Why Is It Harder To Remain Undefeated In MMA Than Boxing

[Cuban Linx]

MMA is a lot harder to stay undefeated, there are more ways to lose a fight, smaller glove sizes, plus there are some really bad rules. The closest fighter to being unbeaten (and who isn't a prospect) in MMA is Jon Jones, and his only loss came from a DQ because he threw a downward elbow strike. Fans pretty much don't count that as a loss for Jones because he was dominating the fight and because of a bad rule he got DQ'd. But he has that blemish on his record.

[SalimShady1212]

Easy. More ways to lose. David Haye was speaking about this the other day.

[lopetego]

Too many variables, too many ways to lose. Nobody can be an elite in all the different disciplines involved in MMA, not enough time to train and polish everything, even if you trained 24/7. Also, in boxing you can fight bums for years while ducking top opposition, you cant do that in the UFC

Too many ways to lose.

An impressive record like GSP's 25-2 is probably the closest thing you'd get. Or Jon Jones 21-1 which the 1 was by DQ. Or Fedor 35-4.

Fedor's record is by far the most impressive

he was undefeated for like a decade, and the training methods and the sport wasn't as evolved during his reign as it is now

current pro fighters are all well versed in grappling, ground fighting, striking, we have MMA gyms that train you specifically for MMA.

back in Fedor's time, an athlete only had expertise in one or maybe a few disciplines, and he had to work only with that, so it'd be more difficult to stay on top and to deal with certain skillsets

[Ryn0]

Once you are hurt in MMA they can immediately end it, way more styles, matchmatching is better/more competitive, best fight the best, more injuries leading to losses, cuts happen more often, also a higher proportion of DQs you'll see lots of the best fighters have a DQ loss somewhere. Theres a huge bunch of reasons.

Just imagine how many fights in boxing would have ended if you didn't have a 10 second count and could jump on the guy as soon as he's hurt.

[Scipio2009]

Soft matchmaking in boxing? More ways to lose in MMA? More Inexperienced Fighters In MMA?

The simplest answer is because most MMA fighters are incomplete fighters, often dabbling in the other parts of the sport beyond the main discipline, but honing the core discipline more and more.

"Rowdy" Ronda Rousey came into MMA as an elite world-level judoka; she's been an MMA fighter for nearly 6 years at this point yet, skill for skill, she hasn't moved her game all that much beyond that core judo background, while being a champion for almost 4 years. You put Rousey in the ring with an elite level striker (who had also picked up most of the rudimentary aspects for takedown defense), the judo doesn't work, and Rousey gets killed.

You put an incomplete boxer (guy with a killer right hand punch) into the ring and, though they'd be able to rely on that aspect for a while, opposition level finds ways to stymie that rather quickly; if a fighter's camp is on top of things they 1)try to make sure that the support skills [moving feet, a decent jab, feinting/hiding the shots, etc] get taught/learned and 2)the matchmaking gets careful [avoiding opponents who can negate whatever the fighter instinctively does well].

Things are getting better (as a casual observer of MMA), but the fact that a wrestler can basically come into the UFC, know nothing but wrestling, yet still be able to compete should tell you everything you need to know about competition level.

[Finito2K]

Easy. The UFC is the only MMA organization where an athlete can potentially make the most money and Dana White runs it like the WWE. They're not really into developing talent as much as they're into making solid matchups.

[Larry the boss]

Because they are a jack of all trades but a master of none

[nivek535]

Soft matchmaking in boxing? More ways to lose in MMA? More Inexperienced Fighters In MMA?

because ufc is mainstream
and ufc is one organization
so they actually make fighters fight each other
lul

[vman075]

Couple of reasons. Number 1 imo is bc like pretty much every other sport in the world, you don't choose your opponent.

[Champ Wilder]

Soft matchmaking in boxing? More ways to lose in MMA? More Inexperienced Fighters In MMA?

Your avatar is going to be hilarious if Wilder and Ward lose lol