7 sports like boxing you should check out

• If you’re a combat fan then you would definitely be interested in checking other sports like boxing
• Commonly known as MMA, Mixed Martial Arts is a combat sport that allows various fighting styles
• MMA is one of the sports similar to boxing and has various promotions, including the UFC

If you’re a combat fan then you would definitely be interested in checking other sports like boxing. We’ve done our research and brought you a list of the most thrilling combative disciplines where men and women fight tooth and nail to emerge victorious. The opponents face each other in a ring and for one to win, they must be very fast, skilled and strong, just like in boxing.

With that said, let’s take a look at seven sports like boxing you should add to your list of favourite combat sports.

1. Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts fighters in action. Photo/ Facts.net.

Commonly known as MMA, Mixed Martial Arts is a combat sport that allows various fighting styles. Grappling, striking and grappling are all allowed in the sport which has few restrictions and often involves blood shed. Victory is secured through knockout, submission, disqualification or decision.

MMA is one of the fastest growing combat sports in the world with various promotions all over the world acquiring top fighters. The most popular MMA promotion is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which has events all over the world in twelve divisions (eight men and four women).

Some of the most popular MMA fighters include Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and George St-Pierre.

2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

Jiu-jitsu is a Japanese term which translates to “gentle art”. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art that is themed on grappling, ground fighting and submission. In this combat sport, fighters use timing, angles and pressure to push opponents down in order to get them to submit.

BJJ has its roots in Brazil and its primary goal is to strengthen and train small-bodied to defend themselves against larger-bodied people.

3. Kickboxing

Next on sports like boxing we have kickboxing, which originated in the 1950s to 1970s. This is one of the modern combat sports and requires athletes to have great levels of fitness to be able to physically fit to succeed.

Kickboxing is very similar to boxing in that it takes place in a boxing ring and fighters normally use boxing gloves, mouth guards and shorts. Whereas kicking is completely illegal in boxing, it is allowed in kickboxing and fighters use bare feet.

4. Muay Thai

Muay Thai. Photo/ yokkao.

Often referred to as Thai boxing, Muay Thai is a Thai mixed martial art that uses various clinching techniques, including sweeps and stand-up striking. Muay Thai fighters use knees, elbows, fists and shins, which is why it falls under the “Art of eight limbs” discipline.

Just as the name suggests, Muay Thai originated from Thailand and started spreading to other parts of the world in the late 20th century. Other than Thailand, the sport is very prominent in Canada, Brazil, Japan and Switzerland.

5. Karate 

Karate is a martial art disciplined whose origin can be traced back to Ryukyu Kingdom, which was established in the 15th century. It became popular across Japan in the 1920s and spread to other parts of the world during World War II.

Fighters use their arms, legs, hands and feet to attack opponents. Traditional karate is split into three Kihon (Basics), Kata (Forms) and Kumite (Fighting). The colour of the belt shows the fighter’s level.

6. Taekwondo 

Also spelled as taekwon-do or tae kwon do, takewondo is a martial arts that focuses on kicking and striking. It originated from South Korea and was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by Korean martial artists.

The first governing body of taekwondo, the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), was formed in 1959. Despite the fact that taekwondo is one of sports like boxing, it sometimes involves using weapons.

7. Judo

Vladimir Putin is a judo practitioner. Photo/ Sky Sports.

Judo is a martial arts which was developed by Japanese Professor Jigoro Kano in 1882. Judo is unarmed and the fighter’s main aim is to throw the opponent down. Apart from Japan, judo is also very prominent in Japan, France, Canada and Russia. Over the years, it has attracted several influential people, including Vladimir Putin who is the President of Russia