Engl & 101
10 June 2010/Comparison and Contrast Essay
Professional Boxing vs. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Which combat sport is most superior? Professional boxing is a competition of two contenders fighting with gloved fists, throwing punches to exceed the performance of the other. While mixed martial arts however, is similar but with combinations of throwing punches, kicks, and submission moves to eliminate the other opponent. Critics and fanatics have been disputing on who is the rightful owner of the most superior spectator sport.
Professional boxing came out near the beginning of the twentieth century. Professional boxing was once known as, “prizefighting”. The competition for the purse, or for the prize, of the fight, awarded to the winner at the end of the fight. Because of the rewarded prize at the end of each event, professional boxing was and will always be a controlled professional sport. On the other hand, Mixed Martial Arts which is also known as, “MMA”, can date back as far back as the Olympic Games in 648 B.C. It is easy to say that at one point mixed martial arts was once known for entertainment and survival unlike professional boxing which was known as another way to earn living. In like manner, both sports have been around for a long period of time.
When it comes to rules of engagement, both are very alike but still have slight differences. These are just examples of some of the most important rules in professional boxing, no hitting below the belt, no head-butting, and no punching the back of the head. Conversely, mixed martial arts started off as barbaric, no-holds, anything goes, and at the earlier stages it was a deadly battle between two contenders to do whatever it takes to eliminate the weaker opponent but later developed a set of rules. For example, fighters are not allowed the use of elbows, the use of knees on a downed opponent, and groin strikes. On the whole, both sports have these policies to protect the fighters....