1. The Best Fight The Best
The primary reason people watch combat sports is to see who will come out victorious when two men enter into the art of combat. The fights which generate the most interest are those where the fighters are of such an elite level that the outcome is uncertain. The ultimate spectacle is when two men considered to be the top two fighters in the world, in their respective weight classes, compete against each other to see who really is the greatest. Now imagine for a moment if boxing had adhered to this and the fights the public had demanded had occurred. In recent years we would have had fights such as Bowe v Lewis, Froch v Calzaghe and Pacquaio v Mayweather. The fact that the latter has not happened is symbolic of the state of boxing. This fight has been clamoured for more than any other in history yet due to numerous disagreements and disputes it has still not taken place. In boxing promoters control fights, they wrap prospects in cotton wool and give them records which belie their ability. Fighters regularly duck each other and avoid difficult fights to try and find the easiest route possible to the top. In MMA fighters do not have a choice who they fight; to be the best they have to beat the best regardless of who that may be. This means defeat is far more common in MMA which makes those rare breed of fighters who do remain undefeated at the top level for long periods all the more special. In the world of MMA fans are spoilt by the amount of quality fights that happen on a regular basis and generally the fights that the fans demand usually occur. There is nothing better than seeing the best fight the best and this is the reality of the MMA world. Unfortunately it is one we can only dream of in the world of boxing.