Florida Times-Union: BOXING vs. UFC

[Severn]

Yeah, another one of these but this one is pretty short and to the point

BOXING vs. UFC

One of the greatest sports debates of the modern era is ultimate fighting vs. boxing.

Ultimate fighting was called "America's fastest growing and most controversial sport" in the May 28 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Since UFC's emergence as a reality TV staple and pay-per-view darling, an argument has raged over whether UFC's nearly no-holds-barred style is the wave of the future or whether it's just a brutal free-for-all without boxing's skill and finesse. Perhaps the best way to settle the debate is to compare some of the two sports' similarities and differences.

SIMILARITIES

-- The use of scantily clad women to tell fans what the next round is.

-- Usually accompanied by lots of blood.

-- Different weight classes.

-- A lot of trash-talking leading up to the fight.

-- Both make a lot of money from pay-per-view.

-- Pretty much everyone has a catchy nickname, such as Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather or Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell.

-- Fighters wear gloves (but not the same kind).

DIFFERENCES

-- Big-name boxers make more money than big-name UFC fighters.

-- Boxing has storied history and legendary bouts; UFC, not so much.

-- Allowed in UFC: kicking, kneeing, wrestling, choking, throwing, sweeping and arm-twisting (fortunately, eye-gouging and biting are not acceptable -- anymore). Allowed in boxing: punching.

-- Boxers fight in a ring; UFC fighters in an octagon-shaped cage.

-- While boxing is known as the sweet science or a gentleman's sport, Sen. John McCain once referred to ultimate fighting as "human cockfighting," and Illinois state Rep. Al Riley called it "the sports equivalent of Jerry Springer." No wonder it's so popular.

-- Boxing has a close -- and unavoidable -- association with promoter Don King; UFC, no King.

OK, that settles it.

UFC wins.

[Afro]

Do you know what disgusts me about this article?

that its Boxing vs UFC, not Boxing vs MMA.

[Tick]

Yes, but that is because the UFC isthe name of the sport now. It is the name recognition. For instance how Q-tips is actually a brand. Or how all MP3 players are referred to as ipods (regardless of what brand they are), or how people say 'google it' when they are telling someone to search for something on the internet.

This is what company's want yet if something bad happends in MMA it will adversly effect the UFC because of that name recognition.

[Afro]

Ya but in this sense, there comparing an entire sport to just one piece of a sport.

[Tick]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

Ya but in this sense, there comparing an entire sport to just one piece of a sport.

Yes I agree with what you are saying. I guess thats what UFC gets for being the face of MMA. Unfortionetly people dont realize that the UFC is just a large part of what is MMA, but not MMA in its intiredly. (I cant spell, not mma as a whole)

[mauladala]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

Do you know what disgusts me about this article?

that its Boxing vs UFC, not Boxing vs MMA.

Absolutely. UFC is not a sport, but a brand. I also happen to think there HAVE been some "legendary" bouts.

[franco727]

i moved down to jax, fl my jr year of hs before going back north for college. trust me the florida times union does have some very talented writers, but the also have some shitty writers who are more interested in trying to have clever or funny articles rather then well thought out, researched informative articles

[effdot]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

Do you know what disgusts me about this article?

that its Boxing vs UFC, not Boxing vs MMA.

I agree but you have to realize that the general public only knows of UFC because it gets the most press. They don't even know that there is IFL, WEC, Bodog, Strikeforce etc. UFC right now is the face of MMA so everything that they do is put under a microscope and anything said about MMA is automatically associated with UFC. It's not fair but it is what it is until people get educated on the subject.

[neonatural45]

Originally Posted by Afro Samurai

Do you know what disgusts me about this article?

that its Boxing vs UFC, not Boxing vs MMA.

Exactly. I hate interviews when anyone (usually Dana) says that Ultimate Fighting is the fastest growing sport


I did think the part with don king was funny and true