BOXING faces ULTIMATE Challenge!

[nfc90210]

So how popular is MMA outside of Japan and the US, I know in the UK and most of Europe, not very…

MMA while not attracting big mainstream attention in the UK is alive and well. For instance, one promotion “Cage Rage” draws very good crowds. They held their last card at Earls Court.

There has big a good growth in the UK that has been largely ignored by the media. It's only a few years ago that “Cage Rage” were promoting in nightclubs. Since then they moved onto the Wembley Conference centre, from their they graduated to Wembley Arena which is, for want of a better term, their home venue. Though it has been reported that they might be using Earls Court more in the future as they have, might have, outgrown the Arena. While MMA might not be in the mainstream in the UK it is enjoying success.

The UFC also have a fully operation and staffed office in the UK, and are planning to hold shows in the UK in 2007. They already held one show in the UK in 2002 in the Royal Albert Hall.

In Croatia Mirko “Cro Crop” Filipović got himself elected to parliament and is a very big name there. So much so that, in the past, Pride have considered promoting a card there. The best heavyweight MMA fighter in the world is from the Ukraine. Brazil is, in some respects, the birth place of MMA. Australia also have a successful promotion.

To answer the question, while MMA doesn't have the world wide penetration of boxing it is a fast growing sport.

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On the article...

Boxing will never, for want of a better term, lose to MMA because it's a different sport that isn't competing with MMA. There's a degree of cross-over but boxing and MMA will be able to exist together just fine.

The UFC has had a great year: 775,000 buys for Shamrock/Ortiz 2, 700,000 buys for Hughes/Penn 2 and the record TV rating for Ortiz/Shamrock 3. MMA has also made great in roads into the mainstream in terms of press coverage. As evidenced by the, "60 Minutes" piece the media are now willing to accept it as a sport and not just a side show.

The “60 Minutes” piece.

http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/s...t_de100660mins

However, despite all the success MMA has had this year boxing has been doing fine as well. Boxing has had a decent year on PPV.

Put it this way, De La Hoya/Mayweather will, probably, do a million buys. Ortiz/Liddell 2 will, probably, do a million buys as well. There's no rule that says for boxing to be successful MMA has to fail. Likewise, there's no rule that says for MMA to be successful boxing has to fail. There is more than enough room for both.

Is all well with boxing? No. Is boxing dying? No.

What ever problems boxing has have nothing to do with MMA.

[1bad65]

once that lock is off of u u r ok. now a major gash over ones head or swelling? now that takes time genius

Not to be a jerk, but that shows you don't have a knowledge of submissions. A straight armbar and heel hook, for example, will tear ligaments if you do not tap out. Trust me, you will not be fine after the lock is off.

On submissions that only work on the joint itself, you are correct though, the PAIN is tolerable after it pops. But, you still have a dislocated bone, which is nothing to smile at.