Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Link Between MMA And Boxing

By Nolan Barias


While ground fighting is clearly a big part of MMA, honing strong striking skills cannot be underestimated as an important part of your arsenal as a fighter. A strong, solid punch requires little movement or energy and can be a quick way to disable an opponent. Many of the world's best mixed martial artists have fought in professional boxing matches or have extensive training in boxing.

Georges St.-Pierre is arguably one of the best mixed martial arts fighters of all time. While he has no professional boxing experience, St.-Pierre was trained in the sport by boxing great Freddie Roach, one of the sports best-known trainers. Many of St.-Pierre's wins were due to his strong striking skills, including several knock-outs, most notably in UFC 48 where he knocked out Jay Hieron during the first round. Of course, St.-Pierre's 22-2 MMA record is not only due to his boxing skills, as he also has black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gaidojutsu and Kyokushin kaikan.

While Muay Thai might be the skill for which Anderson Silva is best known, he is one of the most versatile fighters in the world. In addition to his 32-4 MMA record, he has a 1-1 record in professional boxing. He also holds an impressive array of black belts in everything from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Judo to Muay Thai, of course. In addition to his natural athleticism, his dedication to perfecting multiple fighting styles is why he is one of the world's best fighters.

Brazil has given us no shortage of exemplary fighters, and Vitor Belfort is no exception. In addition to his black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo, Belfort has a purple belt in Shotokan and a short career as a pro boxer in which he won his only fight by knockout, defeating Josemario Neves in less than one minute.

Of all of the MMA fighters with boxing records, K.J. Noons has perhaps the most solid record in the ring. From 2004 to 2009, he participated in 13 professional boxing fights, losing only 2. Of course, he also holds a 12-2 professional kickboxing record and an 11-5 MMA record. He is a highly versatile fighter with a black belt in Kenpo Karate, as well as being an expert in Muay Thai and Sanshou, a form of Chinese hand-to-hand combat.

Learning essential boxing skills will improve the overall performance of any fighter, so if you are currently working toward a career in MMA, make sure you add boxing classes along with your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and wrestling classes. Select a professional-level MMA gym that offers a variety of classes, including boxing, for one flat monthly fee.




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