Boxing vs MMA: What Makes Them So Different

There are obvious differences between two of the most popular full-contact fighting sports today, boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). From the fact that in MMA, fighters can use their hands and feet to the different shapes of the rings, there are plenty of differences to count. But there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the two sports, made obvious by the most recent crossover match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

Fighter Position

The first thing that’s very different in MMA and boxing is the fighter’s position. In MMA, fighters have a lower and wider position because they have to prepare for kicks and takedowns. In boxing, in turn, these are not a factor to be taken into account, because the use of the legs is not permitted.

This difference in the fighters’ position has an impact on their posture and movement in the ring.

Gloves and Punches

The size of the gloves is very different in MMA and boxing. In MMA, they are much smaller and leave the fingers free – after all, it would be hard to grab the opponent in a pair of mittens. Plus, in MMA there are several legal punches – like hammer blows and elbow strikes.

In boxing, in turn, the number of punches is much higher – it can be two and a half times higher than in MMA.

Defence

The higher number of punches and the more complex combinations in boxing require different defence than in MMA. In MMA, covering up rarely works, while in boxing, it’s the basis of a fighter’s defence strategy.

The Shape Of The Arena

The fact that the two arenas have different shapes – a square in boxing, and an octagon in MMA – requires different strategies from the fighters.

Winning Conditions

If you’ve taken a look at UFC betting sites recently, you’re probably familiar with the winning conditions of a match that include submission, where one of the fighters catches their opponent in a hold that they can’t escape, so they tap out. There’s no such thing in boxing.

What Makes Crossovers Special?

Crossover matches are special because they put one of the participants in a completely different situation than they are used to. In the case of the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou match-up, the Cameroonian fighter was exploring unfamiliar territory – and against one of the top boxers of all time, the WBC heavyweight champion of the world.

Ngannou’s performance is notable because he comes from a completely different world – that of mixed martial arts. All the differences we mentioned above – the different posture, the different defensive strategy, and the reliance on punches – have put him at a disadvantage. Still, he was able not only to knock Tyson Fury down repeatedly but he almost won the match – Fury was declared the winner by a tiny margin, and admitted that this was one of his hardest matches to date.

For an outsider, MMA and boxing may seem like just two sports where people beat each other up in the ring. In reality, the two sports are fundamentally different in more ways than what meets the eye: they require different training, different defensive strategies, and even different positions that have a major impact on how they are fought – and how athletes in the two disciplines do when fighting each other.

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