Heard an interesting discussion on this with some of the guys from training the other day - and as we have a number of MMA fans on here I wondered what everyones opinion on the subject was.

MMA events elcipsed Boxings pay per view in the US last year and you only have to look at the current Heavyweight scene in boxing - where are the Tysons, Listons, Foremans, even Lewis's coming through?


Can it replace boxing as the ultimate prize fight?

I like both and also K-1 (Max).

Personally I think at the top level, there is still something special about boxing. Yes, the heavyweight division isn't the greatest, however, there are still some good boxers around.

I think that accessibility plays a big part in popularity. I loved watching boxing in the era of Eubank and Benn and the fact it was on mainstream TV. Then Sky took over and I must admit that boxing started to go off my radar a bit. Now it is mainstream.

UFC popularity in this country must be partly due to the fact that it is on Bravo, though the switch to Setanta may have an impact.

There are also signs in the UFC of the power of celebrity as an offshoot from the Ultimate Fighter whereby people are built up who aren't really at the top.

I think there is enough space for both, but I'd rather watch a Morales-Barrerra fight than a GSP-Hughes fight if I could only watch one.