Paper Calls Out “Consensus” Statements on Concussion in Sport as Being Biased and Lacking Candour

October 20, 2021

Little argument can be had that combat sports and collision sports bring risk to participants. Leaving aside short term acute injury the most sinister of which is long term brain health harm from concussions, post concussive symptoms and CTE. One theme readers of this site will be familiar with is informed consent. I routinely discuss … More Paper Calls Out “Consensus” Statements on Concussion in Sport as Being Biased and Lacking Candour

Colorado Approves Open Scoring in Combat Sports

October 12, 2021

In recent years the Kansas Athletic Commission took the lead and approved open scoring in combat sports. Following this they compiled data dispelling many myths raised by opponents of the transparent system. Today the Colorado Office of Combative Sports passed a policy proposal bringing open scoring to the State. I reached out to Tony Cummings, … More Colorado Approves Open Scoring in Combat Sports

Bare Knuckle Boxing Has First Reported Death in the Sport’s Regulated Era

October 4, 2021

Update October 5, 2021 – Today the ABC Medical Committee released the below critical comments on the quality of regulation in BKB in the United States ABC MEDICAL COMMITTEE Statement Regarding BARE KNUCKLE BOXING DEATHUncasville, CT – Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB) has been gaining in popularity across parts of the United States. Since 2018, early … More Bare Knuckle Boxing Has First Reported Death in the Sport’s Regulated Era

Another UFC Fighter Misses Weight Looking Ill on the Scales. Will Regulators Act?

October 1, 2021

In 2014 I started keeping a list of fighters that were injured (and even died) from rapid extreme weight cuts. In 2016 I stood up before the entire ABC convention in Las Vegas and read North American regulators the list so they cannot feign ignorance. Nothing has changed. In 2019 UFC fighter Aspen Ladd struggled … More Another UFC Fighter Misses Weight Looking Ill on the Scales. Will Regulators Act?

Study – Olympic Combat Sports Athletes Have Increased Risk of Neurodegenerative Death

September 28, 2021

Olympic athletes typically live 5 years longer than the general population. However, Olympians involved in combat sports do not enjoy this advantage and have increased risk of neurodegenerative death when contrasted with other olympic athletes and the general population according to a recent study. In the study, titled Heads-Up: Risk-Specific Neurodegenerative Mortality and Years-Saved Analysis … More Study – Olympic Combat Sports Athletes Have Increased Risk of Neurodegenerative Death

Appeal Breathes New Life Into Mark Hunt UFC Doping Lawsuit

September 26, 2021

As first reported by Conduct Detrimental, Mark Hunt’s appeal in his doping lawsuit against the UFC has been revived. By way of background Mark Hunt fought and lost to Brock Lesnar in 2017. Prior to the bout the UFC waived their normal doping protocols for Lesnar as an athlete (re)joining the promotion. After the bout … More Appeal Breathes New Life Into Mark Hunt UFC Doping Lawsuit

Study – Amateur Boxers Twice As Likely To Have Cognitive Impairment

September 20, 2021

Adding to this site’s archives of combat sports safety studies, a study was recently published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine finding that “amateur boxing when younger was associated with a 2-fold increase in cognitive impairment“. In the study, titled Amateur Boxing and Dementia, the authors followed a group of 1,123 adult men whose health … More Study – Amateur Boxers Twice As Likely To Have Cognitive Impairment

Let’s Talk Florida Licensing Standards And Holyfield vs Belfort

September 9, 2021

Vitor Belfort is old. Evander Holyfield is much older. After a bout between Belfort and Oscar De La Hoya fell through because the latter came down with Covid-19 the promoter of the foiled bout suggested Evander Holyfield as a replacement. California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster advised me that “I was not agreeable … More Let’s Talk Florida Licensing Standards And Holyfield vs Belfort

Researchers Call for Combat Sports to Serve as “Ground Zero” In Concussion Data

September 5, 2021

An interesting article was published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine calling on researchers to collaborate in making full contact combat sports with intentional head strikes ground zero for research involving head trauma in sport. Contrasting these sports with other contact sports where head trauma is incidental instead of a key goal … More Researchers Call for Combat Sports to Serve as “Ground Zero” In Concussion Data