What it comes down to is that boxers train for one specific thing, Punching. MMA fighters train for many things. If all you do is work out your chest at the Gym you will have chicken legs but great pecs. Genetics will play a role, but the guy who does chest 7 days a week will look better than the guy who does chest 1 day a week.
On average a boxer will be a better puncher and can take a punch better than an MMA fighter. Just like an MMA fighter would be better in ground and pound/grappling than a boxer.
Nobody is arguing that the MMA fighter will be a better boxer than a boxer.
You discussed power. I said power has more to do with genetics. Some guys have brute natural strength, some guys don't.
As for a boxer being able to take a punch better, not sure I agree. MMA fighters eat punches too and they don't have big gloves.
I mean really, we have no way of confirming any of this so it's pointless.
Bottom line is power has a lot to do with genetics.
I know it sounds like I am selling Conor short, but I respect him as a fighter and think he is top notch. But he isn't a boxer and never boxed a professional bought. Just because you are a master at lacross doesn't mean you can step into the NHL. As good as Conor is in MMA he doesn't have a chance against a highly ranked boxer. Boxing has rules its not a "fight". Conor is way tougher than a local tough guy, but they would both have the same excperience in professional boxing matches.
Yes, you are completely selling CM short and it's a bit ridiculous. Comparing him to Lacrosse and the NHL? Connor practices boxing for everyone of his fights.
What does a Lacrosse player practice from his sport to translate to ice hockey? Having a net on the stick? Running?...Playing with a ball??
What a stupid comparison.
You realize Connor started boxing at 12 right? That is what he started with. It wasn't until 4-5 years later that he got into MMA.
So yes, he never had a pro fight in boxing, doesn't mean he's completely clueless just as a Lacrosse player would be in the NHL, or that he's on par with the local tough guy.
That's just a complete insult to his skills.
And FM's game plan was designed to make Conor look good, thats why I say he carried him. He basically let him punch himself tired for 3/4 rounds which made Conor look a wolrd beater. In reality those punches were like pillow taps to FM. He took Conors best shot in round 1 and it didn't faze him.
FM decided this was the best game plan for him to win. This idea that part of his startegy was to help and make CM look good is complete BS.
Not one single smart boxer would simply go in and try to beat CM in a couple of rounds. CM, despite what you may believe, is a two division champ in the UFC with legit KO power. Certainly, he is jumping sports, but boxing, although not as much focused on, remains part of his training.
So you have someone coming with an unorthodox style, you do not know much of anything about him regarding boxing.
You need to feel him out and start reading how he moves, how he punches, where are the openings. That is what FM did in the first rounds. Observe him to see how he could pick him apart. It took three rounds for him to read him well, then he started opening up more, and fatigue added on CM by the 6th round, and then it's all downhill for CM then.
Btw, FM said he was surprised by CM's boxing skills and power.
Much respect for Conor to step into the ring and he put on a good show, but he was out of his element. No different if FM fount an MMA match and Conor just rolled him on the mat for 2 or 3 rounds and then chocked him out.
It was a show and FM and Conor put on a great show. But thats what it was a show.
It actually is completely different and the fact you keep making such silly comparisons really shows how little respect you actually have for CM.
FM has never thrown a kick in his life. He's never wrestled, grappled, learned submissions, etc.
CM boxes for every one of his fights in the UFC.
Imagine if your parents were told there is a 90% chance you will have CTE if you play hockey/football/boxing/UFC. Do you think your parents start you down that path?
Of course athletes don't care, they are willing to dope themselves up even if it means they can lose everything when caught. But at some point it will reach a breaking point. There was a recent study showing like 90% of football players brains showed CTE.
I view a future where drugs are legal since people know their brains will be destroyed anyways. So atheletes will essentially all be doped up knowing that their lives will end at 40 or 50 due to drugs or CTE. Basically they will be signing their lives away for the thrill of the game. Or kids will just stop playing sports and there won't be anyone to draw from for the next generation
Well, sure, some parents will refuse to put their kids into some of these sports.
I would let my kid play whichever sport he wants though. If he gets hurt then we would re-evaluate. You don't get CTE from playing hockey as a 6 year old through your early teenage years.
