There was growing speculation in 2020 that fight fans would be treated to a sensational showdown between Francis Ngannou and Dillian Whyte after the two got into a war of words. Indeed, once again, giants from the octagon and boxing ring would come together to shake the very ground we stand on. To those that are on the outside of fighting circles, there may be some confusion as people try to make out what the difference is between MMA and boxing, and why this would be such a unique event?
They may seem like similar sports on paper, but at the same time, they are also worlds apart. It’s a bit like baseball and cricket, badminton and tennis. Perhaps the best example is that of the NFL and AFL which seem alike and are often confused for being the same thing. But this article on how the two sports differ will give you a detailed breakdown of the crucial distinction and comparison between the American and Australian sports. Punters will notice that the gear the players wear is slightly different, similar to the main contrast of boxing and MMA.
In boxing, the gloves weigh 8-10 ounces whilst in MMA they register just 4-6 ounces. Additionally, the different shapes of the playing area is one of the key differences between the NFL and AFL, notably, that is the main distinction between boxing and MMA as well. In this instance, it’s unclear as to where the fight would take place, either the eight-sided octagon or the four corners of the boxing the ring, either way, there is a strong desire to see it happen.
Indeed, the animosity between the two is still there, but interestingly, their career prospects have both dramatically increased after spectacular recent wins. Ngannou was able to brutally knock Stipe Miocic out to claim the UFC heavyweight championship of the world out. Meanwhile, Whyte avenged his initial loss to Alexander Povetkin in just four rounds, setting up a showdown with current WBC champion Tyson Fury.
What a knockout! 💥
Francis Ngannou finishes Stipe Miocic in the second round and is the new UFC Heavyweight Champion! 🏆#UFC260 pic.twitter.com/Zz2uyiHEdp
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) March 28, 2021
So, a lot has changed since they sensationally threatened to go toe to toe. But at the same time, both of their respective fights showed that they have the required skills to survive in either the octagon or boxing ring. Ngannou’s boxing ability is up there with some of the best boxing heavyweights in the world and his devastating knockout punch on Miocic’s jaw was a reminder of the power that this fighter possesses.
In the lead-up to the fight, most punters had bet on the 34-year-old to knock Miocic out for a few varying reasons. First and foremost, the knock-out betting market is one of the most popular for UFC fans just behind calling an outright winner. Additionally, given that these two heavyweight brutes had 19 official knockout wins between them, everything pointed to this being the best bet to make. Historically speaking, punters very seldom bet on a heavyweight fighter to win via way of submission given the power that heavyweight fighters have in their hands. In reality, most submission bets are made in the Conor McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov division, either lightweight or welterweight.
Interestingly, on the same night that Ngannou was being backed to knock Miocic out, punters were betting on Whyte to do the same in his bout, he didn’t disappoint. The 32-year-old heavyweight backed up his promise to bring ‘maximum violence’ to the ring against Povetkin and threw windmill punch after windmill punch at the disoriented Russian. It was a style of punching that we are normally accustomed to seeing in the octagon during showdowns. Indeed, Whyte’s willingness to go rogue and unleash a destructive assault on Povetkin suggests that he would cope very well if he returned to the octagon after a ten-year hiatus.
What a performance @DillianWhyte was back to his very best with a destructive KO demolition of Alexander Povetkin on Saturday nightpic.twitter.com/r1ItND6Ab1
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) March 28, 2021
Now, we’ve seen what has happened in the past when boxing meets MMA. Frustratingly, many of the matchups have been somewhat underwhelming that end up petering out into docile exhibition matches, perhaps due to the size of the exorbitant purses on offer. There is just a feeling that this one would break the mold, though. Both Whyte and Ngannou are self-proclaimed ‘bad men’ which makes the hairs on your neck stand up when you imagine them going head-to-head. Wherever it may be, sparks will fly and the ground will shake.