Friday, May 4, 2007

120 Comments »

1. I agree with what you said, a sport is a sport, rather it be fighting or swimming and the athleates should be praised for there skills and not stero typed for there sport and people like mike freeman will all ways be looking at the glass half empty!

   Comment by Claytor — May 5, 2007 @ 10:46 am

2. Grant I think your article was spot on.

   After writing his initial article attacking MMA Freeman had two options. He could either take the high road and appologize to MMA fans for his dubious attack on the sport or take the low road and continue bashing it. Unfortunately, Mike took the low road. Not surprising for a guy who was recently fired from the Indianapolis Star for lying on his resume.

   What is worse is that since his first article Freeman has taken emails written by some of MMA’s stupdest fans and posted them in a subsequent article in an effort to make all MMA fans look stupid. Clearly the fan emails he posted were unjustifiable but he would recieve a similar response if he so violently attacked any major sport. Also, notably, in his second article he included none of the reasonable and coherent responses that he recieved regarding his first article (such as the one I sent him).

   Anyhow if you are interested in seeing his latest attempt to defame MMA and its fans here is the link to the second article:

   http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10165946

   Comment by thomas cleary — May 5, 2007 @ 2:33 pm

3. Thank you for your fair and balanced response to this nonsense that Freeman started.

   Comment by Jeremy — May 5, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

4. Go get ‘em Grant. As you can see, foolishness is not the domain of politics alone when it comes to dumb and dim writing. Sports pundits do it too. Glad you are there to hold a mirror up.

   Comment by John Budris — May 5, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

5. How much more uneducated can a journlist get? Kicking them in the nuts? I truly hope he was exaggerating since that is against the rules. So is biting, eye gouging and fishing hooking. The UFC does not mean no rules or no holds barred. It is a mix of ALL styles, boxing, kick boxing, jiu jitsu, everything and it pits the best of the best against each other.

   That guy is just blind to see how much of an impact the UFC has made in such a short amount of time.

   Mike Tyson isn’t a class act. I don’t know any UFC fighters who have been locked up for raping a woman, beating people up randomly on the street and arrested for cocaine possession.

   It’s sad that they’re so close minded to think UFC

   Comment by Nocturnal — May 5, 2007 @ 7:46 pm

6. Your article was a great read. I really enjoyed it, and loved the way you worded it. Boxing on it’s best day will NEVER be as interesting r exciting as UFC.

   It’s like watching school girls box and men fight in UFC. Now, who wants to see school girls with mittens fight? Not ME.

   Comment by BK — May 6, 2007 @ 1:35 am

7. My comment to Mike Freeman:
   Well, while I’m unsure whether those ‘posts’ you placed in your “column” were, in fact, from real fans, or whether they were just put together in an effort to turn this thing into a race-war or divert the attention away from the only thing that matters, your column was poorly written and your argument was completely without merit. You dare to group together “MMA Fighters” as though they are one in the same, and yet, fail to acknowledge the fact that boxing has had more than its fair share of less-than-law-abiding characters; christ, even the NFL for that matter has had many more of these “criminal types.” I understand that you feel compelled to bash MMA in general and UFC specifically, but, get your facts straight and actually try to make a point rather than doing what you did which was to anger and enrage. Your article read as though spoken by an 8 year old kid on the playground trying to put down his nemesis…why? fear…fear of what? fear of being run over by him/it. The UFC is gaining popularity everyday while boxing continues to fall out of favor. Why? because MMA gives the viewer a little bit of everything. Despite your comments to the contrary, people cannot kick or punch to the balls, and, if an incidental contact were to occur, the individual hit is given unlimited time to recover. I mean, if you want to talk about barbarism, consider the standing 8 count or the fact that a boxer has 10 seconds to stand up after being knocked unconscious. Ever wonder why Ali’s brain no longer works so perfectly? Nothing against the man, but, there’s a reason for this. Boxers get hit and hit hard, their brain swells, they hit the mat, then, they’re given 10 seconds to stand up. Guess what? Ask any doctor and he or she will tell you that the greatest damage will occur after someone has been hit with such force and then continues to receive punishment. In MMA, once an individual is knocked out, even if he’s “out on his feet,” the ref will step in and end the fight. Also, just because boxing has been sanctioned since 1865 or whenever you cited, doesn’t mean that combatants weren’t fighting long before then in hand-to-hand combat using whatever skill-set available. Boxing is a sport, that is correct, however, it is a sport that operates within a very limited set of restricted rules. Does this mean that MMA is not a sport? Why? because MMA does not restrict its fighters to the usage of only their hands? No offense to boxers, but, as evidenced by any one of numerous ex-boxers turned MMA fighters, when a pure striker puts himself in a ring/octagon with an individual who, admittedly, has less boxing skill but has other skills which can be used, the boxer will not stand a chance. He will be taken to the ground and either pummeled from above, or submitted. Again, nothing against the boxer, but, his game has not evolved to the level where he can defend against such techniques-that’s the bottomline. The same goes for any MMA guy who is not as well-versed in jiu-jitsu going against a BJJ expert; he may be able to hold his own for a minute or two, but, eventually, he will get caught and he won’t even know what hit him. In addition, consider the fact that numerous MMA fights go without a single blow being thrown. 2 practitioners of BJJ or Judo may engage in a display of pure ground technique or a ‘throwing clinic.’ That’s what is so great about the sport and so entertaining to watch. I don’t sit around and wait for one guy to knock the other guy senseless, rather, I know that at any moment, someone can be thrown, taken down, leg-locked or any 1 of thousands of different maneuvers. Anyway, point being that rather than attempting to squelch the popularity or rise of MMA by attacking the fighters and stereotyping them as ‘ex-bouncers and knuckle-bashers’ or whatever you called them, you could have written a more objective article about why you prefer boxing. However, I don’t think that was your intention. You weren’t trying to give an objective view or comparison, rather, you were trying to incite the types of responses which you seem to have received. So, I’m sure this is not going to make any difference whatsoever to you, however, if you want to actually be an objective columnist with experience commensurate with your “talk,” then you should actually study MMA, watch films, talk to fighters and trainers, learn about it, maybe even take a class or 2. I’m not saying this will make you a fan, but, at a minimum, you will have a much stronger knowledge base from which to write your columns, and, if asked, you can back up your statements with your own experiences. Because, based on your column, it sounds like you haven’t watched a UFC event since the PPV days when guys like Tank Abbott came out and pounded on people…the sport has evolved and so should you (and no, that’s not a racist statement so don’t even attempt to make it so, I merely meant for you to evolve as a writer)
   Oh, by the way, since this comment is well-written and without racial slurs or profanities, I don’t expect that you’ll post it and no, my feelings won’t be hurt.

   Comment by charlie — May 6, 2007 @ 2:10 pm

8. This guy is just an example of irrisponsible journalism. I’ve read several articles from less high profile sports writers with very strange opinions about the UFC. Journalists need to get educated on the sport before they start banging out articles.

   Remember that people talking trash is what created the UFC. “My style is better than yours.” “Your fighting style wouldn’t stand a chance against mine.” Then someone thought ok lets have a competition and see who’s is better. 15 years later here we are.

   I bet more boxing fans check out the UFC because this writer talks about it. It’s bad talk but good press for the UFC.

   Comment by Jerry Odom — May 7, 2007 @ 11:20 am

9. Boxing is just real scared. The UFC never talks poorly of boxing, because it doesn’t need to do so. Boxing is there own worst enenmy. Let the say whatever they want! The UFC will stay classy and respect all other fighting organizations like it always has. Boxing is just plain crapping there pants.

   Comment by Vic — May 7, 2007 @ 11:29 am

10. Guys you do not have to take on this journalist just for writing his impression about mmma. That is his impression
    and not only his but the impression of a lot people as well.

    I dont know if you notice (you do) but some of them (who doesnt understand mma well )sometitmes write some of the most riddle lines nonetheless,

    lines like: ‘nightclub bouncers, knuckle crackers and’ parolees,
    and ‘Kick the other guy in the nuts’ and the ‘worst league’
    Oh my! none of us who apreciate the sport would have ever written such stumbling but somehow appealing lines.

    Comment by milton cedeño — May 7, 2007 @ 11:53 am

11. these ufc haters are so scared of a mma guy ever taking on a one dimensional boxer that they are always bad mouthing the best sport in the world. The boxing promoters know that it would be a complete destruction for the boxer to get in a fight with a mma guy.i suspect that maybe these morons have been watching old shows of the ufc back when it was no gloves and hardly any rules. There complete ignorence for the sport tells me that simply they are truly terrified of the sport because in reality it cant be stopped.MMA IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE.

    Comment by joe — May 7, 2007 @ 12:04 pm

12. There’s a lot of haters out there. Enough said.

    Comment by DN — May 7, 2007 @ 12:11 pm

13. These sports writer’s and broadcasters who bash the UFC and MMA in general are obviously just uneducated about the sport, and who would’nt be mad about losing their jobs to something they dont even understand haha.

    Comment by brundy13 — May 7, 2007 @ 12:18 pm

14. I have been a boxing for over 20 years. I will not pay 55 dollars anymore to watch fighter run and not stand and fight. I have been a UFC fan since Gracie, Frye, The Beast, and many more. I would love to pay 55 dollars to see Mayweather fight Sherk and get his ass kicked. I do not see any boxer being able to beat any MMA fighter in their respected weight class. Boxing has disappointed me for years and like a kid wanting candy I thaught I would see a good fight with De La Hoya and Mayweather. I regret paying 55 dollars to see Mayweather run and never press the fight.

    Thank You Dana White for a sport I can look forward to see real gladiators fight.I cant wait for Lidell and Rampage fight.

    Thank You,
    Frank Ramirez

    Comment by Frank Ramirez — May 7, 2007 @ 12:23 pm

15. Great Blog and posts,

    Its clear the boxing world is scared - as Vic posted. Their defensive posture reeks of knowing their ship is going down. I only watched Sat’s fight because I was at a party. Most were playing FIFA on XBox 360 during the undercard - lets you know how popular that was. And the fight in itself had good moments, but the all too familiar “who really won - lets have another fight” mantra is being promoted by boxing, while not understanding this very scenario is partly the cause of boxings demise.

    Sure UFC, Pride and others have had close matches, but boxing, due to rampant fraud is defined by it. It got so bad McCain attempted to create a OCngressional Committe to investigate and legislate some form of boxing “normalcy”

    And btw - King himself was in prison when he began promoting fights. And the criminal level of both boxers and past boxers is well documented, as is the horrendous treatment from the sport to these athletes itself.

    And heres a nice update - Dana White apparently received word through UFC’s VP - that Mayweather was “just kidding about the UFC for hype” A mea culpa on his mind, 1/2 before the “fight to bring back boxing”

    That should tell it all…

    Comment by Absolucy — May 7, 2007 @ 12:32 pm

16. letter i wrote to freeman that he’ll prob. never read

    i’m writing about the article you wrote on the UFC. there is no doubt in my mind you recieved many decent responses to what was an ill researched article. i know only printing the stupidest people who wrote in seemed to prove your point. i believe most people will agree that (gasp) there are racist people everywhere and some are mma fans. some might even be boxing fans, i shudder to think. racist dumbasses excluded, i think most ufc fans as well as most ufc fighters are well educated upstanding members of society. alot have collage/university degrees and i can think of no ufc fighter who has been arrested or has given their sport even a degree of shame in my 5 years following the sport. since i am not a boxing fan i don’t feel i have the knowledge to bash them as you have bashed mma. i can only say this, im 20 years old and neither me or anyone i know bought the oscar/floyd fight last weekend. we are all saving our money for liddell/jackson. if u want to gain some real info on “human cockfighting” i suggest you buy the ppv as well. or just keep your mindless bashing of mma going, it makes no difference the sport is here to stay regardless

    Comment by mike hanrahan — May 7, 2007 @ 12:35 pm

17. Boxing is scared. MMA is more exciting and growing.

    They are promotional snakes and who really knows what’s planned behind closed doors. 2 guys were fighting for millions of dollars, yet none had a mark on their faces? FIXED!

    I don’t box or practice MMA, but if you offer me $500 bucks, I’ll leave on mark on anyones face.

    I realize, promotions and marketing are crucial for any event, but I hope that UFC will always be a classy organization.

    It is also time to shut up all the morons that think that a boxer can beat an MMA professional.

    UFC has to maintain a professional atmosphere of the best fighters in the world, not a side show at the circus. If they set up an event of big hype; Dana better make sure he picks his best guy to fight.

    Comment by Jose — May 7, 2007 @ 12:38 pm

18. I am in complete agreement with this article. MMA IS THE FUTURE OF BOXING. In the next 5 to 10 years, I think that we will be seeing a huge percentage of boxers flipping to the MMA cicuit. There is no entertainment in boxing anymore, I mean, most fights look like an old episode of The Three Stooges. All these guys do is go out there and dance around the whole match which usually isn’t how MMA matches go, (exceptions- Arlovski-Sylvia, Sanchez-Koschek). I don’t want to sound like a brute but speaking for the majority of the public, we want blood. My suggestion to all you boxing fans is instead of waiting for these ridiculously amped up “fights” just turn your TV onto DANCING WITH THE STARS instead.

    Comment by ALSHARPTONSUX — May 7, 2007 @ 12:42 pm

19. I only have one thing to say to Freeman. Spend a day training boxing. Then spend a day training muay tai, ju jitsu, kickboxing, and boxing. Then come back and let us know which one was more difficult and which one you think would make you a better fighter.
    Bunch of thugs and parolees?? You might want to do a little more homework on where those MMA fighters come from and hope that you never meet one in a dark alley.

    Comment by Kevin Kretschy — May 7, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

20. Very balanced and well-written piece. You provide a strong defence for MMA and I hope your piece helps in convincing those who have yet to critically think about the sport that there is indeed a thread of true sportsmanship and honor that seems to be more heavily ingrained in MMA participants today than in boxers. It almost seems to be a character prerequisite in order to step into the Octagon under the Dana White management regime.

    Comment by AJ — May 7, 2007 @ 12:44 pm

21. well from what i saw of the boxing match it was rather boring!im not going to pay 50+ bucks to watch that boring s***!

    Comment by bpost — May 7, 2007 @ 12:47 pm

22. Unfortunately there will always be individuals who keep criticizing without justification, that’s part of reality. Nevertheless, MMA fighters ARE smarter, brighter, healthier and better educated than boxers. They are also more skilled than boxers, having knowledge in a wide variety of disciplines and techniques, not only boxers are limited but they continue to suffer the most deaths and brain damage. Not only MMA fighters are PHENOMENAL athletes, they have also displayed and demonstrated grace, integrity, humility, and even class in defeat by far more than boxers.

    Comment by Abe — May 7, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

23. Lets look at the credentials of the fighters in the UFC (and Pride) and compare them to that of the boxing community. Josh Koscheck is working on his 2nd degree (1 a Masters), which is probably more than all 3 of boxings heavyweight champions. Cro Cro serves on his countries parliament, boxers can’t even spell parliament. Most MMA fighters grew up with wrestling, Karate, BJJ and Judo as their sport, with several having become college national champions and Olympians, which is not much different than many boxers, but instead of continuing in a 1-dimensional sport, they became proficient in many in order to determine who is the best fighter in the world. Floyd Mayweather would not be so pretty after Sean Sherk or Kenny Florian elbowed his face in, then dislocated his shoulder with a Kimura. I’d even pay $55 to see that. After I make my family watch MMA and see for themselves how much safer and action-packed it is, nobody watches 12 boring rounds of boxing anymore. I think curling is more popular than boxing now.

    Comment by Kyle — May 7, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

24. UFC and Boxing a combat sport i just went to see combat and read about combat so stop talking and FIGHT!

    Comment by matt the man — May 7, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

25. The statements made to place the ufc/mma in a neagative light are just a ploy to keep the boxing sport in the light of mainstream american combat sports. I’m a diehard fan of the world of mma. The techniques of boxing are good and useful in the mma game, but the sport itself “sucks”. ( my opinion ) There will never exist a greater one on one sport than mma ever. The sport journalists who bash the fighter’s of mma are ignorant mules at least. To the open mind of combat, the ufc/mma are a breath of fresh air, the truth. It will not be long till mainstream america and our mma critics completly understand the beautiful fight game that ufc and other organizations alike provide.

    Comment by Phil — May 7, 2007 @ 1:02 pm

26. Everyone has something to say about MMA but a lot of the writers or TV Show host are very ignorant of the sport and stereotype MMA. Boxing has seen its last PPV, two of boxings best two fighters put on a match that could not even amount to UFC’s worst PPV. If thats all boxing has to offer from their best fighters than boxing just showed the world that boxing isn’t what people want it to be and never will again. If you would of seen De La Hoya or Mayweather at the after party you would not even known they just had a fight, they just put on a little show for the fans and got their money and ran into the sunset. MMA is forever and people just need to accept it.

    Comment by Figueroa — May 7, 2007 @ 1:05 pm

27. Maybe we as fighters should start bighting eachother on the ears when we loose so we can be a classy as boxing!!

    Comment by Corey C — May 7, 2007 @ 1:05 pm

28. I quit paying for and watching boxing when the judges gave Hollyfield the match over the clear winner Lexon Luis. I swore an oath to never pay for another boxing match again, and haven’t.
    AND THEN CAME THE UFC.
    That’s what I love about the UFC, simply put “It is real” and as long as I never have any reason to doubt its authenticity, I will be paying and watching. People want reality! Not fluff! People want the winners to earn their victories and the losers to walk away with class. Just like in the UFC. If a boxer wants a future, He may want to learn to grapple and kick.

    Comment by Kevin — May 7, 2007 @ 1:19 pm

29. Boxing is a joke. I can’t even name one legitimate heavyweight right now. Wladimir K. I guess is the top dog and if he was to step in the octagon with Arlovski or Couture he would get destroyed. During the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight they said one punch couldn’t take out Mayweather, let Jens Pulver land one and see.

    Comment by Chris — May 7, 2007 @ 1:32 pm

30. well you will have people who love UFC and Pride and there are people who love boxing. it doesnt matter what u like. take a look at the past year how many Pay per view events has boxing had? not many y? because it is going down hill, the ufc is much more exciting to watch and more fun to go to the events. u pay 60 bucks for a boxing event and get to watch 3 fights where you bay 40 bucks for a UFC and get 5 or so, and if you actually go to the fight u get to see 9 fights. boxing is the past and it will never come back to the way it was. the UFC is the future and with the UFC buying Pride it is pretty much gonna be unstoppable. so boxing fans to bad but its on its way out. so deal with it.

    Comment by ben — May 7, 2007 @ 1:33 pm

31. I watched De La Hoya-Mayweather in the hopes that Mayweather would fight. I should have known he would punch and run in a bout that could have been great but wasn’t. I have never been sorry paying for a MMA PPV event. The so-called journalist who wrote about MMA obviously has never seen a stand up fighter square off against a submission specialist. The strategy in such a bout is much more interesting than watching Mayweather punch and run. While I still love boxing I would much more quickly pay money to see a MMA event. I’m counting the days until Liddell-Jackson.

    Comment by Joe — May 7, 2007 @ 1:34 pm

32. It sounds to me that the boxing world is scared that another organization HAS taken over in the fighting world. what took many years for the majority of boxers to reach higher status and recognition only takes a few fights for UFC newcomers. By criticizing MMA, you’re also criticizing thousands upon thousands of fan’s tastes.

    Comment by Stacy — May 7, 2007 @ 1:35 pm

33. CHUCK LIDDELL - B.S. in Accounting, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
    RANDY COUTURE - B.A. in German, OSU, served 6 yrs. in US Army
    RICH FRANKLIN - B.A. in Mathematics, University of Cincinnati
    FORREST GRIFFIN - B.A. in Political Science, Univ. of Georgia
    (He was also a police officer, far from a thug, parolee)
    JOSH KOSCHECK - B.A. in Criminal Justice, Edinboro Univ., Pennsylvania, Currently working on his Masters’ degree.
    JEFF MONSON - B.A. in Psychology, University of Illinois, Master’s in Psychology, Univ. of Minnesota, Diluth.
    RASHAD EVANS - B.A. in Psychology, Michigan State University
    JENS PULVER - B.A. in Criminal Justice/Sociology, Boise State
    ELVIS SINOSIC - Degree in Information Technology
    MIRKO CRO CROP - Police officer, Special Police (Anti-Terrorist) for his country, Croatia and also a member of the Croatian Parliament.

    Above you will find just a handful, and most notably the more familiar names in the MMA world. Just at a glance, these individuals, have quite a strong resume, outside the octagon. And these are certainly not all of them. Many other MMA fighter, including some above own their own business, albeit MMA facilities, which teach young and old discipline and dedication while also keeping our youth off the streets and out of jail through giving them a release and something to work toward.

    I watch UFC because if I am going give my hard-earned money to a sport (via Pay-Per-Views, apparel, accessories, or spend my time watching), I want to watch individuals who contribute to society in positive manner. Not a bunch of individuals who make far to much money and outside of having a particular athletic talent, are virtually non-contributing to the betterment of society. (I am talking about the Floyd Mayweathers, Michael Vicks, Mike Tysons, Randy Moss’, Kobe Bryants and Allen Iversons of the sports world)

    In closing, please show me another sport with the amount of accumulated education combined between its performers and the class and sportsmanship displayed after virtually every MMA fight. Fact is, it doesn’t exist. Which is sad. It is true, as a whole, America is making millionares out of thugs and otherwise parolees, but not in MMA, more like basketball, football, and yes, boxing.

    Comment by Cody — May 7, 2007 @ 1:47 pm

34. The MMA and Boxing are like apples and oranges, I like both sports, but for different reasons, Boxing currently lacks the star power that made boxing matches exciting. MMA to be more specific the UFC is incredible and has some very exciting characters who are not only skilled fighters, but who are very likable and relatable. I love both sports and I think that Boxing will be back in the spot light at some point, but I think the UFC is here to stay and will just keep growing, both are incredible sports with great athletes, I think that we should be grateful to have both sports.

    Comment by LaVon — May 7, 2007 @ 1:50 pm

35. I just hope that Freeman reads this and realizes how stupid he is. Great article. Go UFC!!!

    Comment by Tim — May 7, 2007 @ 1:53 pm

36. I have followed UFC since # 2 In 1993. Anyone who thinks boxing is still good and wants to bash UFC CAN GO FUCK THERE MOTHERS

    Comment by Eirik — May 7, 2007 @ 1:54 pm

37. Great Article!!!!

    It’s obvious that all the boxing enthusiasts are trembling at the fact that the UFC is growing so rapidly. Boxing will not put a good quality fight on public T.V. You either have to pay $55 on PPV or have to have HBO or Showtime to get a quality fight. Lets be honest Friday night fights doesn’t exactly put out great fights. The UFC does that. They showed the Gracie vs Hughes fight 1 week after it was over on cable tv. They put great fights on the air for everyone to see. That support then makes the average fight watchers to want to pay a little extra to see a good PPV fight.

    And lets be completely honest the UFC is much more exciting than boxing will ever be. They don’t drowned you with 15 rounds or dancing and jabbing. The referee has the right to ban retreating during a fight which makes the fighters come at one another. Unlike the De La Hoya vs maywhether fight where they just danced around throwing jabs, if i remember there was no knockdowns what so ever BORING. The UFC is just better and the boxing enthusiasts know this and are scared.

    Comment by Mika Stevenson — May 7, 2007 @ 1:55 pm

38. The De La Hoya vs. Maywether fight was not worth the money. MMA has taken over and there is no stopping it! Those are the most exiting 15 minutes that any sports fan will ever experience from a ppv event and unlike boxing some of the undercard fights are just as good as the main event. MMA fighters are much better athletes and I would love to watch any boxer jump in the ring or octagon with the likes of a Matt Hughes. They wouldn’t stand a chance. Thank you UFC.

    Comment by Yoelvis Rodriguez — May 7, 2007 @ 2:00 pm

39. I wrote Mr. Freeman a letter. It was very respectful no racial slurs or anything. Hopefully he will email me back and see what he has to say. I’ll post it here for everyone to see his response to my email and see if it’s takes the form of his articles.

    Comment by Thomas — May 7, 2007 @ 2:06 pm

40. Wow MMA fans are really sticking it to the boxing pundits. Good thing too, because I’ve heard enough out of those pre-historic boxing fans. The last time I watched any boxing was when I thought I was watching my favourite boxer of all time Mike Tyson and the dude ended up biting someone, swearing about eating someones kids, raping people, cocaine possession, etc. etc. And that was the last big ticket the world of boxing ever really had. UFC fighters are held to very high standards and when ever they step over the line Dana boots them the hell out, Dana is the Don King of the new generation and he will be much more successful and more honest than that dude. De La Hoya and Mayweather super bout to save boxing was the most boring fight I’ve ever seen, than I woke up this morning to see talk of a re-match, who wants to see this? I rented the fight because of the hype of something big and figured I’d give them a chance to redeem themselves, but they still use the giant pillow gloves and dance for 36 minutes, so I will never watch boxing ever again. So Floyd if you do decide to get into an octagon and fight Sean Sherk, I have advice for you my arrogant friend, Pray to God Sean gets sick and can’t make it because you’ll never walk out of that octagon a winner.

    Comment by whytey27 — May 7, 2007 @ 2:12 pm

41. It must be kept in mind that boxing and MMA are two different sports. This is akin to say, rugby and American rules football. Surely there are players in the NFL that can take the skill set that they have and apply that set to rugby (and vice versa), and do well, but to say that the New Zealand All Blacks could beat the Dallas Cowboys in a game of American football is not in the real of possibility. That the Dallas Cowboys could beat the All-Black in a game of rugby is also not in the realm of possibility.
    Sherk v. Mayweather in boxing – given the skill set of both athletes, you would certainly have to give the nod to Mayweather. Sherk v. Mayweather in MMA – given the skill set of the athletes, it would be ludicrous to suggest that Mayweather would win –having said that, a quick knockout in MMA is always a possibility for any fighter on any given day.
    Now, if Mayweather trained MMA, and expanded his skillset, I think he could make an exceptional MMA fighter – that likely will not happen until the purses in MMA get bigger and/or the purses in boxing get smaller. We are not seeing the purses get smaller in boxing per se, but the purses in MMA are increasing, albeit slowly.
    Do I enjoy watching boxing/ the answer is no, I find it too boring. Having said that, I most certainly respect Mayweather and De LA Hoya for the athletes they are, and the things they can do as boxers, just as I respect Shaquile O’Neil, and David Beckham, though I cannot stand to watch basketball or soccer, as I find them boring as well.
    Mr. Freeman, can write about his dislike of MMA all he wants. What bothers me, is that in doing so, he should not be disrespecting the athletes of MMA.

    Comment by Roderick Onofeychuk — May 7, 2007 @ 2:23 pm

42. I’m happy that I don’t have to watch a painfully slow post fight interview held by Larry Merchant. Somebody shoot me when he talks.

    Comment by Chris — May 7, 2007 @ 2:32 pm

43. I couldn’t agree more. I’m a former college wrestler and have been an MMA fan for years. THe biggest reason MMA and the UFC are becoming so successful is because the fights leave you satisfied and let you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. The politics that pollute boxing through promoters and greedy network executives have been stripped away and put in the backround with UFC’s relationship with spike and Dana white leaving it up to one man to make fights happen (joe Silva)… There arent a million weight classes and a million more belts to win! You know who the champs are and you know who you’ve gotta beat!

    Comment by John — May 7, 2007 @ 2:33 pm

44. Dana White has challenged Mayweather to fight in a UFC match, how huge would that be for MMA?

    Comment by Dan — May 7, 2007 @ 2:43 pm

45. Grant,

    First, thank you for speaking up for the MILLIONS of MMA fans out there!

    Second, for Freeman to call MMA competitors “thugs” or “parolee’s” is absurd and wildy inaccurate.
    Matt Lindland is an Olympic silver medalist in wresting, Rich Franklin was a high school teacher before he was a fighter, Roulan Gardner is an Olympic gold medalist, Chuck Liddell has an accounting degree (like you already mentioned) Randy Couture is the face of respectability, at 43 years old he is still competing and winning titles on top of being one hell of a good person.

    MMA is a combination of many combat sports, most of them being OLYMPIC sports, like Judo, Wrestling, and Boxing. Not to mention Thai Boxing, which blows traditional boxing out of the water, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which is widely considered the most effective form of hand to hand combat. Those guys have to be well versed in a number sports that are incredibly difficult on their own. MMA bashers need to wake up and do some background research before spouting off at the mouth about things that they don’t even understand.

    Comment by Cbingham — May 7, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

46. Wow, I wasn’t even aware that an actual sports writer would go so low as to bash another sport and to do it with so much passion, at least when Jim Rome talks trash it is about a particular person and not about an entire sport, this guy just sounds like he hasn’t even done any research saying that people are getting kicked in the nuts. If he were to do some research he would know that went away in the mid 90’s. I think if somebody educated him on MMA he may think differently, although sometimes you can’t teach old dogs new tricks so maybe not, it sounds like he doesn’t even want to know what MMA is all about. Keep it real Grant

    Comment by Scott — May 7, 2007 @ 2:49 pm

47. Dana White ensures to stack his fight cards with the best fighters possible to present the best fights to mma fans. He acknowledges the corruption that has plagued boxing in recent years, and strives to execute a business strategy in the complete opposite direction.

    Somehow, I’m really in question to the recent De La Hoya/Mayweather fight. Every time he used his jabs, it rocked Mayweather’s head back. Those few hits were his most effective shots the entire fight. But for some reason, he never used it again. When asked after the fight why he refrained from using the jab, he basically answered “I just didn’t feel like it was my night to use it.” Although, he knew they were his most effective shots. Was the fight fixed? I don’t know. But it concerns me that boxing’s biggest fight in years ended with both fighters leaving without any marks.

    As far as Freeman’s article bashing the UFC, all I can truly say is he better start doing his homework if he ever wishes to be regarded as a legitimate sportswriter. Boxing is a great sport. UFC is a great sport. But both should never be compared to each other. As British Light Heavyweight contender, Michael Bisping, best described it, “It’s like trying to compare Rugby with American Football.” They’re both entirely different.

    “If a boxer or an MMA athlete were to fight each other, who would win?” — The answer all lies on which set of rules they’re fighting at. But with respect to versatility, the MMA fighter is given the upperhand. He/she is the more well-rounded, complete athlete. Boxers lose their advantage once a fight is taken onto the ground. And many know that street fights often end up that way.

    Comment by Dave Carreno — May 7, 2007 @ 2:54 pm

48. There is some truth to all this, BUT at the same time you have to ask yourself what do people love watching??? Theres a reason why people love chuck liddell and vanderlei silva and mirko crocop, the answer? They are strikers! People will always love seeing striking matches they are the best, ground and pound gets boring after a while it almost looks like stuff you seen in high school so sometimes when I watch a ufc ppv I leave and come back for fights like chuck and rampage, when i have guest over i notice the boredom for some when theres two guys on the floor and just pecking away at eachother, but when they stand up even the crowd cheers, what does that tell you they love seeing punches thrown, thats why they like the pittbull, i like tito for his attitude not his g and p, and in that i think boxing gives people that slugfest they want to see, dont get me wrong im a big ufc fan and a huge pride fan, but the fights that ignite the event are when striking happens, rampage and chuck theres gonna be bombs thrown there thats why itll be great, but thats why you see big money in boxing because people love slugfests. Im still a fan but to say you get 5 fights for ufc ppv for less you also have to remember alot are no names and boring, but when you see delahoys fist fly almost at light speed its exciting, thats why people love boxing. Also you see people like chris leben who cries on the show and thinks hes a great fighter but you see a professional like anderson silva just strike and knee his lights out in seconds, Its the striking thats entertaining but the occasional triangle choke and arm bar is cool but grnd and pnd is boring and i know my opinion is my opinion but if you wanna make the money im sure theres alot of people out there that think the same, i see it when we have get togethers to watch the ufc ppvs and everyone talks and leave during them boring grnd and pnd matches, but hey im gonna order the chuck and rampage ppv, i just didnt order them last couple almost didnt seem worth it. Look at the nick diaz and gomi fight it almost seemed like a superfight with all that striking man i was impressed, nick diaz may have lost a couple of fights in ufc but i was hugely entertained in that fight. You also have to remember delahoya got 25 mil and maywether got 10 mil how many poundings does a ufc fighter have to take to get a fractions of that? chuck and randy 250000, id rather go 12 rounds and get 40 times that for one fight, but i do like some of the ufc fighters.

    Comment by Ray — May 7, 2007 @ 2:56 pm

49. Ya who ever wrote this is dead off. MMA is the new sport of the world. Boxing is dead. I’ll say it one more time BOXING is dead. Nobody even likes boxing anymore. Every person watching MMA knows boxing is gay.How can someone bash a sport they Sh!T about. WHo ever the azz that wrote this is and is just mad MMA is the #1 sport in the US, and UFC is leading it. I bet Liddell VS Rampage fight will not only make more money then Mayweather VS Oscar will get better ratings 2.

    Comment by Joe Miller Mr. MMA — May 7, 2007 @ 3:00 pm

50. My response to Mr. Freeman, short and to the point:

    This is Al Yu from MMAWeekly.com.

    “Caged IGNORANCE that is Mixed Martial Arts.” ???

    I love CBS Sportsline, it is a reputable and great place. However, I truly feel bad that readers had to endure through the inept rantings that just appeared on our monitors.

    Regardless of how ignorant Mr. Freeman truly is, his disdain for MMA is apparent. As a fan of boxing myself, this is one of the lowest points in the sweet science’s history.

    I would offer a rebuttal to Mr. Freeman but I’m sure it will fall on deaf ears; as well as the thousands of e-mails/letters that this “article” will garner from MMA and Boxing fans.

    Everyone is entitled to free speech and Mr. Freeman is probably thinking he’s gained a bit of notoriety from this uneducated piece. I refuse to let this absurd “article” represent the great sport of boxing. Shame on you Mr. Freeman.

    Sincerely,
    Al Yu
    MMAWeekly.com
    alyu@mmaweekly.com

    Comment by Al Yu — May 7, 2007 @ 3:08 pm

51. I need to put in my 2 cents. Boxing cannot beat MMA, period.
    Boxing is to weak as MMA is too strong.

    Comment by 2 cents — May 7, 2007 @ 3:16 pm

52. I live in Puerto Rico where Boxing is really important. However, I love the UFC. Dana White and the Spike TV channel have gotten many, many people here interested in UFC. I personally would like to see some Boxing vs. UFC. GO ahead and put some boxer in with MMA and let them go to work. BUT, let each one use his skills, fully.. TIme will tell.. And just for fun… Maybe, Don King vs. Dana White… Go Dana!!!

    Comment by Mike — May 7, 2007 @ 3:20 pm

53. I WILL STILL ONLY BUY UFC FIGHTS AND NOT BOXING EVENTS!

    Comment by TOM — May 7, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

54. Boxing will soon be on the sidelines, waiting for their chance to get into the game,but that wont happen. see mma is it, bottom line. Boxing is in the past and has been on a down fall even before mma was popularized by the ufc. Then again we are forgetting that mma has been popular every where for years before the u.s started the ufc. Mayweather is a one trick pony a chump, i would even go so far as to say a bitch. After dana afford him a great deal of money to fight sean sherk, mayweather grabbed his little blanket and got right back into that dark little corner of the room and start back tracking what he said. I am 100 percent positive that a pure bred boxer going into the mma would definitley get the shit knocked out of them while they werte on their back. I love boxing always but boxing will not die it will be a training course for real fighters.

    Comment by michael — May 7, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

55. Boxing is dying a slow painful death. Its not hard to see just check the ppv numbers. The poor bastard who is misfortunate enough to have a job as a boxer/boxing reporter knows that his days are numbered. I hope that when the ufc goes to hbo and blows boxing out of the water that all of the so called fight professionals are out looking for jobs reporting curling above the artic circle. besides any sport that calls don king and mike tyson a professional is in deep trouble

    Comment by jim — May 7, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

56. Mike Freeman I take it was born before Christ,boxing has become so bad,I felt bad for the person who purchase it were we watch it. This fight was so bad that if Oscar did’nt chase Pretty Boy there were of been nearly 16000 pissed off fans and alot of pay per view buyers. Atleast with UFC chances are your getting a KO a TAP OUT or a decison here and there but atleast you get score it,were in boxing there scoring system sucks..Mike Freenman needs to be taken to an Event,place ina seat tied down and force to watch it since he’s probaly has’nt seen a fight and Jim Lamply he does needs to shut up and not say anything,please he went MMA on his girlfriend

    Comment by Timothy Galindo — May 7, 2007 @ 3:29 pm

57. I thought this article was not only extremely informative, but right on the money. I grew up watching boxing. It was fast-paced, exciting, and great to watch.. at the time. The second I got the chance to enjoy a UFC event, my interests had changed forever. Quite frankly, I think this is what angers boxing promoters the most — they are losing much of their fan base to the UFC and other MMA affiliates, and this angers them. Well sorry to boxing…but it’s going away, and fast. I thought this article was extremely well-written and it was a pleasure reading it. If you’re not flocking to the fast-paced excitement MMA has to offer, then leave it be.. but don’t bash it because it’s different. Those who do not understand MMA become haters of it because of its popularity but quite frankly, it’s growing and it’s here to stay.. so get used it.

    Comment by Jared — May 7, 2007 @ 3:33 pm

58. Great article. It’s great to see a journalist with a pro mma attitude.

    Comment by Keith — May 7, 2007 @ 3:51 pm

59. I used the contact form at the article to send the following message to Mike Freeman:

    Why would you post this letter at a column featured at a Web site of cbsSportsLine.com stature? I would imagine that many journalists receive letters containing insults, profanity, general stupidity. However they do not generalize or prejudge an entire class of people in response.
    You use Web space as valuable as cbsSportsLine.com to post a narcissistic mental conversation with an obviously sick or troubled person. That’s not right.
    And my opinion is that the UFC is a sport. It is a newly sanctioned sport. It is a growing sport. Boxing has and probably will continue to decrease in popularity. Boxing is and was and always will be a great sport. It may and likely will be unable to sustain the frequency and/or intensity of the marketing and production that is equal to it’s own past or present performance or the peformance of the UFC.

    Read the article by Mike Freeman here:
    http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10165946

    Comment by Zack — May 7, 2007 @ 4:24 pm

60. Jim Lampley durring the telecast of the fight Saturday made similar negative comments towards MMA. He was once hosting the Jim Rome show and made similar comments and then was bombarded by MMA fans correcting him and telling him he did not know what he was talking about, and he admitted it that day. This is just the older generation showing fear and ignorance. UFC has made it despite lack of of the main stream sports media, these guys have not watched it, did not wrestle in high school or ever, do not take the time to study and be informed. My buddy has a son doing Junior Wrestling, and last practice I went to the entire room was full. To me that is all because of MMA, combat sports gaining popularity is good for everyone!!

    Comment by Owen K — May 7, 2007 @ 4:31 pm

61. The easiest way to describe the guy who wrote this article is that he is an idiot. The old farts who keep bashing MMA do not have a clue about the sport and don’t even take them time to watch it or study it. The fight last Saturday marked the last great fight in boxing along with it’s death. Now it is time for the rise of MMA and the UFC. I guess these old farts that degrade MMA are pissed because they are going to be out of a job soon.

    Comment by josh — May 7, 2007 @ 4:39 pm

62. It is still good to see that some people are thinking with their brains before they speak thier opionions. Freeman is a idiot and needs to have his “nuts kicked” as grant put it. It is sad to see those who judge ufc as a barbaric sport and uncivilized when they know nothing about it. Since its creation the ufc has had no deaths. NONE! Boxing has had coutnless despite it being as regulated as it can be. Next, the ufc has had not nearly as many injuries depite being a sport where arm bars, foot hooks, and knee bars are allowed. Boxing once again wins. So if Freemans point was to sound like a dumb sh*& and someone who has no idea what he is talking about.

    Comment by Robert — May 7, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

63. This is the response I sent, feel free to publish this:

    I have to be honest Mike…I am a mixed martial artist/practioner of boxing and ju jit su…I am also a doctor/therapist. I truly enjoy the sport. It allows me, much like boxing, to relieve my aggression in a healthy manner… under rules and regulations. There is a beauty and science to the sport…much like boxing. However, I feel that although boxing most definitely is a sport that one can truly appreciate, a sport of strategy and intelligence, mixed martial arts (at least in my mind) is the next step. It takes nothing away from boxing. However, stylistically, the attraction to MMA is that it pits martial arts fighters against each other from DIFFERENT disciplines, and allows the viewer to see how one is able to adapt their style of fighting to another’s style. This is the excitement of the sport. There are always interesting prsonalities in any sport. I am the first to admit my disappointment in Melvin Guillard for his unsportsmanlike conduct when he fought Joe Stevenson in the UFC…he disrespected himself and his fans. I was excited that Joe tapped him out in the first 30 seconds…but Joe is a CLASS ACT as I have met him personally as are many of the fighters.

    My gripe with you is that you blame people for racist thoughts and comments, call others ignorant, yet you initiated this by criticizing Mixed Martial Arts wihtout a firm background of what it is all about. You lump together all martial arts fighters as animals and brutes. Don’t you think that is slightly ignorant? Let’s see if you have the “guts” to print this response.

    You have a right to your opinion, I just feel that as a national columnist, you might think about how you express it before you write it.

    Find me a boxer other than De La Hoya who has the clas of MMA stars such as Randy Couture, Joe Stevenson or many others.

    Doctor/school psychologist or not, I’m a fighter first. Even at 29, injury prone and all, I’d work for the UFC, fight my way to the top, if Dana White looked in my direction. The man is a genius. Ultimate Fighting is a sport of champions. If you can’t see that then there is something gravely wrong.

    Dr. Matthew Morand
    Proud member of
    Tiger Schulmann’s-MMA ( an organization filled with intelligent, articulate individuals who watch and compete in mixed martial arts.

    Comment by Dr. Matthew Morand — May 7, 2007 @ 5:17 pm

64. The reason there are no big names in boxing is because the kids who used to grow up to be great boxers are now growing up to be MMA fighters. And lets be honest De La Hoya or Maywether would not stand a chance against even the more average UFC fighter of the same weight in an MMA match. Of course if you put them in a boxing match they would win via a very boring decision.

    Comment by Ryan Wooton — May 7, 2007 @ 6:01 pm

65. This artical is interesting, but at the same time you can see that this freeman guy is just ignorant. First I would like to say i teach MMA and every one of my students is respectfull and a decent person, Most that do this sport understand the brutal nature of it but also understand it’s a sport. you can not classify UFC or MMA fighters as thugs or whatever that guy said. Most have grown up in the martial arts and for anyone who has done martial arts before knows that there is a mindset that goes along side it, WE say “Respect our family, our community, and our country” I don’t see to many boxing gyms that practice creeds like that let alone any?? I think the reson people look at this sport and only see the violence is purely not being educated on the subeject. It’s like looking at a heavy scince equasion and say’n “thats stuffs for idiots” just cause I don’t understand it. First before you should speek on a subject especialy someone who writes for a “mainstreem” paper or mag should have at least basic knowlage on the subject, if not in-depth knowlage, if freeman did have such knowlage this artical would have never been published. pardon the spelling I’m a karate teacher not a english teacher

    Comment by Mike Silvestri — May 7, 2007 @ 6:33 pm

66. I have to agree with everyone. Boxing had it’s last hurrah with the De La Hoya-Mayweather “fight”. I’ve been a boxing fan since I was 5. My whole family were boxers, dad, uncles, cousins, etc. I’ve also been an MMA fan since UFC 1. I always watched BOTH & defended BOTH. Not anymore! I will NEVER buy a boxing match on PPV EVER AGAIN! I was VERY hyped about this fight. Then more dissapointed after watching it. Mayweather ran & danced the whole fight! Sure you try to avoid getting hit by someone stronger, but you still fight & press on. De La Hoya didn’t help out much either, looking tired & weak, but I do give him respect for at least pressing the action & not being scared to fight. Saying all that Dana is so right about how every UFC card WILL be exciting! Not true in boxing anymore where everyone dodges each other until it doesn’t matter or they’re too old to give a good fight. Ok, sorry I rambled a bit, so I’ll end by saying VIVA MMA! VIVA UFC! Can’t wait for Rampage to kick Chuck’s ass!!!!!

    Comment by Jonnie Las Vegas — May 7, 2007 @ 6:36 pm

67. I think it is great to see a so called boxing pundit discuss MMA/UFC on ppv, you know why? Because it shows MMA/UFC has arrived to the mainstream and now the boxing world is quaking in their high laced, tinsel glistened, boxing boots!

    Like many viewers I was first taken back by the comments, I could not believe he would venture so low. But you know what; he just pushed the fight fans further away.

    What boxing needs to do is stop creating weight class after weight class and actually to try to have some CLASS!

    The “sweet science…with a bitter after taste!”

    Comment by Jonathan — May 7, 2007 @ 7:43 pm

68. Thanks Grant! It seems that somewhere in the media there ARE people who can write about sport and not just generalise its athletes. This twat (Mike Freeman)is generakising some of the hardest working athletes on earth, he fails to see REAL blood sweat and tears can and will prevail. I think in the not too distant future hell be writing for Vince McMahon about how this so called “Sports Entertainment” is changing TV. He can play the role model card all he wants but if he wants kids to be walkin around chanting this sucks or asshole or askin women to show them their “puppies” then WWE creates fantastic role models. But if you want kids to grow self confidence and feel they can achieve their goals by just putting their mind and persevering then they can jsut look at what Ken Shamrock has come up from, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddel to just name a few. Anyways this is becoming a ramble (SORRY!), im just really annoyed the rubbish Freeman had the audacity to write!

    Comment by Aj — May 7, 2007 @ 8:35 pm

69. So it’s unanimous, Mike Freeman is a schmuck.

    Comment by Zack — May 7, 2007 @ 8:40 pm

70. I’m an MMA fighter and it really bothers me when I hear stories and articles bashing the sport. I repsect boxing and all martial arts, but I prefere MMA because it takes every aspect of martial arts not just punching and illegal elbows like boxing. Boxing is too one dimensional. You always know what is going to happen in a boxing match, one oppenent will punch the other and the opposite will recipricate. In an MMA bout there is a whole world of possibilites on the ground. A fighter can be getting his butt handed to him while they are on their feet and then tap his oppenent out with a sweet armbar or kimora. I think boxing fans and people that are really for boxing and against MMA are just upset because their sport is under attack and most people would agree they would react the same way if something they loved and had a passion for was being threatened.

    Comment by Matthew — May 7, 2007 @ 9:20 pm

71. Ignorance has always played a huge role in any sport. MMA is going through a boom-stage and has been selling stellar and its very exciting. No doubt, MMA is very exciting but to put out your personal opinions and scream than MMA is the future and you hope Boxing dies because of one mans ignorance only turns you into a hypocrate.

    Living in a Mexican community and the latino community only growing I can tell you hat Boxing will not die. Oscar vs. Floyd was a very good boxing match that was tactical and if you were actually going for one of these guys you had to feel the adrenaline rush. Dont put down the match jsut because it isnt your taste. I enjoyed it far more than I enjoyed Matt Hughes laying on Royce Gracie for 4 minutes. It lived up to much more hype than Shamrock vs. Ortiz II and III did. Even Liddell vs. Ortiz was rather lackluster.

    BUT, since you have passion for MMA you felt the adrenaline rush and ifyou were going for Ortiz or Liddell you felt something in your soul that made you watch the match 2 seconds in advance picturing your own image and hopes.

    Boxing matches like Gatti vs. Ward and Barrerra vs. MoralesI and II were bloodfest and looked more painful than anything I would wish upon any human being. Just in March Barrerra vs. Marquez lived up to an amazing adrenaline rush.

    Boxing will always appeal to boxing fans. Its a religion in Mexico and Puerto Rico. It’s held at high regard in England. I still remember watching Tito Ortiz on his fists cheering on Feranado Vargas. Dont put down a sport which has set down the rules and made combat sports possible.

    Boxing faught a much tougher battle than MMA when the Medical Association tried to ban the sport.Christians tried to ban the sport calling it a barbarric sport. Boxing created rounds and pound4pound. Boxing faught to make a sport like MMA possible.

    Watch Fernando Vargas vs. Oscar De La Hoya. How about Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Taylor. Gatti vs .Ward. Morales vs. Barrerra which was the most burtal fight ive seen in any sport.

    Respect each other. if you dont like a sport, that is fine. Express your opinion but keep it as an opinion. Love MMA because you love it… not because its growing.

    Comment by Eric Anaya — May 7, 2007 @ 9:33 pm

72. wow this is the biggest pile of bull i have ever read!! it is unbelievable to me how the sport of boxing has diminished over the past 5 to 10 years. Why has it gone away?? UFC thats why. Ultimate fighting championships have some of the best fighters in the world. They are some of the best athletes in the world as well. Stop bashing the UFC!! i will admit that UFC would not exist if it werent for the sport of boxing, but just leave UFC alone on this. To add onto it Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La hoya is the first thing i heard about boxing in like 3 years. stop bashing UFC, what Dana White has done with that company is unbelievable and he should be praised for it, not put down.

    Comment by Matt — May 7, 2007 @ 10:13 pm

73. I think its pretty much all been said here. The old guard of boxing is afraid. They do not understand MMA nor do they want to, they just want it to go away. But it will not. Boxing will never become extinct, but it is fast being relegated to a supporting role and nothing more in the world of MMA. It is a sport now, not this “human cockfighting” nonsense it used to be (John McCain’s term there). It requires more athleticism, more skill, and is frankly more entertaining.

    That Freeman schmuck should be pulled from the site. Reading what he said, that blind hate, to me it was similar to listening to an avowed racist ramble on about whichever color he hates at the moment. I almost feel bad for the guy. Almost.

    Oh, and Liddell is so going to win. Rampage can’t stand with him, and nobody can take him down.

    Comment by Mike B — May 7, 2007 @ 11:02 pm

74. Grant… Well said! I have enjoyed many boxing matches in the past and maybe some in the future. That said, I am an avid UFC fan and can cleary see the impact of this sport, not only in the U.S but overseas as well. Take the ten best fighters that pro boxing has to offer and put them in the UFC with their ten best fighters. There is no doubt the boxers would be destroyed. Now that’s a great pay per view!

    Comment by Joe — May 8, 2007 @ 12:27 am

75. Thank you for standing up for MMA!

    Comment by Brandon — May 8, 2007 @ 12:31 am

76. It’s all about the money, and the UFC is growing while boxing continues to shrink. I also think that the overall stature of Boxing is shrinking and reporters like Freeman (and Jim Lampley from HBO) just can’t stand that. They would be bashing any other kind of fighting if its popularity was growing as fast as MMA, whether it was Judo, Tae Kwan-Do, Greco-Roman wrestling, or thumb wrestling.

    Anyone like Mike Freeman, or foul-mouthed Floyd Mayweather, who think that MMA fighters are not professional athletes are absolutely crazy. The UFC, Pride, and now even the IFL has bunches of collegiate wrestlers, Olympic athletes, Golden Glove boxers, and world champion martial artists (Muy Thai, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, etc). If Mayweather is ever man enough to fight Sean Sherk, I will definitely pay money to see that!

    Does anyone ever notice that Dana White seems to be able to put together fights that fans want to see? Maybe that’s another reason that boxing just doesn’t get the viewers anymore, the days of exciting match-ups between legitimate title contenders seem to be almost gone, so now everyone knows they can see exciting fights in the UFC on every fight card.

    Comment by Bobby — May 8, 2007 @ 12:55 am

77. Mayweather says “put any one of our guys in the UFC and he’ll be the champ…” Alright Mayweather, you say your the best, how bout you fight in the UFC?

    Comment by tcop85 — May 8, 2007 @ 1:31 am

78. Mixed Martial Arts is much better at boxing because thiers so many different ways you can win, and lose. 85% of most boxing fights end with a judges decision after a boaring smack down fight of two very exhausted boxers, especially after an insane 10 rounds…. thats like a friggin’ half hour!

    Boxing and Golden Glove in MMA is a plus, stand up fights are just awsome, what people under rate is that the UFC has seen many boxing matches that don’t go to the ground, but are 10 times more exciting than a “safe distance play” boxing match where everyone just wants to see someone get knocked out. KO’s are all boxing lives for, its almost like an art, but you see the think about MMA is that when you combine all different types of arts toghether mixed with street tactics it makes for an exciting bout.

    It all boils down to this in the end.

    MMA has all the respect in the world for boxing, but if you’re a pro MMA fight and confront a pro boxer on the street, 99% chance hes gonna lose, he just better hope that big graping shot puts you out… because in the end… thats all hes got up his ass.

    Comment by Jorge Gurgel — May 8, 2007 @ 2:02 am

79. Boxing is usually boring. If any sport is infested with the criminal element history shows it to be boxing. Imagine if Big John McCarthy had been the ref in the Mayweather/De La Hoya fight. All we would have heard was, “Come on guys, let’s go!” Jim Lampley can take a walk off the dock with this Freeman character.

    Comment by Ron — May 8, 2007 @ 2:45 am

80. First of all this freeman should be more proffessional. UFC is a sports, many of its fighters are educated, many of them are former athletes competing in other sports and most of all the show great sportsman ship and class after there bouts. And about criminals as grant said most of them are boxers. They trash talk about UFC. Mayweather took a low blow at UFC saying he can knock them out in less than a minute and Sean Sherk in his respective weight class said ‘i’ll step into the ring with you tommorow’. Where’s mayweather? HE KNOWS HE’LL GET HIS ASS KICKED.

    Comment by Karim Girgis — May 8, 2007 @ 3:03 am

81. I have been a boxing enthusiast as long as I can remember… watching boxing with my father, uncles, friends has brought me immense happiness. I love boxing. I still make an effort to go to the gym two or three times a week to work out and try to spar at least once a week. The only thing I would like to say is that Boxing and MMA are very different sports, and for anyone to try to equate the two makes no sense at all… I enjoy MMA, I really like watching Pride, in the same manner that I truly enjoy Muay Thai, Judo, Jiu Jitsu… Fighting sports are the best because they are the only true sport… everything else is a cheap rip-off of what true sports are… fighting. I suppose that even when it comes to our opinions, we as fighters, tend to want to start something. I say to everyone, enjoy your choice of martial sport and let the others be. Boxing is not going to go away, and as far as MMA is concerned, it has a long way to go, even with all the great strides of the last few years. There are contrasting philosophies when it comes to boxing and MMA, and they are not compatible. Let each one be. I happen to enjoy both and watch each one with different expectations and criteria. Above all, I suggest that we as enthusiasts, respect the sport and ourselves. “Those who live, are those who fight” - Victor Hugo (who wrote Les Miserables… for those who are not familiar with the name)

    Comment by Raphael — May 8, 2007 @ 3:12 am

82. ALOT OF GOOD POINTS MADE*

    Comment by DanBobTHornton — May 8, 2007 @ 7:01 am

83. I do not understand why these people out there bashing the ufc maybe is publicity for them selves attention feens they have no idea that these guys train super hard and most of them are educated down humble men you rarely will find in boxing guys like that examples of ali, delahoya , paquia, chavez etc… I am a boxing fan and a ufc fan a practitioner of jujitsu and recently started training mma UFC/mma rules!! a lot of respect send to mma fans and practitioners keep it up

    Comment by John — May 8, 2007 @ 7:32 am

84. heck i am a boxing fan myself. in fact, manny pacquiao is a fellow countryman. but you know what, i will not subscribe to the idea that boxing is better than mma. nor the other way around. i agree with you, there is no comparison. one cannot compare one’s religion from another’s. it is as pointless as it is wrong. to force the argument is plain war-mongering. since most of us find reasons to enjoy both, then why for any logical purpose should we pit them against each other???

    i say knock yourself out if you enjoy boxing and/or mma, either way let each sport prove their own worth.

    human history is teeming with stories of wars rooting from prejudice and intolerance. let’s not brew unnecessary wars, shall we?

    Comment by paeng e lopez — May 8, 2007 @ 8:22 am

85. by the way… if freeman succeeds in fomenting chaos, i’m betting everything i have but the kitchen sink on mma. it’s mma by a knockout moments before the opening bell fades…

    Comment by paeng e lopez — May 8, 2007 @ 8:29 am

86. Mike Freeman is a real peice of work. I just read his second article. I’d like to see someone write a completly opinionated and unfactual article attacking boxing and see how people react, not just boxing fans but people with any sense at all. It would turn out exactly the same or worse.

    Comment by Jon Ayre — May 8, 2007 @ 8:48 am

87. Good article, very well said. People like that arent worth the trouble, MMA has been better than boxing for nearly a decade now. Real fight fans can appreciate both.

    Comment by Kevin — May 8, 2007 @ 10:08 am

88. i agree with you entirely. But to add to the “all ufc fighters are thugs” statement made by the counter arguement. Mirko Cro-Cop heavy weight contender in the UFC, is also apart of the Croation Parliment. I have never heard of a boxer who holds those crodentials. Point made.

    Comment by Sawyer Williamson — May 8, 2007 @ 10:09 am

89. Mr. Freeman, I am sorry you feel threatened. I do realize that it is human nature to lash out when cornered, but maybe having a little class would help. You tried to escape the corner by taking a dump on your attacker…and you know what…the dump only stinks, and that is about it. The fact is, your words were uneducated and will be forgotten and when the next UFC event occurs on May 26th, no one will remember the Maywheather/De la Hoya fight. So speak all you want….try to bring down the UFC with words…and I wish you good luck! But for some reason I feel the actual result will be that you may make boxing fans curious about how bad MMA really is….maybe they will watch to find out for themselves…and maybe, just maybe, they will never watch a boxing match again.

    Comment by Greg — May 8, 2007 @ 10:58 am

90. Ultimatly all combat sports, (and one could argue all sports) merely reflect and attempt to recreate the daily “life and death” struggle we all face. As humans we will always ask “what if?”. In combat sports the “what if?” question is “can I overcome my opponants skills in this life and death struggle and come out alive and victorious?” In the Olympics, sports such as judo, karate, wrestling, boxing and even the biathalon all try to answer or at least mimic the answer to this question in a “civilised” manner. The result is often a watered down version of the struggle that more often than not gives an unsatisfying and incomplete answer to this question, (Mayweather De La Hoya).
    I started watching “ultimate fighting” with the first UFC 1 tape. I fell in love with this pure sport instantly because, for me, it came the closest to answering “that question”, survival of the fittest. Each fight is a story of the struggle of life within itself, each tournament a collection of these stories. MMA allows us to look into the heart of men (and women)and see what is in there and ask the question, “could I survive, is my heart strong, could I persevere through the pain?” “This is what the heart of a warrior looks like?” Boxing can no longer provide we the fans, the spectators an insight or even come close to answering these questions. This is not so much the fault of boxing or even Don King it is simply the nature of the differences between the sports. Where MMA is a story boxing is only a chapter in the story.
    Combat sports will always be with us because we as humans will always seek answers to these questions. The best answers will always come from those sports can come closest to the real life and death struggle humans face. In my view MMA/UFC comes way closer than boxing.

    Comment by Gerald T. Forbister — May 8, 2007 @ 11:02 am

91. Great article,
    The comments made by Mike Freeman are racist, “knuckle cracker” is a racist comment. Obviously he didn’t do his homework, I have yet to read about a UFC fighter get in trouble. Of course not all MMA fighters are perfect role models, but for the most part these guys have respect for one another, unlike Mayweather. de la Hoya may not be perfect but the guy has class, anyone that has listened to him talk and by the way he carries himself can see that. Mike Freeman should go away, what a jerk.

    Comment by Jory — May 8, 2007 @ 11:22 am

92. This guy is consisdered a jounalist? Even the earliest days of the UFC didn’t have the kind of guys he’s referring to as knuckle dragging bouncers & ex cons fighting in a cage.There were 41 players arrested for felonies in the NFL alone last year,some multiple times for gun offenses. Boxing is filled with fighters who by their own admission would be in jail or dead if it wasn’t for boxing. Not so with MMA.Excellent response earlier by another UFC fan listing fighters accedemic credentials, as well as accomplishments outside of MMA.Rich Franklin was a high school teacher, Mirko Cro Cop is a member of the Croatian Parliament, as well as a former anti-terrorist officer, hardly ex-con bar brawlers.MMA fighters show eachother respect before & after fights, can put together full coherant sentances,don’t travel with armed entourages with gang affiliations or thugs like 50 cent.

    Comment by Bob Hanley — May 8, 2007 @ 12:40 pm

93. thats why when the crowed bowed they chanted ufcccccc hahaha boxing is kaka

    Comment by shawn justo jr — May 8, 2007 @ 12:51 pm

94. Professional boxing’s business model is ancient and will not be able to compete with MMA, especially with the acquisition of PRIDE by the UFC. Boxing is an awesome discipline but as a sport it is stagnant. It is not “far reaching” enough to capture a fan base the way MMA and the UFC has. I give Dana White and Zuffa all the credit for not being selfish with their business plan and bringing truly AWESOME fights to their fans (I know you all watched Gonzaga destroy Cro-Cop)!!! I watched the De La Hoya fight and was sorely unimpressed. I couldn’t tell if those guys had been in a fight or been in the sauna!?! As far as Freeman’s comments, I’m sure we will continue to hear many more uneducated folks not giving the sport the respect or credit that it is due. MMA in my opinion is a much more “humane” combat sport in comparison to boxing. Many people (again who are uneducated and probably have not seen any MMA fights since the early UFC days) don’t understand this will need time to embrace the diversity, creativity, and impressive skills that MMA fighters display. Until that time be prepared for many foolish comments from people (including Freeman) who will hopefully one day respect the great sport of MMA.

    Comment by Nick — May 8, 2007 @ 1:03 pm

95. i agree this moron should get fired for bashing the ufc like that. It was not only stupid of him to do this but also very unprofessional. He actually said that they kick & punch each other in the nuts. YEAH RIGHT he is not a sports writer but mearly a hater of the sport. I’ve seen the ufc since the days it used to come out at 1 in the morning saturday nights, On TELEMUNDO of all channels and not once have i seen a person bite another persons ear off. Or say that they are going to eat their children. Dont get me wrong I love to see mike fight but sometimes you have to do your background checks before you talk. Boxing is on its way out unfortunately. MMA whether its UFC, Pride, WEC, Strikeforce, Elite XC, etc. MMA is on the RISE.

    Comment by Dorian Zavala — May 8, 2007 @ 2:08 pm

96. enjoyed your article,

    I am a convert to MMA over boxing for the following reasons, I’ll do it in a late night with david letterman style:

    number ten: its a better investment of my time and money for excitement, interest, and personalities. just compare the arrogance of mayweathers self love to any of the serious and respectful apperarance of the athletes of UFC… let mayweather try dance around like a girl in the ufc and have him say he’s the best, how long do you think it would take to make him cry like a girl?

    number nine: the pay per view events always have a number of good fights, regardless of the card. Boxing has one good headliner and maybe another but the rest are boring, lack enthusiasm and there is always someone who is punch drunk.

    number eight:I hate larry merchant. Period. Sorry to anyone who is a larry merchant fan but it is miserable to listen to him.

    number seven: the athletes from MMA can be explosive from a number of different disciplines, boxing has either a hard puncher (which may get exciting provided the other is the same) or you have dancers and counterpunches who suck the energy out of you watching them! i’m serious here just think of even the most hyped up recent fights and potential bernard and winky fight.

    number six: yeah in the ufc it has joe rogan but then hbo has larry merchant. it is the lesser of two evils here. but ufc should produce another commentator, randy didnt have it. I think tito would be an excellent commentator in the future.

    number five: rivalries are way better in MMA. its always some arrogant self loving meatball against some punch drunk i got no more brain cells kind of guy, at least in the MMA you have people who are educated and can maintain a reasonalble conversation and can give a decent rivalry.

    number four: ordering a UFC pay per view is cheaper than the boxing pay per view.

    number three: there are far more big events in the UFC per year than there is in boxing.

    number two: even the meatheads of MMA are worthwhile to watch and to cheer for.

    and number one: i bet grant gordan can kick mike freeman’s butt up and down any ring,octagon, website, blog, chat room or article.

    Comment by derek — May 8, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

97. Thank you very much for letting people know about this article. I have been a fan of mma for about three years now. I’m not saying I don’t watch the mega fight s like the one saturday , which by the way was a huge dissapointment, but they usually happen every six months or so. Between Pride and the UFC I get between two and four huge matches every month.

    Comment by Greg Anderson — May 8, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

98. I totally agree with what mma has to say because its all true i mean boxing has lost a lot of fans over the years with very poor and bad better yet terrible judges scoring the fights either there afraid or someone is paying them off i wont be surprised is they where its easy to score a boxing match now for boxing and some boxers to bad mouth mix martial arts is hillarious because they could and would never make it in mma its so much more difficult in boxing all u really need to win is your jab and in mma you need everything sprawl,jui jitsiu,muay thai,wrestling,and so on mma has had pure boxers try to make it in the cage and they got demolished by grapplers so when i hear someone like FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR bad mouth MMA its a joke he has no idea what his talking about MMA is the new breed of combat sports because of all the hype but MMA backs it up with not one main event but 3 hours of pure action the proof is in the events CHUCK VS TITO,COUTURE VS SILVA,and so on where else can a 43 year old man beat a 6 foot 8 30 year old giant in his prime not boxing not since GOERGE FOREMAN but there are no more FOREMANS out there boxing is a dying breed and its dying fast MMA is fun exciting and it will never get old it took a while for it to get here but now that its here its here for good…

    Comment by STOMPER — May 8, 2007 @ 2:32 pm

99. Eitherway, you can say whatever you want. You can put it however you want. You can slice it and dice it. You can hope Boxing dies just because you dont personally like it. UFC has had one Boom year and during that year Boxing had its second most successful year in PPV revenue in its history. How is that showing signs that its dying?

    Thinking about it and thinking hard. Eversince I first saw the Chavez knockout Roger Mayweather (Floyd’s uncle and trainer) I got hooked into Boxing and eversince then I been hearing about how Boxing is dying… I been hearing about it for years.

    When Freeman says something like “UFC is a glorified street fight” he sounds just like your newbie post “The Ultimate fighter Series” UFC fan when they say something like “Boxing is dying and all boxing fans know it and they’re scared LOLZ”.

    I have always found that the hardcore MMA fan never cares to mention boxing. If anyhting show respect towards boxing. After all a hardcore MMA fan loved the sport before it became popular. There is a big band-waggon in town and its called MMA.Its new, its hip. It’s cool. They play heavy metal music and fight in a caged surrounding. This is the generation of Wrestlemania, Porn, MTV, blood, skate boarding and tongue piercings. Generation X.

    I love MMA. But I dont love it for the same reasons I love Basket Ball or Football.

    I understand Freeman pissing you all off. I understand you want MMA to be what Boxing has been for the last 100 years. If you dont like it, why do you want to be like it? When MMA suffers its first casualty, and we’ll see it happen one day then were does the sport go from there? Last year sold big with the return of Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock (both the #2 and #3 top selling PPV). It was a great year for MMA.

    But you forget that if Ali vs Frazier was today it would blast PPV numbers. Yes, Boxers today are millioniars and dont have to fight for Milk like James J Braddick did or like most MMA fighters do today.

    I love Boxing but I can say this. Guys back in the day would box with broken hands. Not they wont enter the ring if they have a splinter.

    Long live both sports and I cant wait for the day when both sides respect each other… or better yet… when there are no sides.

    Comment by Eric Anaya — May 8, 2007 @ 2:59 pm

100. I am of the opinion that boxing could get its life back if they would just follow a few simple suggestions.

     Lose the corrupt promoters. Fighters need to find better promoters who are willing to help the sport grow as well as their wallets. Much like the UFC. Dana White made no money promoting Tito Ortiz prior to becoming President.

     Stop worrying about the rise of the UFC and show us true fans that you want the sport to survive through professionalism and
     sportsmanship.

     Start stacking the fight cards to get more people interested.

     My wife and I are die-hard fight fans. However I cannot remember the last time we saw a PPV boxing match worth the money. We, instead, pay less than we would offer to watch UFC cards. I was not a big UFC fan in the beginning, I guess you can say that I am a product of my environment. Boxing did not seem to want to keep me so I have move on to a more gratifying, less costly means of excitement.

     Thank you UFC.

     Comment by Gary Dacus — May 8, 2007 @ 3:24 pm

101. Mike Freeman is a schmuck, he should be fired. Seriously does he have a boss? Someone that oversees the content posted up at CBS SportsLine.com? I am sure the only reason he posted the article was because he knew that no one other than UFC fans would read it. His column is just to take up space. Nobody at CBSSportsLine checks up on it. If they did I am sure they would conclude as we all have the Mike Freeman is a narcissistic schmuck who enjoys provoking the mentally ill. And for that he should be terminated, he obviously does not posses the maturity or responsibility to have such an outlet as a column at CBSSportsLine.com.

     Comment by Zack — May 8, 2007 @ 3:34 pm

102. First, i’d like to express my condolence on the death of Deigo Corrales. Ironiclly, this unfortunate event will probably make me more interested in boxing than the snore fest that took place this past weekend. Boxing is dying because; no good free boxing, all we get for free is ESPN WNF and FNF, which usually doesnt have good prospects fighting, just washed out fighters trying to recapture the belts; greed(Don King)why is that sleeze bag still in the boxing community; Greed, WBO WBC WBA, boxing cant expect to be taken seriously with so many “wanna be” belts out there; stupidity, if the heavy weights are boring right now advertise the lighter weights, the light weight division is stacked, the Batista-Medina fight was awsome. I started out a boxing fan, but cleary like mma more now because of all the politics that come with boxing. Do the judges base a win on aggression or effectiveness? I still don’t know. It doesnt help either with ignorant people like Lamply and Freeny or whatever theirs names are, bad mouthing the UFC like a bunch of elemetary school kids. Have some dignity and leave with a little more respect, be a little more like Teddy Atlas and Joe Testitore, who i think are the only people and thing that can save boxing.

     Comment by fish — May 8, 2007 @ 4:13 pm

103. To get a real good idea on the kind of person Mike Freeman is, he wrote an article a few months ago condoning the acts of the U. of Miami football team in their fight with FIU last season. He honestly has no idea what it means to be a professional.

     Comment by Ryan — May 8, 2007 @ 5:42 pm

104. Thanks for taking the time to re-buff that ignorant article. I won’t bother to write an extended, opinion based response except to say….boxing is boring. If I am going to pay $55 to pay for a pillow fight, the participants better look like playmates, and they better have on less clothes than boxers.

     Comment by joe marcotte — May 8, 2007 @ 5:49 pm

105. I have the utmost respect for MMA and boxing. Chuck Lidell and rampage Jackson are two of my favorite fighters in MMA, and miguel Cotto being my favorite boxer. In my opinion, boxing will never die, because the average can’t afford to learn all those different art forms of fighting. I’ve boxed for ten years at kronk gym in Detroit, and the membership fees were very reasonable. And lets not forget the racial aspect I attended a ufc event in Las vegas, and the crowed were full of rednecks shouting racial insults at Rampage Jackson. i can be as equally critical of boxing with all the hip-hop hoodlums. I just think the ufc needs to more open culturally.

     Comment by Terry — May 8, 2007 @ 6:26 pm

106. I think its just a matter of time.. before UFC is just a bad as boxing..and played out. With its growing popularity, means more rules.. and more money and i bet theyll even be wearing helmets one, and comeing down to rap music and bling. I have been watching since day one. I also love PRIDE im dispointed UFC is buying pride.. for the simple fact that i like to have the alternative, and i like how pride had a few of its own rules, like stomping at the head..while your opponant is down. Sounds good to me!

     Comment by MothCOCK — May 8, 2007 @ 7:23 pm

107. Boxing was my number one sport for years, even through the crappy times. until my brother told me about the UFC a couple of years ago. It was hard as hell to watch it here in UK as it hadnt really kicked off. but I got hooked on it, so many different people with so many fighting styles against each other in a cage, and as shown recently with Cro Cop, anything can happen in this sport at any point, I quickly realised how predictable boxing had become and how over hyped it was, all that cash on a ticket to watch one fight, which lasted 12 rounds, and no one even got put on the floor.
     UFC is the future, MMA is massive over here now, and the UFC are going to be a house-hold name, always have fighters on the same card you wanna see, and its money well spent. The De La Hoya fight was over payed, over advertised and over rated. and to be honest, people in the UK have heard of Chuck Liddel, Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, but Floyed Mayweather???? maybe he is something in the states, but he aint that known here… The UFC fighters though, well, there on everyones tounge at the min.
     Boxing will always have a place in my heart, but MMA is what its all about, action, excitment, real value for money……

     Comment by James Walsh — May 8, 2007 @ 7:30 pm

108. Boxing is boring and dumb. That corrupt sport is dead.

     Comment by ken park — May 8, 2007 @ 9:00 pm

109. Thanks for your article,when writers can’t see /or understand the obvious,it’s even more frustrating when they spout off. Is it there ability to get farther from the truth that makes them there readership ? Thugs? Franklins a High School Math teacher/Kosh’s degree,the number of University grads in the MMA world,the top level collegiate/national/world grappling/karate/BJJ/ Kickboxing/Judo champions from around the world. The safety aspect for the fighters in the UFC.The sportsmanship after bouts.As this long list of comments from MMA supporters states, they know there various discipline’s in Martial Arts and respect all forms of combat. AS Ice-T would say ” He played himself…” Keep up the great work !

     Comment by Don L. — May 8, 2007 @ 10:10 pm

110. Mike Freeman should be fired. his blogs have no truth to them. Its not like he was honest anyways….as he was fired for lying before. But his comments and blogs on the “UFC” are just plain wrong on almost every account. the guy has plainly no idea what he is talking about. To make matters worse it seems he is a “racist” from his comments which have absolutely no grounds. and is trying to make this into a race war. There is just no place for people like that. People that have no honesty, and integrity have no business being in media….just ask Don Imus.

     Comment by Jeremy — May 8, 2007 @ 10:12 pm

111. MMA IS THE MOTHER OF ALL COMBAT SPORTS. How dare any one compared the MOTHER to one of siblings, when boxing is an
     one fighting component of MMA. MMA will still be around long after men learned to live in peace, and that won’t happen and never will. Boxing (or punching to be more precise), judo, karate, wrestling, jiu jitsu… are fighting techniques used in MMA, and that’s what made the sport so entriging to watch. The world is waiting to see the ULTIMATE COMBAT SPORTS when
     UFC and PRIDE colided. And this is only begining.

     Comment by ian van pham — May 9, 2007 @ 3:07 am

112. Mike Freeman apparently is just trying to get some press. Had he thought about the fact that boxing promotor Don King is himself no less than a “thug”, “murderer”, and “racketeer” (the list could go on and on), he might have realized that boxing had a black eye long before the UFC and MMA became successful. Imagine the press if Dana White had such a storied history? I have to agree with you Grant that boxing far outdistances the UFC in terms of “thugs”, “parolees”, and “ear biters” and apparently it started long ago at the top.

     I sure hope Freeman watched that less than stellar performance put on by De la Hoya and Mayweather this past weekend. With all the press Mayweather received, we were thinking that he alone was going to carry boxing on his shoulders and single handily resurrect the sport, but then he decided to retire. No chance he’ll be able to pull off what Randy Couture did this year. Unless boxing can attract more guys with as good a character as Sugar Ray Leonard and De la Hoya that can also fight, then R.I.P. I’ll watch Matt Huges drop elbows on UFC PPVs and never think twice about boxing.

     Comment by Mike — May 9, 2007 @ 9:39 am

113. Hi. I´m from Buenos Aires, Argentina and have been a UFC fan for a couple of years now. The thing that should be done, is not give interest in what Freeman is saying. He just wants press. It´s obvious that de UFC is kicking the hell out of boxing and that´s why Freeman talks smack. Let him keep on talking that no real sport fan is gonna listen.

     Comment by Pablo — May 9, 2007 @ 11:00 am

114. I THINK YOUR ARTICLE IS RIGHT ON.I hear a lot of smack from older guys about how much “better and tougher” boxers are than UFC (mma) fighters. I’d like to hear and see some of these “so much better and tougher boxers” make and have accepted, some challenges to fight against some ufc fighters in the ufc. And finally see if a top boxers hands are as good as they say they are.which they say is good enough to keep a seasoned mma fighter from imposing his will on him. Which I highly doubt.

     Comment by COLE — May 9, 2007 @ 8:06 pm

115. To the author of this post, Grant Gordon, thanks for writing a great article. Also to the people of that commented on this article good job as well.

     I was very irate after the two article that were written by Mr. Freeman and his ignorance. I would like to thank everybody on this post for their great comments and reason, which allowed me to clam down. I hope Mr. Freeman gets what he deserves.

     Thanks again.

     Comment by Goldyz — May 10, 2007 @ 11:46 am

116. I think Mike Freeman’s comments were along the same lines as Don Imus’ remarks about Rutger women’s basketball team. Although not as bad, they were still racist and he needs to pay for what he writes, such as every white male public figure in America. It can’t be a double standard but it is and im tired of it. I can say this, but you can’t attitude is BS to me.

     Comment by Jory — May 10, 2007 @ 12:24 pm

117. I agree. Is Mike Freeman a journalist at all? Writing an article about something without knowing what really it is. MMA is growing. Its a completely different sport than boxing, much more safer cause MMA fighters don’t get their skulls bashed unlike boxing. When you get knocked out at an MMA match its probably a flash knock down and the ref will immediately stop it unlike in boxing where boxers die. Boxing has nobody else to blame for its demise, corrupt judges, wicked promoters, fixed fights, you name it they have it. In the UFC, fighters are multi skilled, many has college degrees, high paying jobs but they were are just people who get drawn while maybe practicing martial arts. So, Mr. “journalist” Freeman, research well before embarras yourself. Peace

     Comment by Manny Pacquiao — May 11, 2007 @ 7:04 am

118. Maybe CBSSportsLine.com will release a statement similar to the following:

     “CBSSportsLine is looking into this matter appropriately. We do our very best to provide only the best in sports journalism however because of the grand size and overwhelmingly large number (in the hundreds of thousands and approaching millions) of Web pages that all include different columns, blogs, text entries written by in house, in tern, freelance writers and contributors that it is nearly impossible for us to monitor on a daily basis every text post at any of our Web sites or there internal and externally linked pages.

     We do not know a Mr. Mike Freeman. When we do locate Mr. Mike Freeman we will immediately remove any currently hosted material as well as suspend any future contributions from him.”

     I mean, I’d never heard of him prior to this. This could even be a ploy of his to gain notoriety.

     Comment by Zack — May 11, 2007 @ 7:15 pm

119. Boxers are way overpaid! Floyd Mayweather could not beat an average mma fighter in a real fight. He walks around like king shit, big mouth, well lets see if his hands are good enough to win a real fight. You get hit once in mma your in trouble, boxers hit eachother with pillows on their hands for round after round, but in REALITY one real punch with 4oz gloves on, feels a lot different then a boxers glove. Mayweather would be submitted in less then a minute against an mma champion, no question. Thats reality…

     Comment by chrisp — March 29, 2008 @ 9:25 pm

120. Boxing died when Mike Tyson stopped being Mike Tyson. Boxing has no big attraction, no animal like a young Tyson. That is what boxing needs. Mayweather should be a huge star but, people just dont like or care about him. All the “animals” dont want to be boxers, they want to fight in the UFC. Boxers just use their hands, no worries about kicks or takedowns. MMA is the new “boxing”, it’s huge and will probably be as big as football or basketball one day. The fighters in mma are not thugs, their well trained and disciplined, have respect for their opponent before and after fight. It’s a sport that is the ultimate mano against mano, its exciting just like a Tyson fight used to be.. Go GSP, do it up, Serra is not a champion. A great fighter and coach, not the elite though, he’s a solid undercard fighter. Watch GSP tear him up in April, I predict a second round win by submission for GSP!!

     Comment by chrisp — March 29, 2008 @ 9:40 pm

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