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I had this debate in some other thread with another Sherdog member and I'd like to hear what other members of this board think about this. I argued that elite level boxing would rule MMA if magically given to a MMA grappler, even if that would erase his existing knowledge of other elements of MMA striking and he would have to learn kicks, elbows etc. from scratch.
Kovalev is a 175lbs boxer, he's pretty much the same weight as Maia.
I remember legit HW grappler Frank Mir saying that Maia absolutely tooled him in grappling and could have raped him if he wanted.
Obviously in an MMA fight the HWs just keep the fight standing and beat the living crap out of him. But let's say you give Maia Kovalev's elite boxing skills and create some sort of an ultimate 170lbs MMA fighter.
There's no question that Kovalev would murder UFC HWs in a boxing fight, the consensus opinion of boxing community is that Kovalev could beat many legit boxing HWs despite the size difference. He has unbelievable power and a really technical aggressive style with which he controls the center of the ring and stalks his prey down with precise vicious power jabs and right hands. His offensive footwork is extremely underrated, he closes the distance instantly and leaves you with no place to run. He killed another boxer in Russia after he put him in coma due to accumulated damage.
Look at how the extremely durable iron chin warrior Pascal folded mentally after every single power JAB by Kovalev:
He's the most vicious boxer since Tyson and McClellan and has the "if he dies he dies" mentality
Would Maia's grappling + Kovalev's boxing combination be able to rule the UFC HW division with an iron fist or would the weight difference simply be too big too handle?
Do you think that it's possible that we'll see a BJJ/grappling wizard who has a natural boxing talent in the future who will be able to rule divisions above his weight?
Kovalev is a 175lbs boxer, he's pretty much the same weight as Maia.
I remember legit HW grappler Frank Mir saying that Maia absolutely tooled him in grappling and could have raped him if he wanted.
Obviously in an MMA fight the HWs just keep the fight standing and beat the living crap out of him. But let's say you give Maia Kovalev's elite boxing skills and create some sort of an ultimate 170lbs MMA fighter.
There's no question that Kovalev would murder UFC HWs in a boxing fight, the consensus opinion of boxing community is that Kovalev could beat many legit boxing HWs despite the size difference. He has unbelievable power and a really technical aggressive style with which he controls the center of the ring and stalks his prey down with precise vicious power jabs and right hands. His offensive footwork is extremely underrated, he closes the distance instantly and leaves you with no place to run. He killed another boxer in Russia after he put him in coma due to accumulated damage.
Look at how the extremely durable iron chin warrior Pascal folded mentally after every single power JAB by Kovalev:
He's the most vicious boxer since Tyson and McClellan and has the "if he dies he dies" mentality
Would Maia's grappling + Kovalev's boxing combination be able to rule the UFC HW division with an iron fist or would the weight difference simply be too big too handle?
Do you think that it's possible that we'll see a BJJ/grappling wizard who has a natural boxing talent in the future who will be able to rule divisions above his weight?