There is way more money in boxing than MMA. Sure many people just love MMA more but when you become to be pro money is a big incentive. Like many UFC fighters today talking about transitioning to boxing so why not simply start as a boxer when they been young.
Why would any pro fighter choose MMA over boxing?
- Thread starter JumJum
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Because they are better at?
Come from a grappling background?
Former kickboxer?
Come from a grappling background?
Former kickboxer?
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There are some top level boxers who grew up wrestling like Terence Crawford and Lomachenko.
People have asked about guys like that crossing over. It'll never happen because they make more money headlining ESPN cards than some of the bigger draws in the UFC do headlining PPVs.
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Waaaaaaay more competition in boxing, and while the top boxers make way more than the top MMA fighters, this isn't the case for 99% of professional boxers. Their pay isn't any better than MMA.
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Belawl Muhammad
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More money at the top end of boxing sure. But slogging through the career ladder climb in boxing is impossible unless you have connections.
At least in ufc it’s mostly skill that gets you into the top 10 of a weight class. And as bad as ufc entry 12/12 contact is, it’s better than similar pro record boxers on prelims
At least in ufc it’s mostly skill that gets you into the top 10 of a weight class. And as bad as ufc entry 12/12 contact is, it’s better than similar pro record boxers on prelims
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The same reason Ngannou chose to get into MMA rather than boxing, easier to get to the top due to a lack of talent.
Ngannou, Travis Browne... These guys were in the top10 after 5 years of training.
In no other professional sport on the planet can you start as an adult and become a pro... let alone be ranked top10, or become champion.
Ngannou, Travis Browne... These guys were in the top10 after 5 years of training.
In no other professional sport on the planet can you start as an adult and become a pro... let alone be ranked top10, or become champion.
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Maybe they just like MMA more than boxing? Not everything is about money.
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One part no one talks about is some guys just enjoy mma training.
people oversimplify the equation.
you have to assess your skills and your ceiling and your interests.
why do people go into boxing when there's more money in tennis or golf? why go into tennis or golf when you could be lebron?
there are many successful mma fighters who are happy with the choice they made, and many boxers who are not happy with their life choices.....
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Chocalito was the #1 p4p boxer for a while and made less per fight than mighty mouse during the same time period
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Stand and bang type MMA fighters seem to have worse CTE than boxers though
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lets say you already good at wrestling/bjj/judo. Would you really throw away all the skill and experience you have and go to boxing? Also you might just be better at mma. Maybe your kickboxing/muay thai/karate or whatever you already know makes you better at mma than you would be at boxing. Maybe you just like MMA more?
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not all people are driven solely by money
it's like saying, why did he get into metal? Pop music makes waaaaaaay more money
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there's more money in boxing if you can get to the top but that's a hell of a lot harder to do and can take a MUCH longer time
Khamzat for example has hit the top of the division in a span of what 2 years? goodluck doing that in boxing
Khamzat for example has hit the top of the division in a span of what 2 years? goodluck doing that in boxing
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Most boxers were basically groomed to be boxers from the time they were kids. Most MMA fighters are washouts from wrestling or just decided to start fighting after they graduated highschool
