Boxing vs UFC is one of the hottest debates within the combat sports community. In fact, these debates got so heated fans can see a rise of boxing vs. UFC fighters matches taking place regularly.
In this article, we are going to explain all the major differences between boxing and UFC. You will learn all about the rules, history and which one is more popular.
Let’s dive right into it.
Boxing vs UFC — What Are The Differences?
The key difference is the concept. Boxing is one-dimensional as it focuses only on punches above the waist, while MMA is a hybrid mix of striking with all limbs, takedowns, and ground fighting.
Let’s further explore all other major differences:
Concept and techniques
The boxing concept entirely revolves around hand strikes (punches). It is a full-contact sport where the main objective is to land as many hard punches targeting the upper body area above the waist (head and body) and mix these strikes with footwork, blocks, angles, and head movement.
It’s one-dimensional as it all revolves around 5 different punches and making combinations out of them:
- Jab (straight punch)
- Cross (power punch)
- Hook
- Uppercut
MMA is more complex and versatile as the system is a mix of only the most practical combat techniques put into one style. This includes striking with all limbs, takedowns, throws, and ground fighting with chokes and joint locks. Here are the most popular techniques and arts these originate from:
- Takedowns (wrestling takedowns; Judo throws)
- Punches (boxing)
- Kicks (Muay Thai; Karate; Taekwondo)
- Clinch fighting with elbows and knees (Muay Thai
- Joint locks and chokeholds (Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Sambo)
Basic Rules
Professional boxing matches have between 4 rounds (newcomers) and 12 for high-profile matches. Each round is 3 minutes long with 1 minute of rest between. The total duration per 12-round match includes 36 minutes of action inside the ring. They compete inside the squared boxing ring with four posts in each corner connected with four ropes.
Regular MMA matches have 3 rounds while main events and title fights are 5 rounds. Each round is 5 minutes long and there is a 1-minute break between. In total, MMA regular matches last 15 minutes while high-profile bouts are 25 minutes. Fighters compete in an octagon-shaped cage surrounded by a fence.
Fighting Gear
Boxers compete wearing full-padded gloves and hand wraps, mouthguards, shorts, and shoes. The gloves vary in size and can be anywhere between 10oz and 16oz in weight.
In UFC, athletes compete wearing 4oz open-fingered gloves that are much smaller than the ones in boxing. They also wear shots (sports bras), mouthguards, and groin guards and compete barefooted.
Organizations (World Titles)
Boxing has more than 70 different organizations and governing bodies. However, only the following 4 are the major ones and are considered the “legitimate” world championship belts. The ultimate achievement of every boxer is to win all four belts and become “undisputed”.
- WBO
- WBA
- WBC
- IBF
MMA is different because there is only one major promotion, the UFC. The promotion holds the monopoly in the industry, with all the best fighters in the world being a part of their roster. Thus, winning the UFC title makes you a “legitimate” world champion.
Boxing vs UFC Popularity?
If we focus solely on statistical data, UFC has been consistently more popular than boxing over the past few years. This is mainly because the UFC has managed to consistently put on a high-profile card each month, while the same-level boxing events are not that common.
The story is a bit different if you switch over the pay-per-view (PPV) sales where boxing still has the upper hand. However, keep in mind that the UFC does not fall behind too much. If it continues to grow at this rate, it will probably surpass boxing at one point in the future.
Out of 57 best-selling PPV view events in US history, 31 belong to boxing, while UFC had 18. The top five best-selling events from both sports include are the following:
- Floy Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao — 4.6 million
- Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor Mcgregor — 4.3 million
- Floyd Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya — 2.44 million
- Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez -2.2 million
- Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield — 1.99 million
UFC
- Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor Mcgregor — 2.4 million
- Dustin Poirier vs. Conor Mcgregor — 1.8 million
- Nate Diaz vs. Conor Mcgregor 2–1.65 million
- Dustin Poirier vs. Conor Mcgregor 2–1.6 million
- Conor Mcgregor vs. Donald Cerrone — 1.35 million
Still, keep in mind that MMA is a much younger sport. Thus, the only objective way is to look at the recent trends.
In the last five years, five boxing cards have managed to generate over 1 million PPV worldwide. The UFC, on the other side, had four events over 1 million.
These data show us that MMA is rapidly closing to boxing when it comes to PPV numbers.
Boxing vs UFC – Which One is More Dangerous?
MMA/UFC has a higher injury rate overall but boxing imposes greater risk when it comes to serious injuries. While in MMA there are a lot of lacerations, torn ligaments, and muscles, boxing has a higher rate of concussions and facial injuries.
According to the injury reports, MMA has an injury rate of 33.1 injuries per 1000 exposures. On the other side, the boxing injury rate stands between 17.1 and 23.1 injuries per 1000 exposures. The initial conclusion is that MMA is more dangerous as its athletes get hurt more often.
However, another study shows that boxing has a much higher concussion rate. There are 0.8 concussions per 10 athlete exposures, and these accumulate to 13% of serious injuries. Moreover, studies suggest that 90% of all boxers suffer at least one concussion during their careers.
Compared to MMA fighters, boxers absorb far more punches to the head, which results in more concussions, facial injuries, and long-term brain damage. While MMA fighters spend a lot of time grappling and clinching, all boxers do is land hard hits to the head.
They absorb hundreds of punches per match, and when you add the ones from sparring, you get why boxing is so dangerous for the brain.
Are Boxers Paid More Than UFC Fighters?
Boxers at the top end earn much more than UFC fighters. However, this is not a complete story as UFC fighters tend to earn more at the mid and lower end.
At the upper level, the picture is clear. Most popular boxers earn much more than UFC fighters. If you take a closer look at the 5 highest paid athletes from both sports, the numbers are not even close.
Still, keep in mind that the salary is primarily based on the model. Boxers get much higher PPV shares, have bigger sponsors, and the overall competition is bigger. UFC is yet to grow in this aspect.
The numbers get much closer when you move from highest-paid athletes to medium and lower tier. According to official reports, the average boxing salary is $50.000 a year, while UFC fighters earn around $150.000 a year.
Most journeyman boxers who compete at the lower or mid-level earn far less than UFC fighters. Their salary ranges between a couple of hundred dollars, and to couple of thousands. On the other side, UFC fighters on the lower end earn around $15.000 to show up, and another 15 as a win bonus. The story is the same for mid-level fighters.
So overall, high-level boxers cash out much bigger paychecks than their colleagues from the UFC, but the same couldn’t be said for the mid and low-tier.
Boxing vs UFC – Which One Is More Exciting To Watch?
The excitement of watching boxing vs UFC is subjective and largely depends on individual preferences. Both sports offer unique thrills and appeal to different audiences.
Boxing, with its focus on striking using only fists, is much easier to understand and follow. It showcases technical skill, strategy, and the anticipation of a KO punch. In fact, many boxing fans appreciate this purity of the sport. The mano-a-mano aspect, and the sweet science involved in landing precise punches while avoiding getting hit.
On the other hand, UFC combines various martial arts disciplines. It includes striking, grappling, and wrestling, resulting in a more diverse range of techniques. This makes it more complex and harder to understand from a technical standpoint. There are so many variables and ways fighters can win/lose, which makes it dynamic and intense. Not to mention the differences in styles.
UFC Fights can transition between striking, clinching and grappling exchanges rapidly. This provides constant action and makes each more unpredictable.
As a result, comparing boxing vs UFC in this aspect is ungrateful because it depends on many individual factors. This primarily includes personal preferences and what each individual finds appealing. Some may prefer the technical precision of boxing, while others may enjoy the raw intensity and diversity of skills on display in UFC matches.
What UFC Does Better Than Boxing?
UFC is slowly surpassing boxing in terms of mainstream popularity and leader in the combat sports industry. Some of the key reasons are primarily related to the organizational structure. Here is a detailed explanation:
· MMA is easier to follow
MMA industry has one leading organization — the UFC. The promotion is a home to the best fighters and winning the title makes you an undisputed world champion. There are 12 weight classes for both men and women and 12 world champions in total.
Boxing has 4 major organizations with each one having 17 weight classes. This means that there are, in total, 68 boxers who have a legitimate right to call themselves a world champion.
In conclusion, UFC is much easier to navigate through because there are fewer organizations, politics, promotions, etc.
· MMA as a concept offers more styles
Boxing is one-dimensional to a certain degree as it focuses entirely on hand striking. An average fun with an average understanding of the game might have a hard time finding the differences between the styles. In other words, the majority of matches look similar.
MMA is different because there are so many variables. There is a big distinction between the styles since there are wrestlers, boxers, Thai boxers, BJJ fighters, and many others. Styles go to another level when fighters begin blending these styles.
The majority of matches are clashes between two completely different styles. This adds to the excitement as fans never know which fighters would impose their will inside the cage.
· More variations
Boxing matches either end in a knockout or decision. MMA has more variations because fighters use punches, kicks, elbows and knees, takedowns, and submissions.
Matches can end via punching knockout, head kick, low-kick TKO, submission, wrestling slame, and many other ways. This only adds to the overall unpredictability of MMA and makes it more entertaining. One minute fighters may battle on the feet with strikes, the other they may wrestle making the action all over the place at times.
The excitement of watching boxing vs UFC is subjective and largely depends on individual preferences. Both sports offer unique thrills and appeal to different audiences.
Boxing, with its focus on striking using only fists, is much easier to understand and follow. It showcases technical skill, strategy, and the anticipation of a KO punch. In fact, many boxing fans appreciate this purity of the sport. The mano-a-mano aspect, and the sweet science involved in landing precise punches while avoiding getting hit.
On the other hand, UFC combines various martial arts disciplines. It includes striking, grappling, and wrestling, resulting in a more diverse range of techniques. This makes it more complex and harder to understand from a technical standpoint. There are so many variables and ways fighters can win/lose, which makes it dynamic and intense. Not to mention the differences in styles.
UFC Fights can transition between striking, clinching and grappling exchanges rapidly. This provides constant action and makes each more unpredictable.
As a result, comparing boxing vs UFC in this aspect is ungrateful because it depends on many individual factors. This primarily includes personal preferences and what each individual finds appealing. Some may prefer the technical precision of boxing, while others may enjoy the raw intensity and diversity of skills on display in UFC matches.
FAQ
Is UFC boxing or wrestling
UFC is a mix of grappling and striking techniques. In other words, fighters are allowed to use boxing techniques to strike on the feet, and wrestling techniques to advance to the ground. Thus, the UFC is neither boxing nor wrestling but rather a coherent mix of both.
Apart from techniques from these two arts, MMA athletes also adopt skills from other conceptually similar disciplines. This includes Mua Thai, BJJ, Karate, and many others.
Does UFC include boxing?
Boxing is one of the most used skills in modern MMA and a big part of the game of every fighter. Though one-dimensional, boxing offensive and defensive principles transition well into the cage.
MMA fighters spend the majority of fight time on the feet where they exchange strikes, primarily with their hands. This makes boxing essential as no other martial art teaches better hand striking techniques. Also, other skills such as footwork, block, and head movement play a vital role.
As a result, each MMA fighter looking to succeed must have above-average boxing skills.
