Looking at the differences of the UFC Vs WWE

Although the UFC and WWE are two completely different things, there’s also a lot of crossover between the two. In fact, many MMA fans are also WWE fans. This may be surprising at first but if you think about it – it actually makes sense.

Remember when Colby Covington came out to Kurt Angle’s theme tune and fans chanted ‘You suck!’? This shows that there has also been a link between the two. In this article, we won’t be comparing what is best as this is purely down to personal opinion. However, we will be looking at the key differences (and similarities) between the UFC and WWE).

Ring Vs Cage differences

Visually, the biggest difference between the UFC and WWE is the cage and ring layout. In WWE, the action is done in a traditional wrestling ring. This has four poles in the corner, a square canvas, and ropes. This means that people can get thrown outside of the ring and this actually happens from time to time. Interestingly though, there are some cage matches such as Hell In A Cell and The Elimination Chamber which are closer to the UFC in terms of the layout.

Speaking of which, the UFC uses an octagon and cage fence to house its fighters in. Originally, the cage was smaller but was eventually enlarged due to fighters grabbing hold of the top. This changes the dynamic of fighting completely, as there’s literally nowhere for fighters to run or hide.

In the very early days of MMA in Japanese promotions such as PRIDE and Shooto, MMA bouts did take place in a wrestling ring. This was arguably easier for fans to see compared to a cage. However, sometimes fighters would fall out of bounds which made the action quite fragmented at times.

The WWE is scripted whereas the UFC is real

Perhaps the biggest difference between the UFC and WWE is the scripted plot of WWE, whereas the UFC is completely real. This means that there’s nothing planned in advance in the UFC and anything can happen. In comparison, the WWE is more akin to a play, where each individual knows what’s going to happen before the event begins. Although some WWE wrestlers do get a creative license to go off script at times (such as CM Punk), it’s still set within the limits of the script.

Ultimately, this could be a good or a bad thing for viewers. If you like live-action which is real then the UFC is best. However, if you prefer drama and more athletic, showy moves then the WWE is probably better. Overall, it’s up to the individual and everyone is different.

Regular shows Vs Monthly

Another big difference between the two is that the amount of content put out differs staggeringly. For instance, on average the UFC does roughly 40 shows per year. This is less than one show per week on average. Of course, some events are more profile than others, whereas some are seen as filler cards.

On the other hand, the WWE puts out over 300 shows per year. This means that they have multiple shows per week such as Smackdown and Raw. As well as this, they also have various PPV events, just like the UFC. This means that as a wrestling fan, there’s a lot more to keep up with in terms of the goings on and belts. However, as a UFC fan there are bigger periods of downtime where you can even go a couple of weekends without any action.

Pay differences between the UFC and WWE

On average, a typical UFC fighter earns roughly $30,000 per year. When you take into account other fees such as travel, coaching, and medical costs – this figure diminishes drastically. Remember, not every fighter is a superstar like Conor McGregor who is able to pull in big PPV numbers.

Instead, most are just regular guys who are trying to get by and earn a living like most people. It just so happens that their profession is fighting. Over the years, many fighters have campaigned for better pay packages but Dana White is notoriously stubborn when it comes to paying his fighters.

In comparison, the WWE pays far better. According to Forbes, the average WWE wrestler earns roughly $500,000 per year. This is more than ten times the amount of the average UFC fighter. Like the UFC, the top WWE guys earn quite a lot more, with some being paid over $1 million for singular appearances at bigger events such as Wrestlemania. In other words, if you’re thinking of becoming a pro fighter or a pro wrestler, financially it makes greater sense to join the WWE.

Weight class differences in the UFC and WWE

One of the biggest draws of being a WWE fan is the freak show element, where smaller fighters will face off against bigger ones. Sometimes, they even win. Over the years, we’ve seen the likes of Rey Mysterio fight The Big Show.

The difference in size is 5’2” compared to The Big Show’s 7” frame. This can make for an entertaining spectacle and has been a big pull for the WWE since its inception. Although it does have belt classes such as the Heavyweight class, most of the belts are fairly fluid, with anyone being eligible to compete for them, such as the Intercontinental belt.

In the UFC, each fighter competes within their designated weight class. For instance, the maximum weight for a Lightweight match is 70.3KG. If you’re over the limit then your fight may get canceled, or your pay may be docked significantly. Generally, the UFC is quite hard on those who miss weight and they even cut fighters from their roster if they keep missing weight.

At the same time, it is possible to have belts in multiple weight classes in the UFC. The first man to do this was Conor McGregor who had both Featherweight and Lightweight belts at the same time. Overall, this is an incredibly difficult feat though – as most fighters struggle when trying to fight in a heavier weight class.

Wrestlers last longer than MMA fighters

Typically, most MMA fighters will make their debut around 20 years old and retire during their mid 30s. However, in some rarer cases, fighters will continue into their mid 40s. Generally, most fighters quit the UFC by then though which is when they start to decline in terms of performances and results. Arguably, the UFC is a young man’s game which makes sense as it’s based on physicality.

The WWE is slightly different though. Although the shelf life of an average wrestler is similar in terms of popularity, it’s not always the case. For example, Ric Flair continued wrestling into his 70s. This would obviously be impossible for a UFC fighter to achieve. The reason for this is because the WWE is scripted which means its older stars can be protected and have safer matches, meaning they can wrestle for longer. Also, if a wrestler is particularly popular then this may help them stay around for longer if the fans love them. In MMA, its brutal reality catches up with most fighters at some point around their late 30s.

What is more dangerous, MMA or WWE?

Despite WWE being scripted, it’s still very dangerous and hard on the body. This is why some wrestlers get annoyed when fans ask them whether it’s fake. Whilst it is fake in terms of being scripted, the injuries can be very real. Some wrestlers have suffered horrific injuries in the ring, sometimes even resulting in death.

However, in general it’s usually chronic pains such as neck and knee problems that hurt wrestlers the most. In some cases, this can even force an early retirement if their body feels truly damaged beyond repair, such as with Edge or Kurt Angle. This makes sense, considering the damage caused to your body if it constantly gets thrown around and beaten.

At the same time, MMA is arguably more dangerous. Overall, there have been more MMA deaths over the years compared to those in professional wrestling. One of the main reasons for this isn’t that MMA is inherently dangerous. It’s mostly that it involves some pretty harsh weight-cutting techniques. This can lead to serious brain injuries due to dehydration. Obviously, this is absent in wrestling. It also goes without saying that heavy punches and kicks to the head can also lead to life-changing injuries.

The crossover between the UFC and the WWE

As mentioned earlier, there are many UFC fans who also love WWE. Over the years, the two have crossed paths a few times as well. For instance, Brock Lesnar came from the WWE and eventually became a UFC champion. This showed that he could carry over his physical attributes from WWE to MMA.

Sadly, the same couldn’t be said for CM Punk who flopped massively. The less said about him, the better. Often, retired MMA fighters will also dip into WWE too. For example, Ronda Rousey famously quit the UFC to join WWE. Financially, this seemed like a good decision and she also avoided tarnishing her MMA record in the process.

In more recent times, you could also argue that the UFC has become closer to the WWE in terms of its promotion as well, with ‘heel’s such as Khamzat Chimaev appealing as the bad guy in the sport. Similarly, the introduction of the ‘BMF’ belt and fights that followed showed that Dana White had possibly taken a leaf out of Vince McMahon’s book.

How catch wrestling birthed MMA

Speaking of UFC-WWE crossover, you could even go as far as to say that the UFC wouldn’t exist without professional wrestling. At first, this sounds like a bit of a stretch but keep with us. Basically, professional wrestling was big in Japan (as it always has been).

This eventually led to catch wrestling which is a martial art in its own right. Catch wrestling was a blend of legitimate submission holds and grappling, as well as scripted fights as seen in pro wrestling. Eventually, this led to Japanese MMA which ditched the script entirely and focused purely on the reality of fighting.

After a while, the USA made its own form of MMA which started with the UFC. As they say, the rest is history. In other words, without professional wrestling, the landscape of MMA and the UFC may have looked vastly different. Perhaps this is why many WWE fans love the UFC.

The UFC is worth a lot more than WWE

According to estimates, the UFC is valued at around $10 billion, whereas the WWE is valued at $5-6 billion. This shows that the UFC is worth almost double the WWE. Here’s where it gets bitter for the McMahon family. At one point, the UFC was facing financial difficulty during its earlier days. Being the astute businessman that he was, a young Shane McMahon tried to buy the UFC and made multiple bids. Apparently, his father Vince didn’t see the UFC as a long-term, profitable business so he didn’t back his son’s idea.

After this, the UFC began to grow rapidly as its mainstream reputation improved with each passing year. So, even though the McMahon family are billionaires, they could have significantly improved their net worth.

Skipping forward to the present day, this shows just how popular the UFC is. Undoubtedly, the WWE is still big with fans around the world. Still, the numbers don’t lie and the UFC seems to be in touch with the common man at the moment.

Does it even matter?

As stated at the beginning of this article, the UFC and WWE aren’t in competition with each other, and never have been. The reason is that they’re very different. If you like real fighting then the UFC is for you. However, if you like dramatic plots and storylines, then the WWE is for you.

At the same time, as we’ve seen – you can be a fan of both. In conclusion, it’s unfair to pit the two against each other and it’s fair to say that they can happily co-exist in different worlds from one another.