In the ever-evolving world of combat sports, the lines between disciplines often blur. But for Ghanaian kickboxing referee Derrick Maccaire, ethe distinctions are clear, and essential for any aspiring fighter or fan to grasp.
Speaking in an interview with Benjamin Sackey on GhanaWeb’s Sports Check, Maccaire broke down the differences between three of the most popular combat sports; kickboxing, Muay Thai, and mixed martial arts (MMA).
Kickboxing
While it shares a strong foundation with traditional boxing, what sets kickboxing apart is its allowance of leg strikes.
“With the kickboxing, it’s more of boxing. No clinging, just box, and you can kick. The kicking aspect is what differentiates it from boxing, but all the legal techniques in boxing also apply to kickboxing,” Maccaire explained.
Muay Thai
According to Maccaire, Muay Thai, often called “the art of eight limbs,” builds on the foundation of kickboxing.
“Muay Thai is an upgrade of kickboxing because you can do anything you do in kickboxing, and also add the elbow. The introduction of the elbow makes it Muay Thai,” he said.
That additional weapon, the elbow, brings new dimensions of strategy and intensity to the ring.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Then comes MMA, a sport that has exploded in popularity globally due to its no-holds-barred approach.
“As the name implies, it’s a mixture of all the various sports. Judo, Taekwondo, Karate, everything comes into play,” he explained.
But he offered a word of caution for purists.
“In MMA, if you come in with just one background, you will be handicapped,” he cautioned.
The sport demands versatility, combining striking, grappling, and submissions into one explosive package.
Watch the full interview below:
FKA/MA
Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s yet-to-air documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below:
