Chuck Liddell interview: advantage of a striker vs. a wrestler..boxing adv.

[Benny Leonard]

Well, does this just discount some of the nonsense we hear that a "boxer" would get destroyed or taken down from a wrestler?
Maybe it does not favor the boxer, but I think the point here is that if somebody like a wrestler is coming in, he better be prepared to take a strike or two.
Just think how fast and powerful Tyson was, now imagine trying to figure out a way to take him down before he hits you.

This is why I have said, take an elite boxer like Tyson (when he was in his prime, motivated, determined to learn), and give him 2-3 years of training/preperation (or maybe less), and he will do well.

In an interview from boxing****, Chuck's own trainer said Tyson would of done well.

I do not want anybody to get carried away thinking that all you need is boxing because that would be wrong, you need to learn how to grapple and kick as well, but the importance of knowing how to box or strike like a boxer is very important.

Bruce Lee was a martial artist who always strived to do better, trying to perfect fighting, and one form he incorprated was boxing.

[Gatti9783]

As Chuck has shown over the past few years, great takedown defense and decent striking proves to be pretty effective in the Octagon. Give a boxer that takedown defense and forget about it. KO's all over the place. I can only recall one time in the past 5 or so fights of Chuck where he has actually been taken down.

[Benny Leonard]

I think this is also why Chuck and his trainer have never tried to bash boxing and only respond when they feel that they are being bashed themselves from boxers like Mayweather.

Boxing is important, they know this, they use it, but they also know you have to be well rounded.

MMA and Boxing can co-exist, but the bashing of eachother's sports has to stop.
The one good thing that can come out of this is for boxing to shape up.

Chuck always comes off humble, no reason to hate the guy.

[1bad65]

Chuck not only has great takedown defense, he is a purple belt in BJJ. So even if you get him on his back, he is far from helpless.

[Gatti9783]

Chuck not only has great takedown defense, he is a purple belt in BJJ. So even if you get him on his back, he is far from helpless.

And a wrestler since high school. I was just pointing out that you don't neccesarily need any ground game to succeed in MMA. Obviously, it would be a very smart thing to have some background in in case, but just use Chuck as an example for not completely needing it. Use a guy like Kit Cope as an example for why someone who can only stand up should learn a ground game.

[Mr. Violence]

What people don't realize is that Chuck has Wrestling skills thats why you can't take him to the ground. You can't teach a boxer overnight how to defend against takedowns.

[Steak]

yea right, it takes time, but look at Mark Hunt. His 2nd fight in mma and he beats Wanderlei Silva in a close fight. Styles make fights...but that ***** didnt barely throw anything but punches the whole fight.

and plenty of boxers have wrestling experience, like O'Neil Bell.
but I dont WANT boxers to go to mma...O'Neil Bell is exciting as hell to watch in boxing, it would be a waste to stick him in mma, even if he would kick ass...so forget that!
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[Gatti9783]

Anyone know of where UFC 71 can be found on the net being streamed?

[Benny Leonard]

What people don't realize is that Chuck has Wrestling skills thats why you can't take him to the ground. You can't teach a boxer overnight how to defend against takedowns.

Not over-night, but you can learn.

I said this before, there are just certain people that can pick things up quickly.

I knew someone that started at 18 years old in Martial Arts, and wihin a few years he was beating someone that had been in Martial Arts his whole life, and who also was a Champion and made the Olympic team.

He is not in the norm, but certain people just have that "natural" ability.

Just think of Tyson: how many had the raw talent he had?
You can start to train at 6 years old, train and try to perfect boxing for the next 14, chances are you will not be as good as the 13 year old who went on to be Champion at 20.

[PWRDbyUNCLEbens]

What people don't realize is that Chuck has Wrestling skills thats why you can't take him to the ground. You can't teach a boxer overnight how to defend against takedowns.

So what's your point? You can't teach a wrestler how to strike overnight, and when a boxing match. The fact is you can take a boxer, and give him time to learn some wrestling, and when he gets in a mma fight he will have a novice wrestling game, but his striking will be incredible. Chances are he will be able to win some matches by knocking people the **** out.

If a wrestler wanted to come to boxing, and learn a little bit of boxing and try to win a boxing match then he would get utterly destroyed. That is because his wrestling doesn't mean **** in a boxing ring. Especially when the guy across from you has trained for years in boxing.

Anyways, you can't compare the sports though because they are really an apples and oranges situation. The truth however is a bood boxer can make it
in mma by learning basic wrestling defense. The fact is he will always have his superior striking which is obviously a very important aspect of mma.