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[mmasince91]

Background: Professional mixed martial arts (MMA) competition has emerged as a full contact sport that has risen rapidly in popularity. However, there is limited information regarding the incidence of competition injuries following sanctioning by an athletic commission.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine MMA injury patterns during a five year period following sanctioning in the state of Nevada. Data from all regulated MMA competitions during the study period from March 2002 to September 2007 (n=1,270 fight exposures) was obtained. Injury odds ratios were calculated by conditional logistic regression on match outcome, age, weight and fight experience using a pair-matched case-control design (n=464) and by multiple logistic regression on match outcome, age, fight experience, weight, combat minutes, and scheduled rounds.

Results: During the 635 professional MMA matches, 300 of the 1,270 athletes sustained documented injuries with an injury rate of 23.6 per 100 fight participations. Most common reported injuries were lacerations and upper extremity injuries. Severe concussion rate was 16.5 per 1,000 athlete exposures, or 3.3% of all matches. No deaths or critical sports-related injuries resulted from any of the regulated matches during the study period. Age, weight, and fight experience did not statistically increase the likelihood of injuries after controlling for other covariates.

Conclusions: Injury rates in regulated professional MMA competition are similar to other combat sports; the overall risk of critical sports-related injury appears low. Additional study is warranted to achieve a better understanding of injury trends and ways to further lower injury risk in MMA.

Injury Trends In Sanctioned Mixed Martial Arts Competition: A Five-Year Review 2002-2007 -- Ngai et al., 10.1136/bjsm.2007.044891 -- British Journal of Sports Medicine

[mmasince91]

Sammy died in 2008 didn't he? This report was done 02 to 07

[Masscore]

Originally Posted by The Sundance Kid

What about Sammy Vasquez?


MMA fighter Vasquez dies weeks after fight - MMA - Yahoo! Sports


But there is no doubt that MMA is WAY safer than boxing.

You don't have guys in MMA taking 100 head shots in the first 6 round, getting knocked down have way though, get 10 seconds to recover and then, stand there and take 100 more head shots.

Exactly, this is why MMA is overall far safe then Boxing. You can have fights in MMA were one guy does not throw a single punch (Hughes v. Trigg I). Since you are able to take people down and submit them, its possible to have little to no damage to the head.

[Mirko45]

Originally Posted by The Sundance Kid

What about Sammy Vasquez?


MMA fighter Vasquez dies weeks after fight - MMA - Yahoo! Sports


But there is no doubt that MMA is WAY safer than boxing.

You don't have guys in MMA taking 100 head shots in the first 6 round, getting knocked down have way though, get 10 seconds to recover and then, stand there and take 100 more head shots.

That was in Texas too, the study was just in Nevada

[Nauner]

Originally Posted by The Sundance Kid

The Yahoo Sports Article was posted on December 2nd of 2007.

So yea, Vasquez died in 2007

The Fight took place on October 20th and he died sometime in Mid November.

The study ended in September. That's probably why that stat isn't on there. Was that fight in Nevada?