I have zero experience, so I don't know anything about this, but the MMA guys are getting kicked, punched harder, and have to exert huge energy when in the clinch/wrestling. I'm sure getting hit by a guy with boxing gloves on hurts like hell. But I can't imagine it hurts more than getting kicked in the arm with an unpadded leg.
Would be interesting to hear from a guy who's had a dozen fights in each sport.
I haven't had a dozen fights in each, but a few. Many more in muay thai in anything.
In the ring, particularly for pros. It's not really about pain, more about damage and if you can breathe and if you can see straight.
A good kick to the arms isn't Terrible; you TRY to get it to hit your arms and not your ribs. Kicks hurt, though. Particularly thai style.
A boxers punches are so, so much more deadly. It's not one punch. They see you flinch, and go at the spot again. Then hit you again in the same spot, and again, until you're off balance and kind of dizzy. Then they hit you in the ribs and kidneys so you can't breathe. When you drop to protect yourself, then comes the head again.
And a boxer like Floyd is so technical. He knows a fighters tendencies--he's countering before the punch is even thrown.
You are absolutely insane if you think an mma guy punches harder. MMA gloves are actually more pleasant to be hit with, imo. There s about the same amount of padding, but the boxing gloves are tighter and more knockout feeling. Idk how to explain.
If anything, leg kicks are the worst an mma guy has. Forget about arms or head kicks. Its rare for a good head kick between two strikers. you can't move after a downward leg kick. It's like a Charlie horse from Hades.
Clinch and wrestling are exhausting you're correct.
Reality is both are extraordinary athletes. But Floyd has trained for this specific event. And he jas used his conditioning to his advantahe ikn the ring. Connor has NOT done well in late rounds. Look it up.
Just like a cyclist is a great athlete. But he would be awful in a tennis match. They're different skills. Connor is an amateur with one signature strike. Floyd is in the conversation for greateat fighters ever.