It’s been one of the foremost trends in the world of combat sports—exponents from one field of discipline traveling to another and vice versa. By and large, it has been one-dimensional. Mostly mixed martial arts fighters have been taking the plunge into the ring. Often, one comes across instances where boxers—especially notable ones—hint at a move to the cage to prove their fighting prowess.
So what will happen if, from the current roster of boxing champions, a few decide to test themselves in the octagon? From a noble art that focuses solely on pure punching, will a shift to an arena that’s just shy of a real fight work in their favor? It may be hard to gauge. However, there is now a tool that has proven to be quite handy for evaluating such complex scenarios. With the Usyk-Fury rematch, boxing officially welcomed artificial intelligence (AI) into its fray. Despite its restricted usage, the technology has been remarkably helpful in predicting hypothetical matchups and uncovering previously unforeseen prospects. ChatGPT was asked how some of today’s biggest names would fare in the UFC. Let’s explore how it responded.
Tyson Fury
First and foremost, the sheer size of ‘The Gypsy King’ offers him an unprecedented advantage. Standing 6’9″ and boasting an 85-inch reach, Fury weighed in at a career-best 281 pounds during the rematch against Usyk. One may come across such imposing figures in team games like basketball or football, but not in combat sports for certain.
Then the former heavyweight champion wields some deft technical skills in the ring. Now add to this his granite chin. He has suffered knockdowns against Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk. But ‘The Gypsy King’ has yet to suffer a knockout loss.
Gifted with high ring IQ, Tyson Fury adapts himself according to the fighting style of the opponent. So the AI believes the attribute could come in handy for Fury in the MMA cage. But the technology highlighted a few potential challenges as well.
The biggest hurdle remains the grappling. Statistics prove that the art of taking down an opponent dominates the UFC. Jon Jones once remarked that, for the uninitiated, fighting a thoroughbred wrestler or BJJ specialist will be akin to drowning. Hence, despite his size and boxing skills, Tyson Fury may suffer a humbling takedown or submission from a visibly inferior striker.
Gervonta Davis
AI checked the Baltimorean’s chances as well. With 28 out of his 30 professional wins secured through knockouts, Gervonta Davis remains one of boxing’s most feared aces. So if he could accomplish such a feat with standard boxing gloves, imagine the damage he would inflict wearing these thin MMA gloves.
One shouldn’t forget the lightweight champion is a highly intelligent and ruthless fighter. He can move around and stalk his opponents before delivering those deadly knockout punches. In the octagon, his supreme reflexes may prove a big asset. Despite his size and weight, Tank has beaten some of the foremost strikers in boxing. It speaks volumes about his unparalleled athleticism.
But like Fury, for Gervonta Davis, the absence of grappling skills remains a major drawback. The likes of Alexandre Pantoja, Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, or even Islam Makhachev dominate the lower divisions. So even if the Baltimorean manages to outclass them with strikes, what will happen if any of his opponents opts for a quick takedown?
Vasiliy Lomachenko
‘The Matrix’ of boxing may prove a tough nut to crack in the cage, says artificial intelligence. It primarily attributes it to the Ukrainian champion’s top-notch footwork. Building on the glorious traditions of Soviet boxing, the two-time Olympic gold medalist is an unmatched master of ring movement.
If that’s not enough, it’s worth noting that thanks to his father, Lomachenko is well-versed in wrestling techniques. Though he may not be a regular practitioner, the initiation could offer the necessary leverage to build on.
A classic old-school boxer, Vasyl Lomachenko, is used to fighting the whole distance. Thus, according to the AI, in grueling octagon tests involving 3 rounds of five minutes each, he may outfight MMA fighters. But there’s a major problem. ‘Loma’ will turn 37 next month. Whether he can rely on his fame, skills, and athleticism at a stage when he is nearing the end of his career could raise several doubts.
Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue
Further down, at the bantamweight level, currently, there’s no one who can challenge Naoya Inoue‘s dominance. The two-time undisputed champion, a consistent P4P best boxer in the world, is hard to ignore. Even the best find it hard to catch his deadly rights that land with pinpoint precision.
But it’s not only the skills where Inoue excels. It’s the overall package, especially his mental makeup and his attitude. Inoue enters the ring to obliterate his opponent. UFC and mixed martial arts fans would relish the chance to see such a fighter in the cage. Nothing excites them more than watching a fighter secure an early knockdown or submission. For a boxer of his size, ‘The Monster’ delivers a powerful punch that, according to the AI, could be a game-changer in the UFC’s lower divisions.
Like most of the boxers, for Naoya Inoue also, it’s the ground where most of the problems exist. The world champion may score a knockout with smaller gloves. But against a skilled opponent who will try to take him down with a clinch or ankle pick, Inoue might be scrambling for answers.
Oleksandr Usyk
If it’s Tyson Fury, then AI has to check his conqueror as well, right? The groundbreaking technology suggests that the Olympic gold medalist and two-division undisputed champion’s ability to adapt his fighting style to suit his opponent could give him an edge in the cage. Moreover, when it comes to conditioning and physical attributes, the Ukrainian champion is regarded as one of the finest athletes of his generation.
What truly sets Oleksandr Usyk apart from other champions is his sheer tenacity in overcoming much bigger and more powerful opponents. From Anthony Joshua to Tyson Fury, every heavyweight is well aware of what Usyk is capable of inside the ring.
In the past, Usyk has mentioned how he incorporates other disciplines into his training to become a more well-rounded fighter. However, against UFC champions like Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, that might not be enough.
As athletes well-versed in the art of fighting, the aforementioned individuals may score a knockdown or even a knockout in an MMA fight. However, how much will excelling in one particular skill help them in a sport that demands the use of both hands and legs to secure a win? Fourteen years ago, James Toney faced legend Randy Couture. But the fight didn’t last long. Within the first round, Couture applied an arm-triangle choke to force a submission from the former world champion, who had dominated across boxing’s three weight classes.
The above scenarios were analyzed by AI. Who do you think would excel in the UFC?
