Last night is the perfect example of why UFC is kicking boxing's ass!

[powerpuncher]

I agree, but I also think that within 10 years, UFC will be running into the same problem with it not being financially plausible to put all of the big fights on one card.

[Master]

I agree, but I also think that within 10 years, UFC will be running into the same problem with it not being financially plausible to put all of the big fights on one card.

Don King did it

[powerpuncher]

I agree, but I also think that within 10 years, UFC will be running into the same problem with it not being financially plausible to put all of the big fights on one card.

Don King did it

A long time ago and he stole everybody's money. Also, boxing has been paying fighters even more recently.

[Ron Swanson]

I agree, but I also think that within 10 years, UFC will be running into the same problem with it not being financially plausible to put all of the big fights on one card.

Don King did it

A long time ago and he stole everybody's money. Also, boxing has been paying fighters even more recently.

I'm quite confident Arum still takes home more of Manny's money than Manny does.

[wanderingfighter]

Both sports have a different audience. I respect the art of grappling, and I have read up on the history of grappling going back to the sport events performed by the Athenians. But just because I respect it does not mean I enjoy it.

I prefer striking for several reasons and till this day it's the art that I practice. I don't watch the UFC since I have no interest in grappling. You may argue that the UFC has striking in it. But I find the striking in the UFC to be sloppy and uncoordinated, and the striking aspect of it is designed to work around grappling as its main focus.

It's quite hard to become good at one skill when you're all over the place trying to learn multiple things at the same time. Gaining mastery of the striking arts (Muay Thai, Boxing, Kick Boxing, Bare-Knuckle Boxing, Pradal Serey, Lethwei, Sanda, JKD, and so on) takes time, focus and constant practice with the rules of that specific art.

If there's no boxing on, I'm watching some other type of striking like Muay Thai, K1, Kick Boxing etc. There's no way that the UFC will ever take my attention away from the striking arts. But I'm a serious student and do not consider myself to be a casual fan. I do agree that the UFC is taking the attention away from boxing events when it comes to casual (hold my beer) type of fans though. It's good entertainment after all...

If you read up on the history of striking and grappling, you will find that grappling has always been entertainment for the masses including the novelty. Meanwhile striking has always had a different audience. The striking arts have always been enjoyed by different types of people, mainly the lower classes who get their hands dirty. Athenians used to think of the Spartans as being barbaric due to their love and practice of striking matches. There's always going to be people that like one or the other. Perhaps boxing is losing market share from a business perspective. But that's expected.

[Kirkland Laing]

UFC will continue to grow when they can mix and match fighters exactly when they want and pay them very little. If they ever get antitrusted by the Feds and/or Muhammad Ali'd and they have to start paying their fighters more and their fighters gain some contractual independence then they'll start to slide, their competitors will improve and it'll become more like boxing.

But they're currently doing very well. There's a show nearly every weekend with relatively competitive fights. As a side note I want that fucking leprechaun to have to fight that Russian with the blonde fright wig.