Triller Triad Combat: Boxing vs MMA card set for Thanksgiving weekend

This has been an action packed combat sports month with so many great events. The month will end with an interesting inner sport card as Triller Triad Combat will throw an all Boxing vs MMA card for bragging rights on Nov. 27 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (19-13 MMA) headlines the event opposite recent heavyweight boxing championship contender Kubrat Pulev (28-2, 14 KOs) in a nine-round mixed rules bout. Other fights on this card are former Bellator and UFC fighter Matt Mitrione (13-9, 1 NC MMA) taking on Alexander Flores (18-3-1, 16 KOs). UFC vet Mike Perry (14-8 MMA) is scheduled to fight Sakio Bika (35-7-3, 22 KOs) in a seven-round bout. Bika is a former WBC super middleweight champion.

The rules of this card are unlike any combat exhibition we have ever seen. The rules will be a combination of both sports MMA and boxing, with the fighters being permitted to attack from the clinch and to throw strikes that would normally be banned in boxing such as standing hammerfists and spinning backfists. Fighters will also be allowed to stand on their opponent’s foot and throw strikes. No kicks, knees, or elbows will be permitted and there will be no ground fighting.

The fighters on this card seem very excited to try this new brand of combat. Main eventer Frank Mir went as far to say. “Being a part of Triller now and this (Triad Combat) is again another revolution that’s going to add to the excitement of the sport,” Mir told MMA Junkie during the Triad Combat virtual press conference. “The two-minute rounds in itself. If I could change anything in MMA, that’s what I would change, Hey, make this into a two-minute round. We can have 20 of them if we have to. That way there’s a good amount of time fighting. But I think five-minute rounds it’s like running two miles. It’s not as exciting as watching guys run 400 meters or shorter. People go intense and people don’t have to hold back. I think it’s much entertaining for sports fans. And the pure martial artist in me sees it as more real. I’m not going to have a five-minute fight on my way to the car if someone tries to take my keys. It’s going to be short, sweet, vicious, and violent. That’s what we’re going to see on the Triller Triad card. I’m very thankful for Triller to be innovative.”

As combat fans we have often asked for years what would happen if boxers and MMA guys squared off thanks to Triller we may have a small example into what it may look like. If this card is successful many cards of this stature may follow.