Then why does Anderson Silva punch, by far, the most similar to boxers? Is it just an excuse for pretty much every other fighters boxing or what?
Any boxer will tell you the most important thing about boxing is footwork. In MMA you just cannot stand with a pure boxing stance that lends itself to striking like boxers do. Anderson has been pretty lucky in that he manages to mesmerise his opponents to striking with him (hands down, back against the cage etc) But look at the first fight and the first round of the second fight with Sonnen and you'll see the peril of a striking-centric stance when the other guy wants to make it a MMA fight rather than a striking match. ANd it's not just takedowns, you have to be ready to check kicks and also be in a position to shoot and kick, or at least feignt kicks yourself. This 'MMA guys can't box for ****' drum being banged over and over again is pretty ****ing pointless as boxers can't wrestle, Kick or submit guys for **** either. The stand up game in MMA is far closer to Muy Thai anyway as the option to strike in the clinch also affects the way you have to approach any exchange. Comparing MMA fighters unfavorably to boxers based purely on striking is like saying Bo Jackson is an inferior athlete to the guy that came last in the 100M final at the Olympics because he isn't as fast at running. It's just one aspect of the game.
What about the looping punches that most of the "elite strikers" use such as Vitor Belfort and Junior Dos Santos. Obviously the stance will be different. They all square up more it is necessary to stop takedowns. It is still possible to throw straight and tight shots as shown by anderson. Even look at some of the boxers who stand more square then other fighters in boxing they are able to throw normal jabs and crosses with proper form.
:dealHes also considered an elite boxer at middle weight. atsch. He also rocked GSP when they were standing and got the better of him the whole time.
Pretty sure the punches are the same kind of punches. Straights, crosses, jabs, hooks, etc. Are there new ones out there?
Same punches and sometimes better technique. It's more the technical approach, range/distance, timing, accuracy, combinations, how to use their feet etc Sense of distance and timing clearly comes much easier to someone like Silva, thus he looks like a much better striker. You can be sure that a number of MMA have better technique than a boxing world champion like Mayorga but would lack hugely in other areas, thus resulting in a savage beating.
Comparing MMA fighters unfavorably to boxers based purely on striking is like saying Bo Jackson is an inferior athlete to the guy that came last in the 100M final at the Olympics because he isn't as fast at running. It's just one aspect of the game....
If Bo Jackson used **** form then I would recomend he work on his techinique to get faster. MMA fighters need to work on their technique. Its not the speed and power that bothers me. Its the fact that they wing their punches as if they never learned boxing.