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[Cat--Smasher]

UFC considers MMA the most regulated sport - sportsnet.ca WAP

"Here's the reality. This is the most regulated sport in the world," UFC president Dana White told the UFC 128 pre-fight news conference last week in New York.

The mixed martial arts juggernaut notes how referees jump in to prevent fighters in trouble from further damage, how doctors and ambulances are on hand fight night and the extensive pre- and post-fight tests its athletes are subjected to.

MMA combatants undergo annual tests to maintain their licence to fight. And athletic commissions impose post-fight medical suspensions, varying on the degree of damage taken.

"If they take any damage to the head, they're put on a three-month suspension," said White. "These guys are on a three-month medical suspension and cannot return until they're seen by a doctor.

"These guys don't take the damage that NFL players or boxers or guys from the NHL. And guys in the NFL and the NHL can't miss three months. If guys missed three months for a concussion, there'd be no football, there'd be no NHL. That's the difference and this sport is a million times safer than both of them."

In Nevada, seen as a leader in the world of boxing and MMA because of its busy fight calendar, suspensions will often be split between training and sparring. A fighter is usually allowed to spar 10 to 14 days before the suspension ends.

"If a guy needs to not fight for 60 days, he really shouldn't be sparring for 45 days, to give the brain all the time to heal or any other kind of injuries he may have that would be exacerbated by sparring," said Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

* Follow the link to sportsnet.ca to find the full article.

[W.Silva>C.Norris]

read this article the other day in the local newspaper. very well written, and I was very impressed to see Keith's comments.

[goodtimes]

I agree that with the suspensions and all it makes MMA a lot safer then in hockey or football, where they just pretend the concussions don't happen. However, I seriously wonder about how much enforcement there is on the part of the commission in terms of the "no-contact" bans. I never hear of anyone getting caught for that, so I bet fighters just take it with a grain of salt and if they want to spar, there's no one to tell them not to.

[FFFRpickup]

Originally Posted by goodtimes

I agree that with the suspensions and all it makes MMA a lot safer then in hockey or football, where they just pretend the concussions don't happen. However, I seriously wonder about how much enforcement there is on the part of the commission in terms of the "no-contact" bans. I never hear of anyone getting caught for that, so I bet fighters just take it with a grain of salt and if they want to spar, there's no one to tell them not to.

I just started training at Modern Vision MMA here in Wellland and a fighter looked disheartened and I asked what's going on and he was upset that he couldn't have any contact because of a concussion. They follow the rules..plain and simple. I'm sure there are guys who don't (there's always a few)

I don't know how they could possibly enforce the suspensions but from my view. I find that MMA practitioners respect the decisions and fully understand the health aspects so they abide by the rules more so that other non combat sports. my two cents.

[goodtimes]

Originally Posted by FFFRpickup

I just started training at Modern Vision MMA here in Wellland and a fighter looked disheartened and I asked what's going on and he was upset that he couldn't have any contact because of a concussion. They follow the rules..plain and simple. I'm sure there are guys who don't (there's always a few)

I don't know how they could possibly enforce the suspensions but from my view. I find that MMA practitioners respect the decisions and fully understand the health aspects so they abide by the rules more so that other non combat sports. my two cents.

That's cool that guys at your gym follow the rules, and they respect their brains enough to know they should, but like you said if they didn't want to follow the suspensions there's no one to stop them.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

not yet, hope he is right that it will be someday. But there are multiple sports more popular worldwide, especially soccer. not a fan myself but most of the world is.