Best of Boxing: MMA Edition

Boxing and MMA are largely intertwined today. When it comes to fighting styles, most of the debate rages within the MMA space. Analysts and fans always want to dive into a fighter’s predispositions and training history. The main topic is whether they’re stronger at wrestling or BJJ.

But boxing fans who are watching an MMA match on UFC or Bellator are often on the lookout for a solid strike. Despite the fact that most MMA fighters have a strong preference for wrestling tactics or jiu-jitsu, there’s no denying that a powerful strike is often part of an elite fighter’s repertoire.

And it’s one of the driving factors that a fan might use to back a certain fighter. For example, offers from DraftKings and other sportsbooks can be used on UFC markets, where fans will compare both fighters’ striking abilities, along with their defensive stats and preferred fighting style. Unsurprisingly, leading strikers see more backing at sportsbooks.

Just look back at fighters like Anderson Silva. Remembered as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Silva’s primary strength was his strike—and, in particular, his combos. They defied logic for MMA spectators, but boxing fans could recognize the finesse behind Silva’s footwork and handwork. He was taken so seriously as a striker that there were even rumors he would face off against Roy Jones Jr. in the ring.

Today, some of MMA’s top fighters rely on their striking ability like Silva. Let’s cover some of the most dangerous strikers active today. First up: Max Holloway.

Max Holloway: Record-Holder for Most Strikes

When we discuss influential fighters who helped shape the UFC’s featherweight division (launched in 2010), Max Holloway makes the list alongside Urijah Faber, Jose Aldo, and even Conor McGregor. Though he lost his first bout in the UFC, he quickly went on to find success – largely thanks to his formidable strike.

Currently, he holds the UFC record for the most strikes with a total of 3,217. The next-closest competitor was Georges St-Pierre, who retired with 2,591. In one fight alone, against Calvin Kattar, Holloway landed 445 strikes.

Israel Adesanya: Kickboxing—and Also Boxing Anyone who has watched an Israel Adesanya fight has likely appreciated the fighter’s unbelievable footwork. He’s primarily known as a kickboxer—but his striking skills are also next-level. His technique enables him to land hits without closing the distance between him and his mark. This talent helped him skate through his earliest fights, taking down names like Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa, and Yoel Romero. 

Conor McGregor: A Background in Boxing

Let’s be clear: Conor McGregor failed as a boxer in the ring. But this list covers the best boxers in the MMA world, which means that McGregor deserves a shout-out. (He might also deserve a shout-out for going ten rounds with one of boxing’s greatest talents.) After all, some of his greatest feats, including the thirteen-second bout against Jose Aldo, were accomplished thanks to his striking skills.

McGregor has incredible speed and accuracy—but his greatest finesse in striking comes down to timing. Much of this harkens back to his early training as a fighter, which began when he stepped into the Crumlin Boxing Club decades ago.

Dustin Poirier: Comfortable in the Standup

Let’s be clear: before Holloway became Champion of the Featherweight division, he battled against Dustin Poirier in the lightweight division back in 2019—and he lost. Along with Holloway, Poirier has taken down fighters like Eddie Alvarez in the standup, too. And while Poirier is better known for being technical and favoring a brawl, he’s also got some of the heaviest hands in the UFC. His striking power is something his opponents prepare for extensively.

Nate Diaz: Training with the Best

Given Nate Diaz’s reputation for being a prized BJJ fighter who’d prefer to grapple, he’s also got an elite background in boxing training. Just like Poirier, he’s no stranger to standing in the pocket and getting down to the nitty-gritty—and he trains for it, too.

Diaz has one of the most respectable rosters of boxing trainers in the world. First and foremost, he’s been coached by former World Champion Andre Ward. He’s also spent quite a bit of time sparring against Joe Shilling. And both have left their mark on Diaz’s style enough that Floyd Mayweather Senior himself said he thought Diaz was the best boxer in MMA.