MMA’s Evolution Can Be Found In The UFC’s Welterweight Division

The apples and oranges argument of MMA vs. Boxing makes me roll my eyes sometimes. Some feel caged combat is overrated and deprived of any athletic craftsmanship. In contrast, others say clashes of the pugilistic variety are too one-dimensional and archaic to be considered real fighting. It’s easy to understand how MMA can sometimes look like an uneducated brawl, but you have to remember the sport is currently in its golden years.

Boxing’s organizational roots can be traced back to 1743, and the Marquess of Queensberry rules, drafted in 1867, have governed It ever since.

The first organized Mixed Martial Arts bout took place in 1989 in Japan for the Shooto promotion, while the Ultimate Fighting Championship held its inaugural event in 1993.

Outside of certain countries with no athletic commission, the Unified Rules drafted by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board in 2000 are the standard rules that regulate MMA today.

That is 269 years for Boxing, 145 years under its current format, compared to 23 years for mixed martial arts and 12 years under its contemporary design. MMA is still evolving, and the evidence of this is dictated in the UFC’s welterweight division.

– Matt Hughes’ rule over the division:

Carlos Newton (2x)

Hayato Sakurai

Gil Castillo

Frank Trigg (2x)

Renato Verissimo

BJ Penn

Joe Riggs

Royce Gracie

Georges St. Pierre

• Georges St. Pierre’s rule over the division:

Jason Miller

Frank Trigg

Sean Sherk

BJ Penn (2x)

Matt Hughes (2x)

Matt Serra

Josh Koscheck (2x)

Jon Fitch

Dan Hardy

Thiago Alves

Jake Shields

 

While both of their runs as champions are extraordinary, GSP’s resume is more impressive because he is a more complete fighter than Matt Hughes and defeated better opponents. You can’t knock Hughes’s accomplishments in the slightest, as he was the best in his era; GSP is the best right now, and perhaps Rory MacDonald is the heir apparent to be the next king of the division.

While many fighters can’t throw a jab to save their lives, MMA will look more refined to the untrained eye as the sport progresses in functionality and the fighters continue to evolve. It will be fascinating to see where the mixed martial arts are at the 145-year mark.