Professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts differ in so many ways on so many levels. Yet at the same time, Pro Wrestling and MMA are also very, very similar.

The differences are easy to spot.

Wrestling, despite what any one who thinks they know the truth says, is not entirely fake. Its scripted. Predetermined. Its not fake, and its not entirely acting either as most "experts" against the art of professional wrestling would tell you. Its a show, its entertainment, but like WWE warnings on there DVD and Home Videos say, "the hazards are real", and that statement could not be any more true.

MMA is freestyle, undetermined, less of a show, more of a reality hand to hand, storyline free, fighting league. There are no real storylines, really no characters, just fighters with the common moniker like Georges "The Rush" St Pierre. There really are no "trademark moves" or finishing moves, just freestyle fighting.

Wrestling has a global audience that spans from kids to seniors alike, all across the world. They have characters, storylines, rivalries, feuds, woman wrestlers, also known as Divas or Knockouts, or simply classified as wrestlers themselves.

MMA has more of a 18 - 35 male demographic audience, with the exception of some fans who are young, older or even female for that matter, but it does not really span the amount professional wrestling really has. MMA has more of a quiet, cult like audience across the world. Its also more of a male dominated sport, there is some womens mixed martial arts leagues, but the female side of the sport have very little coverage or publicity or acknowledgment that the male dominated MMA has.

Professional wrestling has a four sided ring, with extra mat support and bounce for high impact moves. With the exception of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling, which uses a six sided ring, with the same functions of a normal ring.(Extra bounce, reinforced support.) Also take in consideration that the ring ropes, and turnbuckles are used very much in matches.

MMA usually has a four sided ring, just with out the extra bounce and cushion, or if it is UFC or Cage Rage you may be watching, it either has an octagon (eight sided ring) or a hexagon (six sided ring). In a normal MMA ring, if it is four sided, the ropes are only used for breaks, and the turnbuckles are never used. Also, some MMA promotions use cages instead of ring ropes and turnbuckles to confine the opponents in the ring.

Also, you have to take in consideration the money that the performers make.

In pro wrestling, a performer can make hundreds of thousands of dollars for a contract, plus merchandise sales, appearances and even movie deals. A top wrestler in any big time promotion usually makes about a 6 figure income each year. Even more is to be made for pay per view appearances. Win, lose, or draw, what your contract guarantees you, is what you make.

MMA fighters usually only get paid per fight, and get paid depending on how they do in a fight. Win, you get more, lose, you get less. They don't usually get paid on a weekly basis like most professional wrestlers, and usually don't get some of the bonuses. Depending on what MMA organization your competing in.

The similarities are that they are both very physical, both have loyal fan bases, both go out of the way to entertain the fans, both make a hefty profit, both have grade A level athletes, both have some not so good athletes, but at the end of the day for both, it is usually all about the fans.

Learn more about this author, Adam Collier.
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