Choose a career path: boxing or mma

[Guestx]

Definitely MMA.

I'd enjoy it a hell of a lot more.

 

[Reyesnuthugr]

The best formula for highest yield would likely be

Boxing training ---> MMA career


After you got gud'd at boxing, would have to be versatile enough to learn some wrestling TD and little bits of defense against other techniques in MMA but that's common and a lot easier to do (incomparably higher success rate % of people who attempt it) than the other way around (virtually non-existent).

---

In MMA class, the absolute WORST thing to have to defend against is the striking component. Not only does it feel the worst and most embarrassing, it plays the most mindgames with you and is the hardest to defend against/replicate. It's basically impossible to come back from behind and have a "good day" unless you're already a really high level yourself.

When someone trashes you in striking, you feel like you have no idea what they just did or what you could have been doing wrong. Your soul struggles with its own identity and concept of being.

The other stuff, you can at least tell what is going on mostly when/while you get your butt handed to you. You will keep your sanity just with that little bonus knowledge.

Boxing is the sneakiest and most efficient striking art we have. It's manifesting that usefulness at the highest levels. The kicking and other stuff is not hard to learn and tack on after that.

 

[Ares Black]

You don't advocate doing what you love as a career?

I do, but you said your ultimate goal is to be a wealthy fighter.

That is not a realistic goal. If you love both why not do both and see which one you are better at, and love more?

It is an absolutely staggering amount of work to become a professional fighter, and the odds of making a living from it are low, let alone becoming wealthy. Approaching it from the mindset of making money is the wrong way to do it. IMO.

 

[Ares Black]

I'd go the MMA route for the following reasons:

1. Less head trauma, since there are a lot of ways to lose that don't involve being struck in the head.
2. Less corruption
3. Shorter path to the top
4. Less established... Meaning that boxing has been around for so long that it's very unlikely that you're going to invent a new technique or strategy. But MMA is still relatively new, so it allows for innovation. It's still possible for someone to come out with a great new strategy that's never been seen before.
5. Yes, the money is not as good, but once I make 10 million or so I think I'd have everything I ever wanted. Anything over that is just excessive.
6. If a boxer fought an MMA dude on the street, I like the MMA dude's chances better.
7. I've always loved martial arts, karate, muay thai, BJJ... I'd just rather live in the martial arts world than in the boxing world.

^^^^^^^^This

 

[thetruth2709]

so let's assume you have no experience in either...an you have to start from scratch...have to move up from the ammys. It is your 1st goal to have a full time fighting career in one or the other...and your ultimate goal is to become a wealthy fighter. Which path would get you there the fastest? Which would you choose? Assume you are still young.


Discuss

lol you will never accomplish either so it really doesnt matter....Im not saying people cant get to the top of a profession or sport, sure many people do.... those who do dont ask that type of stupid question, its not about money or security...go to school if money is your concern

 

[Ogata]

To be honest I wouldn't do either. I would get into jiu jitsu and try to be a world champion. It actually has an even smaller competitive pool than MMA and you can make pretty good money as a champ. You can then open a successful gym, even if you aren't a world champ, which will still generate money long after your boxing and mma friends are drooling on themselves.

I was going to agree with you but problem is the jujitsu gym business has become too saturated. Everyone has black belts and 1st place trophies.

 

[Pugilistic]

I'd just be a professional sherbro
500-1 in street fights
600k a year
Bang LA dimes on a daily basis

To be honest I wouldn't do either. I would get into jiu jitsu and try to be a world champion. It actually has an even smaller competitive pool than MMA and you can make pretty good money as a champ. You can then open a successful gym, even if you aren't a world champ, which will still generate money long after your boxing and mma friends are drooling on themselves.

And you won't even have to risk brain damage.

 

[RawHawg]

 

[Judoka1532]

so let's assume you have no experience in either...an you have to start from scratch...have to move up from the ammys. It is your 1st goal to have a full time fighting career in one or the other...and your ultimate goal is to become a wealthy fighter. Which path would get you there the fastest? Which would you choose? Assume you are still young.


Discuss

So the first thing we have to do is assess our natural ability. If you're taller and have fast hands, I'd prob try to boxing. If slower but have a stockier build-mma. Granted there are many different successful body types in both sports.
Money-wise I think there's more money to be made in boxing (at the elite level). But I think you have a better chance of succeeding at mma than boxing. So-I'd pick mma.
Another thing to consider is mma training is prob more brutal than boxing and prob require more money to train.

 

[Judoka1532]

I'd just be a professional sherbro
500-1 in street fights
600k a year
Bang LA dimes on a daily basis


And you won't even have to risk brain damage.

Haha yea well that and for me I just don't like getting punched in the face. I like my teeth and my brain had enough damage in football so I don't need any added memory loss.

 

[moreorless87]

The best formula for highest yield would likely be

Boxing training ---> MMA career


After you got gud'd at boxing, would have to be versatile enough to learn some wrestling TD and little bits of defense against other techniques in MMA but that's common and a lot easier to do (incomparably higher success rate % of people who attempt it) than the other way around (virtually non-existent).

---

In MMA class, the absolute WORST thing to have to defend against is the striking component. Not only does it feel the worst and most embarrassing, it plays the most mindgames with you and is the hardest to defend against/replicate. It's basically impossible to come back from behind and have a "good day" unless you're already a really high level yourself.

When someone trashes you in striking, you feel like you have no idea what they just did or what you could have been doing wrong. Your soul struggles with its own identity and concept of being.

The other stuff, you can at least tell what is going on mostly when/while you get your butt handed to you. You will keep your sanity just with that little bonus knowledge.

Boxing is the sneakiest and most efficient striking art we have. It's manifesting that usefulness at the highest levels. The kicking and other stuff is not hard to learn and tack on after that.

I'd say one issue is that the majority of "MMA training" is arguably something that's never really been geared to building a fighter from the ground up, its always been something focused on filling out the games of fighters with existing skill sets.

Very few "MMA since day one" kind of fighters have ever got to the very highest level.

 

[MadSquabbles500]

I'd go the MMA route for the following reasons:

1. Less head trauma, since there are a lot of ways to lose that don't involve being struck in the head.
2. Less corruption
3. Shorter path to the top
4. Less established... Meaning that boxing has been around for so long that it's very unlikely that you're going to invent a new technique or strategy. But MMA is still relatively new, so it allows for innovation. It's still possible for someone to come out with a great new strategy that's never been seen before.
5. Yes, the money is not as good, but once I make 10 million or so I think I'd have everything I ever wanted. Anything over that is just excessive.
6. If a boxer fought an MMA dude on the street, I like the MMA dude's chances better.
7. I've always loved martial arts, karate, muay thai, BJJ... I'd just rather live in the martial arts world than in the boxing world.

I dont think there has ever been an MMA fighter that has banked around 10mil for his career.

The best formula for highest yield would likely be

Boxing training ---> MMA career


After you got gud'd at boxing, would have to be versatile enough to learn some wrestling TD and little bits of defense against other techniques in MMA but that's common and a lot easier to do (incomparably higher success rate % of people who attempt it) than the other way around (virtually non-existent).

---

In MMA class, the absolute WORST thing to have to defend against is the striking component. Not only does it feel the worst and most embarrassing, it plays the most mindgames with you and is the hardest to defend against/replicate. It's basically impossible to come back from behind and have a "good day" unless you're already a really high level yourself.

When someone trashes you in striking, you feel like you have no idea what they just did or what you could have been doing wrong. Your soul struggles with its own identity and concept of being.

The other stuff, you can at least tell what is going on mostly when/while you get your butt handed to you. You will keep your sanity just with that little bonus knowledge.

Boxing is the sneakiest and most efficient striking art we have. It's manifesting that usefulness at the highest levels. The kicking and other stuff is not hard to learn and tack on after that.

No clinching and pounding in boxing. Also, kicks, knees, and clinching will really change the way you punch. Since boxing is missing all that, all the little things, and nuances that happen in between the punches, and defensive techniques are not going to apply

I was going to agree with you but problem is the jujitsu gym business has become too saturated. Everyone has black belts and 1st place trophies.

You have to move to countries that dont have over saturation, and learn their language.

 

[CodeBreaker]

Boxing

Less dangerous
More money

 

[MadSquabbles500]

I could have done both. All I have to do is talk a lot of racial smack, disrespect other fighters in public so its all over TMZ, and Twitter. My mother's country ought to be behind me since they dont really have any combat sports athletes to follow. Then I just book fights with 7 figure paydays in my people's homeland. Rinse and repeat.

Andy Wang really screwed up a great opportunity there. I actually did consider this idea when I was a teen, but I procrastinate too much.

 

[Uptown Swinger]

Ok but its has to be hard to be a stand out in boxing. I mean you pretty much have to be extreme in your image in order for anyone to take notice. how many active boxers can the average person name... 5 at best? Skill alone isn't going to get people to watch you. I don't know man... seems like a lot of unnecessary brain damage for peanuts. At least in MMA, you can shoot for an orginization like Bellator or the UFC. You probably have to do a lot of backyard barnyard matches before you get noticed though.

You are correct but the question is not " if you want to stand out".
The Q is if you want to be wealthy.
How many people know Roman Gonzalez?
His net worth is over 5 million USD.

 

[Fedorgasm]

I dont think there has ever been an MMA fighter that has banked around 10mil for his career.
.

I don't know for sure, but would think GSP or Anderson would be close to that number. Jon Jones could be if he didn't have to keep taking time off for drugs.

If Conor never fought Mayweather, I could see him getting to 10 mil in a few years.

I'm sure Ronda did if you include movies and sponsorships.

 

[moreorless87]

I dont think there has ever been an MMA fighter that has banked around 10mil for his career.

I'm guessing Conor, GSP, Anderson and Fedor all have.

 

[Kal Drago]

Boxing. Mo money, mo prollums.

 

[Reyesnuthugr]

No clinching and pounding in boxing. Also, kicks, knees, and clinching will really change the way you punch. Since boxing is missing all that, all the little things, and nuances that happen in between the punches, and defensive techniques are not going to apply

I don't think it's necessary to become a clinching/kicking/knee specialist most of the time in MMA, just knowing how to negate them coming from others (see them coming) and maybe throw a mediocre one once in a while seems to work. People who are that type of all-limbs specialist rarely get to the top these days unless they are the 1/10,000 talented outliers, and even then, there are very few of them (Crocop, Aldo, not many others), they don't necessarily negate a better boxing(hands) specialist with those skills.

So what I'm proposing is efficiency of effort/time to give the maximum success and the most likelihood of getting there. There are definitely other ways, but this is the fastest yield and the most difficult for opponents to fight against in most cases. Those who are dethroning champions are focusing on boxing to do it, and in most cases, the champions got there in the same way.

 

[Fedorgasm]

Boxing

Less dangerous
More money

I don't think it's less dangerous. Add up the number of strikes to the Head that a boxer takes over his career and it's way more than an mma fighter. Add in strikes taken during training and it's way worse.

Brain trauma is cumulative.

I'm MMA the attacks are spread over your whole body, which takes some of the attention off of your head.