Will there ever be a UFC star crossover and fight a good boxer in the ring

[New England]

the intuitive leap would be for the guy to move to the young sport where the level of skill is lower.

most of these world class guys have been boxing since they were kids. MMA guys are just now starting to come up even having seen MMA when they were kids. most came from wrestling here in the states, and BJJ and other striking backgrounds in SA and other places. the sport didn't get big until around 10 years or so ago.


anderson silva had a pro boxing match, and he looked like a novice. he's one fo the best strikers of all time in MMA.

they're different sports, but i do think the transition form boxing at a high level to MMA would be easier. just learn how to defend a takedown, defend subs if you ever end up on your back, condition your legs to take a kick, etc, and tweak your style with your hands to MMA. holly holm did it best, so far.

[boliodogs]

I see all these guys using boxers names and calling out boxer. A lot of them were past it when they tried their hand at UFC. Holly Holm is near her prime, has a kickboxing background but is definitely more accomplished as a boxer and anything else and has successfully transitioned to MMA


Ray Mercer, James Toney and others had the balls to fight in the UFC or MMA so will we ever see one of their world class fighters fight one of ours in a boxing


Connor McGregor and Lawlor have good hands for MMA fighters but I seriously doubt Lawlor would fight someone at 147-154 in boxing like Thurman, Brook, Cotto, Lara, Bradley etc.....he'd be embarrassed and hitting a lot of nothing

Conner is by far the best boxer in the MMA. He would not agree to fight a top 5 world rated welterweight under boxing rules. He is smart enough to know he would lose. Conner could probably beat lots of pro boxers in the welterweight class under boxing rules. If he fights welterweights rated in the world top 50 under boxing rules I am sure he would lose. If Conner had been a boxer from the start he might be one of the best welterweight boxers today. You must specialize in your very difficult sport to be outstanding whether that sport is boxing or mma.

[therealpugilist]

Conner is by far the best boxer in the MMA. He would not agree to fight a top 5 world rated welterweight under boxing rules. He is smart enough to know he would lose. Conner could probably beat lots of pro boxers in the welterweight class under boxing rules. If he fights welterweights rated in the world top 50 under boxing rules I am sure he would lose. If Conner had been a boxer from the start he might be one of the best welterweight boxers today. You must specialize in your very difficult sport to be outstanding whether that sport is boxing or mma.

agreed...I just hate all the trash talk....its hardly ever the boxers its the UFC people talking trash...I see why they don't make close to what boxers make

[nveleven]

Conner is by far the best boxer in the MMA. He would not agree to fight a top 5 world rated welterweight under boxing rules. He is smart enough to know he would lose. Conner could probably beat lots of pro boxers in the welterweight class under boxing rules. If he fights welterweights rated in the world top 50 under boxing rules I am sure he would lose. If Conner had been a boxer from the start he might be one of the best welterweight boxers today. You must specialize in your very difficult sport to be outstanding whether that sport is boxing or mma.

Conor did start off as a boxer. He got tired of it bc he was interested in exploring the martial arts. He couldn't convince anyone at the gym he was at to validate the pursuit, so he switched to a new (and his current) gym/trainer.

[thecomedian2]

You won't see a world class boxer in MMA because the money isn't good enough, there's no fighters in MMA that can compete at world level in boxing or they'd be in boxing.

This.. I have never seen any Elite MMA that can box like Duran/Arguello

[nveleven]

I think this cross over is bound to happen. Most people on here posting about how boxing requires much more focus, and blah, blah are showing their bias (and their age)
In the 20th century, the idea of becoming a multimillionaire in MMA combat was unheard of. But little kids growing up in the past decade are seeing Conor & Floyd driving bentleys and flashing cash, selling the lifestyle.
That incentivizes future champions. Imagine someone w Floyd's perfectionist work ethic at 10 years old right now.
Bo Jackson was a phenom in football AND baseball (two sports nowhere near as linked as boxing & MMA).
It's just a matter of time...

[ИATAS]

Conner is by far the best boxer in the MMA. He would not agree to fight a top 5 world rated welterweight under boxing rules. He is smart enough to know he would lose. Conner could probably beat lots of pro boxers in the welterweight class under boxing rules. If he fights welterweights rated in the world top 50 under boxing rules I am sure he would lose. If Conner had been a boxer from the start he might be one of the best welterweight boxers today. You must specialize in your very difficult sport to be outstanding whether that sport is boxing or mma.

Beat pro boxers like complete bums who aren't ranked, sure that could be possible. But he's not beating any decent fighter with a real amateur background, it just doesn't work that way. He's good at what he does though so let's just keep it at that.

[Elotero]

McGregor could have been a good boxer. Not saying an all-time great or anything, but you're being delusional if you don't think so.

He has the right proportions to do it. Long ass reach for his size as well. Could have been a very good fighter from welterweight - middleweight.

Lets see, are there any "mcgregors" or mcgregor types in the top 20? how well did mcewen do? that tells you about how far he'd go ..

Answer is no. untelevised undercard status at best.

[ИATAS]

I think this cross over is bound to happen. Most people on here posting about how boxing requires much more focus, and blah, blah are showing their bias (and their age)
In the 20th century, the idea of becoming a multimillionaire in MMA combat was unheard of. But little kids growing up in the past decade are seeing Conor & Floyd driving bentleys and flashing cash, selling the lifestyle.
That incentivizes future champions. Imagine someone w Floyd's perfectionist work ethic at 10 years old right now.
Bo Jackson was a phenom in football AND baseball (two sports nowhere near as linked as boxing & MMA).
It's just a matter of time...

Maybe on a lower level like women's boxing/women's mma but it's just too difficult to do both on the highest level. It's not like playing baseball. Perhaps if someone takes a 1-2 years off from one sport then goes back but even then it's really really hard. You have to understand everyone you see in boxing has deep amateur backgrounds. They've been boxing their entire lives. It really isn't a sport you can only take half seriously, it's either you're all the way in or you're not going to make it. Of course, from time to time we see guys like Deontay Wilder who are big & athletic enough to make it to a high level without a huge amount of amateur experience, although most will argue most of his pro career was essentially amateurs for him to gain experience so it took him a good 8+ years just to get to the point where he could fight an ok opponent.

The dedication, the experience required in both sports is too much. I don't think it could happen, not on the highest levels.