Originally Posted by Mike Brewer

Very, very good points. But there is no reason MMA fighters can't tune their hands up. I mean, when the game started, the whole argument was that people had to be really good at their chosen art. Everybody wanted to be better at grappling because "grappling" beat "striking." When people got better at striking, that changed. There was an increase in ability that changed the field, and I don't see any reason at all that you can increase it further in the future.

What I see a lot of is guys without proper punching ability - meaning the defensive, offensive, and counter-offensive aspects of hte game that are taught in boxing. The reason I'd recommend amateur boxing instead of professional gyms is because amateurs tend to stress straight punching in long range over the shorter punches and in-fighting of the pros. MMA athletes have lots of tools in close, and they shouldn't become fixated on punches when they get close enough to do other, more damaging things. But there's a hole in the game right now, and it's right at the end of punching range. Boxing training - focused, solid amateur boxing skills like those taught to the Olympic program - would really make a dramatic difference. I'll stand by that so firmly that I'll wager the next big superstar generation of strikers are going to rely more on traditional boxing for their strikes than they will Muay Thai and other methods.