Mike Tyson explains why Georges St. Pierre and UFC are succeeding where Boxing has failed

Turns out "Iron" Mike is a big fan of mixed martial arts (MMA).

But unless you just started following the sport this morning, you probably already knew that. It's not unusual to see the former heavyweight boxing champion milling around the set of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), like he was for season 17 earlier this year.

Personally, I was surprised he didn't have words for coach Chael Sonnen, who described Tyson as a "protected" and "fake" champion back in the day (see his full critique here). Nevertheless, "Kid Dynamite" has been impressed with the "passion" of MMA and thinks Boxing could pick up a few pointers.

From his conversation with ESPN:

"[MMA} is something you have to start when you're 12 or 13. It has to be a passion. That's the problem with boxing: There's no passion. People want to be record producers, rappers. In MMA, you see that passion. Georges St. Pierre, this is all he wants to do. That's why he's so successful. I think there's room for both [MMA] and boxing, but boxing just has too many black eyes. It doesn't have a good image. In MMA, even though people are fighting, they have a good image. Very few of them get into tragic troubles where they're beating people up and stuff."

Despite his high praise, Tyson still believes UFC fighters aren't getting paid what they deserve.

Boxing will once again be the talk of the town this weekend when Floyd Mayweather puts his undefeated record on the line against Robert Guerrero this Saturday night (May 4, 2013) at the "May Day" pay-per-view (PPV) event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (preview here).

See any passion in "Money?"