Mma is essentially fighting. The goal is to incapacitate another person as quickly and hopefully as spectacularly as possible. Bearing in mind that in fighting, in life, or in tournament, or in general, one may possibly have to fight multiple opponents on the same night or multiple opponents in an unfair fight. So how on earth is a discipline which is so boring that the Olympics flirted with cutting it out, so boring that there isn't even a professional version of it for amateurs to Segue in to (that's why hs/ college wrestlers go into mma) considered the best base.
If a boxer unleashes his/ her most damaging move on a person, that person is getting concussed, blacked out, stitches, a broken orbital, or a broken nose, broken rib, etc. all from a single move (punch). If a wrestler unleashes his/ her most damaging move, then CONGRATS, you have your shoulder blades pressed to the ground and you got pinned. Or taken down. Or back points. Or reversed. Wow that sounds damaging and scary. A freaking football tackle has more grounds to be mma worthy than wrestling moves.
Wrestling is not meant for damage. It requires a soft mat to compete in. Striking can be done on any surface. It is meant solely for damage. I get that wrestling is helpful, but how anyone can put it above boxing for fighting purposes is just ignorant and toolish.
If you had to fight an attacker w a weapon and you used wrestling, your probably getting shanked in the back while you attempt your takedown ( but at least you scored two points LOL). If you used striking and movement, the art of hit and don't get hit, you stand a much better chance of not getting hurt while doing your best to disarm the assailant.
This is why when someone goes to watch a boxing match, it's called "watchin The fights" or "going to see a prizefight". When wrestlers compete, it's called a meet. One of these things is better for fighting for several reasons.
