I think that promoters need to realize that the co-existence of both sports is beneficial to both. I believe that the fanbase in MMA and boxing can be mutually inclusive, with MMA bringing in new boxing fans (like many of my friends. I could never get them to watch boxing until I got them to watch PRIDE) and boxing bringing some of its fans to MMA.

Part of the flaw of the 'war' between MMA and boxing is the lack of realization that the audience can discern between the two and even casual fight fans appreciate boxing for what it is and mma for what it is.

Originally Posted by Heavy D

Biggest problem I see is the salaries. Big name boxers won't fight for MMA wages, and I'd have trouble seeing MMA stars being okay with fighting for a few hundred thousand while boxing stars pull in 7 figures.

Try 8 figures.