Mixed Martial Arts has graced our screens, sports Arena, and halls across the 4 corners of the world and given us fight fans some of the most memorable moments we’ll not soon forget. But other than the obvious dangers of the fight game, much is not spoken of regarding the behind the scenes dangers that can occur, with health Issues, safety checks and conditions that fighters and promotions alike may not be aware of.
And the UK, although having one of the biggest regional circuits and inputs to MMA on the planet, still to this day remains ungoverned and unregulated. MMA events in the UK are licensed as ‘regulated entertainment’ rather than an actual sporting event which means that while the events themselves must be licensed; fighters, promoters, officials, trainers, etc, do not.
But there has been a beacon of hope, in the form of Safe MMA, making sure combatants are able to thrive in the violent yet exhilarating sport. A dedicated team of selfless individuals led by founder Marc Goddard created the Charity with the love of the sport, and fighters in mind with Safer MMA since 2018. Its main focus being third-party medical screening and record-keeping services which are available to the public, and independent medical and information to athletes.
Founding member Marc Goddard issued an open invitation to The MMA community to a Webinar with members of the organisation, to speak on the motives of the charity.
Like many others, I grabbed this opportunity with both hands, the wealth of knowledge was a joy to be around.
Speakers included were:
Marc Goddard EMMAA president; Safe MMA founder
Safe MMA founder and trustee
Ian Dean, Cage Warriors matchmaker
Marlene O’Griffin, SBG Cork, General Manager; IMMAA Medical Lead
Dr Randa Bascharon Board Director, Association of Ringside Physician; IMMAF Medical Committee Chair; Ringside Physician, Nevada Athletic Commission
Each Member Expressed in the webinar the importance of Safe MMA for the Industry in the UK and Beyond. Below are some interesting quotes from the evening.
Marc Goddard: We all know the Inherent risks combat sports holds, it’s pretty clear. But I think at the very least, what we need to do is get like minded people pushing and putting a line in the sand. I think that’s one of the main takeaways from this, the success we’ve had in the UK, as I said, to underline an area where regulation isn’t an actual thing. And that’s kind of what I’m appealing to do and what I’ve always done in my time in this sport began. I’m appealing to people in your educated wisdom and your better nature to start taking a stand, and being a bit more forthright.
Dr. Jack Kreindler: “from 2016 we have records and i’d like to share some of the stats with you. We’ve had 2 and a half thousand athletes register with us and have had medical screenings, many of those have been many times over. With the main groups we’ve been working with since 2016, we’ve delivered well over a thousand Blood tests ourselves when athletes haven’t been able to get them themselves. We’ve reviewed over 27 thousand medical forms, including 10 thousand annual medical assessments. 10 thousand full sets of bloods, 3250 MRI brain scans, 1600 MRA brain scans that’s where you look at the arteries In the brain. 2300 eye tests and hundreds upon hundreds of doctors letters with interesting reports. We’ve detected 6 people who didn’t realise they were carrying transmissible blood borne viruses, 12 issues with people’s eyes which could have rendered them blind with continuous striking and many specialist referrals for people that needed it. We’re currently tracking over 600 fighters with brain scans findings, to make sure they’re stable and don’t get any worse. 16 people we have made medical recommendations for their health and life to stop fighting based on many neurologists and there advice, which is a very tough thing to have to do, but in thr end this is life saving stuff. We’ve had one person who’s had brain surgery, who’s managed to get back into the sport, now having been cleared. I think even if you can save one life you’ve done well, but we really do think that we’re doing something that is genuinely good for a sporting population.”
Ian Dean: At Cage Warriors, we do this voluntarily, there is nobody in the UK or other territories telling us to do this. One of the main reasons I wanted to be here today is because I want other promotions in the UK and in other areas to do this. Safe MMA is important to me personally. I’m not speaking as part of Cage Warriors here when I say this, it is frustrating when you see other promotions such as international promotions coming into the UK and not setting the same standards that Cage Warriors, the European Markets are quite crowded. It’s very frustrating for me, I hope that more promotions do it. Because at the end of the day, it is important for the fighters.”
Dr Randa Bascharon: The standardisation and unifying the process has to happen for us to move forward. And i think When there’s all different kinds of standards, and most of the slandered have been less than, We run into issues. So from a promoters standpoint, the liability, the risk and the cost for allowing athletes that are not clear or have had suspensions that haven’t yet been investigated, from A dollars cost, that cost is far more critical than allowing somebody for the sake of letting the show go on to participate. Promotions should be more on the side of being on the side of understanding medical costs. One simple injury that’s not really recognised and letting that fighter go on then tacking it on record that the injury was because of thr fight is substantial to a promotion.”
Marlene O’Griffin: Working with Safe MMA brings numerous benefits, your talking consistently, and accountability. Safe MMA establishes a clear medical safety standard across the sport, ensuring it is fair and very professional. There’s the peace of mind that both the fighters and promotions can trust that the proper safety measures are in place. There’s the long term fighter help in identifying medical issues that they might not know of already, so they can avoid these long term risks.
It was an absolute pleasure having the opportunity to be in the meeting and I hope these webinars continue. The work done by everyone involved with safe MMA is a selfless act of pure Love of the sport. And I believe that everyone involved in and around the sport should get behind. Please follow the link here, and handover to the charities website for more information.
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