The fundamental difference between the sweet science of Boxing and MMA...

[shadeyfizzle]

Most of MMA’s fighters have below par standup. For people who consider themselves martial artists they leave a lot to be desired in striking proficiency.
Most wade in with wild punches, very little in the way of combinations (apart from fighters such as Anderson Silva who even with his stand up could not compete at the highest level of boxing) and overall lack striking technique.
Cung Le is about the closest I've seen to a good stand up martial artist.

The difference in boxing is that top level fighters are masters of their art.
Boxing is more pure than MMA at the moment. Maybe in a few decades MMA will catch up but until then boxing is the purists sport.

MMA is a martial SPORT!!! not a martial ART!!! i know plenty of martial artists that are much more proficient in striking than anybody in MMA. But martial arts emphasize self defense. which means fighting 4 as little of a time as possible. As in kick an attacker in the nuts, break his arm, then elbow him in his adam's apple. All of which would be illegal in both mma and boxing. The reason most mma fights are dominated by grappling is because the majority of high level mma fighters are primarily wrestling or jiujjitsu experts...and take striking as a secondary art. If a boxer or kickboxer could bomb away at an opponent in a real fight and never get taken down in the process...Grappling would never exist. But just like real life...if you get into a fight. It doesnt matter if you're the most fundamental boxer in the world. It's more than likely going to end up on the ground..with both guys scrambling to get favorable positioning to bomb away at the other guy.

[squealpiggy]

I think the fact that most MMA guys are white is instrumental in its popularity. Even though Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva are the best thing to happen to the sport it still hurt the organisation perhaps irreperably to have them kicking the jesus out of longtime white champs. White college frat boys want to see people who look like white college frat boys knocking people out. I'm sure there are nuances of the sport that purists alone appreciate, but the popular viewership wants to see white people knocking guys out.

[Hagler★]

i watch both but i dont think ufc stands up to mma in the least bit. through things like 24/7 and countdown we get a greater insight into fighters and there is nothing as good as 2 fighters who dont like each other or who hav built a disliking for each other in the run up to a fight fighting. look at hopkins and trinidad when hopkins threw the puerto flag on the ground i really thought that felix wanted 2 kill him, look at his face at the exact moment it was hilarious
also there is no drama in ufc ala the mayweather family although their affairs are not boxing in its purest form it adds to the whole effect

[Hagler★]

I think the fact that most MMA guys are white is instrumental in its popularity. Even though Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva are the best thing to happen to the sport it still hurt the organisation perhaps irreperably to have them kicking the jesus out of longtime white champs. White college frat boys want to see people who look like white college frat boys knocking people out. I'm sure there are nuances of the sport that purists alone appreciate, but the popular viewership wants to see white people knocking guys out.

true stories but rampage is such a likeable character that you cant help no matter what colour you are but like him. dude is funny as **** and is generally liked by most in the organisation

[Samuel F.]

You are right, you can't compare the two, not quitting in boxing can result in death.

In rare cases, yes. Over many rounds. Getting locked in an arm bar happens in a split second and you only have that split second to react. Tapout or suffer a very serious injury.

[SkilledB]

that and theres more white people in mma.

True,

but the race card is played again

[nathanmania]

Boxing ruled the combat sports.