Did the UFC ever overtake boxing like everyone was saying it would?

[Black Jesus]

If you ask me, the fact that their biggest star ever had to cross over to boxing and get his ass kicked by a 40 year old retired boxing speaks volumes

[MulaKO]

If you ask me, the fact that their biggest star ever had to cross over to boxing and get his ass kicked by a 40 year old retired boxing speaks volumes

There’s a reason why Dana White and the Zuffa brothers wanna wet their beak in boxing

[The plunger man]

Boxing will always be bigger and create sporting marvels. UFC will never be better than the sweet science.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

No and it never will...

I like both sports but boxing as a discipline requires far more skill.

[rolshans]

It's regional. In the mid-west and north-east, it has. Everywhere else, no.

[Ray*]

I like MMA but c’mon son!!! That would never happen. They need another 100 years to even get close to boxing.

[TheMyspaceDayz]

I have a feeling that MMA isn’t going to be as popular in about a decade.

[TMLT87]

No, by most popularity metrics the two have been very close in America since around the late 2000s though.

[CHOWWOKKA]

They have been saying "ufc is taking over boxing" since Liddell Couture and it still hasnt happened and it never will.

I like UFC, but the UFC is like Faygo. Its tasty and cheap and good for parties. Boxing will ALWAYS be Classic Coke, mixes better with whiskey and is what adults drink.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Boxing came along at the right time in history, and was once the biggest sport in the world 'Long before sports where professional there was only really the original Olympic sports and boxing which could elevate a person to almost royal status' Boxing history is one of romance and honor, it is a national past-time in many countries and apart of their cultural evolution. With the rise of the more civilized and sophisticated team sports, Boxing and even the original Olympic sports where slowly phased out 'People don't really have to fight anymore, Leisure activities historically? Are now professional sports' Boxing was never a leisure activity, even though they are trying to devalue it and make it into a leisure activity now 'It most certainly is not, because Boxing is a way of life'

As society culturally evolves it is going to be very difficult for the UFC to reach the heights that boxing has achieved in the past 'The environment and people have just simply changed' most of US members here, in some ways we are old school 'There must be some primal genetic traits in us, that are still activated' That is why we value combat sports.

The UFC's peak was pretty much close to 10 years ago, since then their business model is working extremely well 'But it has not swallowed or taken over boxing'. Boxing is a simple combat sport, and its all inclusive business model which some people are negative about? Actually is one of the reasons it CAN and Will survive, it has no central governing body you cannot pin-point its Nucleus 'Boxing is like Sky-net from terminator' It is everywhere. Boxing does not exist under one organisation or umbrella, it is just OUT THERE integrated into the fabric of society 'A combat sport of romance, simplicity in participation and honor'

The UFC's big promotional weapon to swallow boxing, was that it was the ART OF FIGHTING. Triathletes do swimming, running and cycling WHY are these guys not swallowing Michael Phelps? Usain Bolt? Eddy Merkx? It is not even a case that UFC fighters are not experts, it is just that boxing is the most honorable form of combat 'It is strict, It is masculine' There is nothing deceptive about it, and this has a effect upon the human psyche 'We have heard all those sayings? YOU cannot hide who you are in the boxing ring, you don't get that within the UFC'

Martial arts due to its nature can be a deceptive art, I participated in karate as a kid 'And for me personally I think it is the best form of martial arts, Jiu Jitsu? I never really gravitated towards it, disliked it' Best off participating in Olympic Wrestling.