Muay Thai, the next big thing to MMA?

[CCGIFoundation]

MMA has made the Boxing Industry look pathetic both on and off the ring. This killing machine grossly made huge amounts of money taking the evangelical approach over the last 10 years. Well, what are your thoughts on Muay Thai rising up to the MMA level? MMA is comprised mostly of Muay Thai/Kickboxing techniques, so Muay Thai should be as popular if not more known worldwide right? With Muay Thai Fights illustrating some of the most deadliest skills, people may point their eyes and money, to what gives them the most entertainment.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this…

Muay Thai Rocks!

Monica

[Mephariel]

I honestly don't think Muay Thai will be anywhere near as popular as Boxing or MMA. People don't associate Muay Thai with America or the West like they do with Boxing and Wrestling.

[Eagleye]

its very unlikely. To most people , even educated boxing fans, the stand up in MMA (which is Muaythai) looks like a "dirty street fight" no matter how technical it is.

[Hardball]

Thai Boxing lacks the grappling and ground work necessary to be as popular as MMA.

[Hardball]

cuz Then It Would Be Mma :d Lol

Duh..................................................................................lol

[the tick]

In the Netherlands MT is far more popular then MMA.

[fire cobra]

And in Thailand Muay Thai is dying!

[glendanfig]

And in Thailand Muay Thai is dying!

impossible!

[fire cobra]

impossible!

Im afraid its true brother,Muay Thai is far less possible now than just 5 years ago,in fact Lumpinee stadium have just had a rule change to try to make it more exciting and bring punters back.

Children in the citys no longer want to(or should i say need to) box,they can get jobs in KfC or Macdonalds etc,in the provinces kids are still going to boxing camps as the economy(work) is different to the citys.

When i first started following Muay Thai in the early 1980s the 2 big stadiums would get full regularly,now hardly at all,as i said earlier sad but true im afraid.

[Marksmarkou]

Firstley I should say that a practice Mauy Thai, and think the power of Mauy Thai fighters are second to none. But I cant see it be as popular as boxing once was.

Mauy Thai Fighters tend to have a square stance and slug it out a lot. In MMA this wont work as you will find yourself too off balance and get taken down all the time, so Mauy Thai has to be slightly altered along with kickboxing, grappling, karate and everything else which is used in MMA. Like I said I practise it so completly see its pros but as with every other martial art it does have some cons which have to be worked on if you want to use Mauy Thai for MMA

[fire cobra]

My opinion is Muay Thai should be the only stand up striking style that the athletes train for MMA competition,Muay Thai done properly with emphasis on developing the full 8 weapons and defence/counters to them is the best stand up striking style,so if you want to be the best then train the best.

When the fight hits the floor from either a clinch or a takedown then rely on your ground game,most of the fighters that compete MMA at the top level have yet to develop knee,elbow,kick and clinch(to some extent)to a great level,the exeption is Anderson Silva,who of course has the game im talking about,good Muay Thai(not great) and good ground.

This is the way forward for any budding MMA fighter to train imho,half the game stand up Muay Thai the other half ground work including strike,which of course having good Muay Thai skills will also help you with.

[Marksmarkou]

I train Mauy Thai but i think if it where to be become as big as boxing was or mma now is, it would have already.

[jack lee]

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[Jujujason]

Muay Thai (along with boxing) is going to be repressed further and further by the worldwide surge in popularity of mma. Just a fact.

[fire cobra]

Muay Thai (along with boxing) is going to be repressed further and further by the worldwide surge in popularity of mma. Just a fact.

I dont agree,actually i think the opposite is in effect,i get guys coming in my gym wanting to learn Muay Thai because they are into MMA,most people who train or watch MMA have heard of Muay Thai through MMA,however in Thailand Muay Thai is dying!.