Who will win if a boxer takes on an MMA fighter? It’s a debate that never gets old. Boxing fans will swear that someone like Mike Tyson would demolish anyone, while UFC fans will remind you that Khabib Nurmagomedov wrestled bears as a kid, so good luck trying to keep him off you. What if we asked a professional for his opinion?
Enter Dmitry Bivol. The boxing champ is just coming off an impressive win against Artur Beterviev. And, when he was asked how a street fight between him and Khabib would play out, his answer was as honest as it gets. No trash talk, no ego — just a real take from someone who knows what it’s like to be in a fight.
Now, if you are expecting something outrageous, like a lesson in boxing heritage or superiority, then you would be disappointed. Both Bivol and Khabib come with their own set of skills, and physical attributes, attuned to their respective arenas.
However, the core nature of their respective sport will dictate the outcome in a street fight. The ace boxer highlighted exactly that while giving his answer.
“To be honest, MMA is closer to a street fight, no point of hiding it,” Bivol said, after initially looking puzzled with the question.
Imagining a street fight between Khabib and Bivol is like pitting a grizzly bear against a panther — each formidable in their own domain. Khabib’s relentless grappling, a fusion of Sambo, Judo, and Wrestling, has smothered elite fighters, making escape seem impossible. But Bivol has his pugilistic panache.
Dmitry Bivol about his chances against Khabib Nurmagomedov in a street fight pic.twitter.com/VmCAZa8UDS
— MiracleM96 (@Deli964) March 3, 2025
Bivol’s boxing mastery is a symphony of precision and power. His precise jabs dictate the rhythm while he possesses a nearly impenetrable defense.
When it comes to ring dynamics, Khabib’s endurance is tailored for five-round wars. Bivol’s conditioning, however, is honed for the long haul of 12-round bouts, suggesting a deeper reservoir of stamina.
Also, the versatility of mixed martial artists often comes with a trade-off — they are jacks of all trades but masters of none. This could explain why even faux specialists like Jake Paul have found success against them. Conversely, boxers, despite their striking genius, often lack the tools to defend against leg kicks or grappling maneuvers.
All said and done, an elite boxer taking on a champion MMA fighter would be quite a matchup. Sigh, we’ll never truly know how this clash would unfold.
While the boxer vs. MMA fighter debate remains unresolved, fans and pundits have speculated and seem to have a consensus on the outcome of gym enthusiasts challenging seasoned mixed martial artists.
Boxing and MMA fans would agree on this one debate
Bradley Martyn, a well-known fitness influencer and bodybuilder, has stirred the pot by claiming he could take on professional MMA fighters in street fights, leveraging his significant size and strength. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing around 260 pounds, Martyn believes his physicality gives him an edge over trained fighters.
This bold assertion hasn’t gone unnoticed in the MMA community. During an appearance on Martyn’s podcast, former UFC star Nate Diaz didn’t mince words. When Martyn suggested he could overpower Diaz in a street fight, Diaz calmly retorted, “You’re an influencer brother.”
Martyn, who routinely has had mixed martial artists in his crib, tends to ask them the same question. Before Islam Makhachev’s fight against Renato Moicano at UFC 311, one of his fellow podcasters made a point to ask Islam how Martyn would do in an MMA setting.
The UFC lightweight champion, without a second thought, offered a proposition. Makhachev claimed they had two guys in the back, ready to tussle whenever Martyn was.
Martyn, however, laughed it off. To be fair to him, at this point, this question has become a part of his gimmick, and it garners a lot of views. So there is no sense in stopping it.
That said, the internet and probably deep down, Martyn himself knows how a fight with a trained mixed martial artist would turn out.
