At the end of a career who's taken more damage an mma fighter or a boxer

It depends what you factor in as damage.

Boxers tend to suffer more internal injuries due to the repetitive nature of the blows (i.e. brain damage, kidney, liver damage, eye damage etc etc)

MMA fighters tend to suffer more external injuries (Such as cuts and scarring) as well as injuries closer to sports like rugby and football (twisted knees, dislocations of bones, torn muscles etc)


In the longterm, boxers will walk away with some form of brain damage which could include slurring, migraines, and/or eyesight problems; MMA fighters will walk away with some joint problems (similiar to other sports, such as running which will impact on knees)

Just like clockwork, universities, government bodies and medical institutes track and record injuries each year so it's not hard to find the kinds of injuries suffered. In terms of long term injuries, MMA just hasn't be around long enough to see a real study. MMA really only became professioanl at the turn of the millenium so it'd be unfair to use guys like Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, or any other fighters before that era

 

Neurologically, brain signals, nerves etc all get ****ed in boxing. MMA probably does in from a tangiable/physical perspective i.e. broken foot, messed up ears etc

 

Boxers take an insane amount of punishment to their head over training and fighting during a career. Every little blow, even in sparring to the head causes damage.

 

Yep, boxers.

Most MMA fighters are going to have their training mixed up so much, that they aren't going to be in a position to take light shots to the head with the head guard more than twice a week during training.

Boxers? They are taking shots more often, and standup, where you are susceptible to those shots is always the emphasis.

 

A boxer takes far more blows to the head and is more likely to suffer brain damage.

 

I think that's the biggest one.

Boxing gloves increased the amount of head injuries suffered over the long term because back in the old, chalk circle in the pub days of boxing, most people went for body blows since it'd be less damaging to their hands. But now, you have sustained blows fighters suffer. That first nasty KO that puts them out cold takes a lot from their resilience and ability to resist the damage and keep going. As you mentioned, Ali. Too proud to quit when he should have.

As far as MMA goes, I think if they stay in the sport too long, it'll wreck them as much as boxers in a shorter amount of time. MMA fighters tend to have a shorter shelf life, I believe so at least. They take kicks to the head and punches with the smaller, 4oz gloves. They're pretty much only worn so you don't break your hand and to pad the blows minimally, mostly useful for facilitating grappling as well. Ken Shamrock is shot to pieces but still fighting. Seriously. I saw his last fight, he is absolutely wrecked but needs money. Chuck Liddell can't take a decent shot anymore but keeps on insisting on fighting, but I hope he quits soon. If they lose by KO a lot, they'll wind up with the same neurological damage as boxers get.

 

Boxers take more head trauma because of those big ass gloves. Those gloves serve to protect the hands but they minimize superficial damage - but they also prolong the punishment resulting in much more internal damage.

 

This. Even moderate to light punching in the head jars the brain and that takes its toll in nearly every instance

 

People seem to think that its necessarily about how long you are into the sport. There are recent studies on an American Football players brain who commited suicide. The sort of trauma a college level football player is going to take during a season could possibly be less than what a boxer takes in one, or possibly 2 fights that go the distance.

There could be significant damage, seemingly regardless of how long ones career is. For some guys that don't get hit much, I'm sure its less. Kyle Ambrogi actually suffered brain disease and brain damage, seemingly linked to his football career. He was only a college linebacker. Thats not an especially long time.. Finding seem to be pointed in the direction, that the sort of brain damage suffered could cause severe depression.

 

mma more, getting your legged kicked in, getting slammed and damaging ur back from getting slammed.
First of all has any boxer got staph infection ?
No! nearly 70% of mma fighter get staph infection.
Mma is more gruesome job.

 

I think boxing is tougher on your brain and MMA is tougher on your body. I think if a boxer survives the brain trauma he will have a lot less problems physically when older.

 

Boxers do take much more head trama in fights then mma guys do...but I tend to think a fair amount of the neurological trama comes in sparring...and with that, they are not to different.

 

I think in the next 10 years as ex mma guys get up their in age your start to see the numbers on brain damage aren't that different (though I do think boxing will still be higher).


You will start to see more mma guys like chuck