I'm going to rant about MMA and Boxing and Wrestling in this article. I'm sure you will be bored, but from where I've come from to what I root for now, I want to voice my opinions. Please feel free to offer yours. I know I'm not the only one that feels this way...

Let's start with Boxing. I'm 35 years old and have been an avid fan since I can remember watching sports. I grew up on the NO MAS fight, Marvelou's inability to hit Sugar, Alexis Arguello's epic 12 and 15 round battles, Larry Holmes taking the mantle from a fading ALI as the heavyweight of my teens to only succumb to Tyson. I followed entire careers, saw some end pre-maturely, and toasted when pugilists like the Prince got knocked on their can. I was boxing's staunchest supporter when I listened to Jim Brown's Magic Johnson like commentary abilities at UFC 1. I laugh when Ultimate Capper tells me stories about 300 people watching no holds barred fighting in Dothan Alabama and they called it "martial arts."

You know what killed boxing? It wasn't MMA going mainstream. It wasn't colorful characters being a dying breed in boxing. It was boxing's inability to harness the money and the power rich. As colorful as Don King is and as much as I have enjoyed his incredibly successful career as a promoter, he is one of the biggest reasons boxing is falling by the wayside. You guys see the purse for DeLaHoya/Mayweather? What is fueling these insane payouts? Well, the American public got duped time and time again all through the 90's.

Any boxing historian or follower tell me your top 5 pay per view purchases? I was hard pressed to name 5 fights that were worth purchasing in the last 10 years. Seriously, name em. And don't give me Tarver/Jones or Mayorga/DeLaHoya or Judah/Gatti. I'm talkng marquee hype fights like upcoming Golden Boy/Pretty Boy fight this Saturday. I can tell you five incredible fights in the last 6 months that tops anything boxing did.

UFC fighters are hungry for fame, glory, the belt, and the cash. But the fighters are a different kind of human being. I am so sick of what money has done to boxing. I bought McNeely/Tyson, Tyson/Savarese, Spinks/Tyson, Bowe/Golotta,etc etc. Other than Lennox beating Tyson (the two fighters I despise most) I couldn't remember anything that has been worth buying. The Mayorga fight was entertaining, but not worth it.

My long convuleted point is this..>MMA fighters are incredible athletes who have much more intelligence than your average boxer. They come from all walks of life, but don't care about the bills. You don't hear "It's a business" out of anyone but Tito Ortiz. Chuck Lidell is not the world's smartest man, but he has a college degree, and his love of fighting is unprecedented. I don't know how many times I've heard him say..I don't care, just put someone in front of me and I'll fight em. He's not my favorite fighter but I honestly believe a man like Chuck Lidell was put on this earth by God for one purpose...to strike with 4oz gloves.

Anyways, MMA is here to stay and any boxing traditionalist that doesn't see it is blind. I stopped buying boxing pay per view and moved to the UFC because the fighters were more my style. The bouts were more plentiful, the storylines good, and most importantly: The fighters care more about the belt than Pay Per View receipts. You have the occasional Tito who rightfully wants to be big money, but the fighters are hungry and boxers are about money. DeLaHoya and Mayweather would never have fought if they couldn't make a huge payday. That's the exact opposite of an MMA fighter, he wants to fight the best to be the best.

Call me crazy, but this long time boxing loyalist is all about mixed martial arts. I find myself practicing Americana's and heel hooks on my girl in bed..she asks why the hell I"m messing with her...and I shit you not my answer is..."Because it's there for the taking!"

MMA is a beautiful thing and invariably it will grow into the same problems that boxing has had. But so far much appreciation and respect to the Fritatta's and Mr. White for bringing UFC to the masses and taking that risk. It's been a cash cow for me and I find myself wishing there was a pay per view every week. Go look at the Buster/Tyson fight...the Hagler/Leonard fight...and then watch Cro Cop/Gonzaga...Couture/Belfor II, even one of my personal favorites...Hughes/Trigg II. There is absolutely no doubt which style of combat fighting is more spectacular. Eventually the MMA fighters will learn that they fuel the sport..but with it's huge surge in popularity (just google how many fight academy's and BJJ dojo's opening world wide) there will be a huge influx of new fighters. In my little corner of the Redneck Riviera I can tell you the top 3 fighters here that train out of a Tampa academy. Dana White if your reading this check out the boat deck hand Marco..his BJJ is amazing and he has yet to lose in 5 fights..all first round submissions or knockouts at KOFC in Tampa/Kissimee and some state shows.

Anyways.I rant. But fellas, MMA is here to stay and if boxing doesn't get off it's proud perch it is going to fall hard. Say what you will Floyd about who will win, I don't care. I will always back the fighter who fights from the heart, and not from the wallet. I'm sad to say you've fallen in the latter when you used to be the former.

As for who would win in a Boxing/MMA match..define the rules. I'll take a wrestler anyday in stand up over a boxer. As I see it Pretty Boy your 3'rd on the bad ass depth chart.

1.)Well rounded MMA fighter (say a Jon Fitch or an in shape BJ Penn)

2.)Elite wrestler (Kenny Monday, Jon Smith)

3.)Champion level boxer That's you pretty boy.

If a boxer ever went into a match with an MMA or wrestler, he better hope to God his first few shots hit or he's done. And I'm talking end of career. If a guy like Joe Horn or Arlosvki got Floyd down on the ground, I think they would break a limb out of sheer principle. You know what's even funnier? The shit talker comes from boxing...imagine that. And I gurantee you Floyd or any other boxer would back out because he said it wasn't enough money.

That's all I got.

This boxing loyalist is all about MMA now. I still watch as much boxing as I can, but I tell you what. I'll take a UFC pay per view over DeLaHoya/Mayweather any day.

I'm out...I'm done ranting.

My top 3:

Heavyweight:

1.) Fedor

2.) Gonzaga (until Cro Cop figures out how to move in the Octagon)

3.) Either Hunt or Cro Cop

Light Heavyweight:

1.)The Iceman..until someone can knock him down, he's the fuckin man.

2.)Jason Lambert...I keep betting this cat as a dog and he keeps dominating. Did anyone see his ass kicking of Babalu?

3.)Tito Ortiz...

185:

1.)Anderson Silva

2.)Anderson Silva

3.)Anderson Silva

This guy is going to have this belt for a long long time.

Welterweight:

1.)Matt Hughes, I'm biased, but tell me who is gonna beat him.

2.)George St. Pierre I don't like the dude, but he's an incredible human specimen.

3.)Jon Fitch..you guys keep hearing me harp about this guy. I'm tellin ya, he's gonna hold the title ..probably sooner than later.

Lightweight:

1.)BJ Penn

2.)Yves Edwards

3.)Jens Pulver

No disrespect Muscle shark. But BJ and Pulver will absolutely destroy you. I can't wait to see Pulver/Penn. Yves is a sentimental pick. And don't think I'm dissing Jens Pulver..you guys know one of the competitors Joe Lauzon knocked his ass out in the UFC BEFORE the show was even in production? I wanna say UFC 63 if you wanna check it out.

I'm out...sorry for the long wind but I really am excited to be around for the evolution of the UFC. In 30 years I'll tell my kids I knew the fighters and how to pick em better than the matchmakers. The UFC will be the #1 combat sport by 2010. Get on the bus and enjoy it. If your a boxing fan and haven't seen a UFC pay per view yet, give it a chance and tell me what you think.

Have a good one all. Jimmy..there's my opinion on UFC vs. Boxing.