Case Study – Frequent Chokes in MMA Concerning for Cognitive Impairment

January 22, 2019

(Image via Wikimedia) Last year a study was published discussing the risk of Vertebral Artery Dissection from chokeholds in combative sports.  A more recent case study was published suggesting that in addition to this, repetitive chokes may be concerning from a cognitive impairment perspective. The recent case study canvassed a 40 year old man who … More Case Study – Frequent Chokes in MMA Concerning for Cognitive Impairment

Mayweather v. Pacquiao Piracy Leads to $30,000 Court Judgement

January 17, 2019

Adding to this site’s archived case summaries of combat sports piracy judgements, reasons were released this week by the US District Court, M.D. Louisiana, ordering a Defendant to pay $30,000 for showing Mayweather v. Pacquiao without a licence. In the recent case (J&J Sports Productions, Inc. v. Cheers Sports Bar and Grill, LLC) the Defendant displayed … More Mayweather v. Pacquiao Piracy Leads to $30,000 Court Judgement

Cat Zingano Appeals Toe in Eye TKO Loss – The Legal Landscape in Place

January 14, 2019

Today MMAJunkie reports that Cat Zingano has filed an appeal of her TKO loss stemming from UFC 232. At the event Zingano was kicked in the face.  During the strike a toe from Megan Anderson contacted Zingano’s eye causing injury and bringing the bout to a halt.  Referee Marc Goddard ruled the strike legal and handed … More Cat Zingano Appeals Toe in Eye TKO Loss – The Legal Landscape in Place

Saliva and Serum Biomarkers Show “Robust” Promise in Identifying Mild Brain Injury in MMA Fighters

January 8, 2019

Adding to this site’s combat sports safety studies, a recent study was published seeking to identify non-invasive biomarkers which can help diagnose mild traumatic brain injury in athletes. In the study, titled “Comparison of Serum and Saliva miRNA’s for Identification and Characterization of mTBI in Adult Mixed Martial Arts Fighters” the authors recruited 50 amateur MMA fighters … More Saliva and Serum Biomarkers Show “Robust” Promise in Identifying Mild Brain Injury in MMA Fighters

Regulatory Thoughts on the UFC’s Sudden Venue Swap from Nevada to California

December 24, 2018

Today, with just 6 days notice, the UFC announced that they are moving UFC 232 from Nevada to California.  Why?  Because Nevada would not licence Jon Jones.  Last Thursday USADA, the UFC’s privately contracted anti-doping watchdog, notified the Nevada Athletic Commission that Jones tested positive for a metabolite of DHCMT in an out of competition … More Regulatory Thoughts on the UFC’s Sudden Venue Swap from Nevada to California

Study Finds High Rate of Whiplash Disorders in MMA Athletes

December 23, 2018

Adding to this site’s combat sports safety studies, a recent study was published in South Africa reviewing the rate of whiplash associated disorders in Mixed Martial Arts. In the recent study, titled Prevalence and Severity of Whiplash Associated Disorders in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes, the authors evaluated seventeen MMA athletes looking for intensity of neck pain, … More Study Finds High Rate of Whiplash Disorders in MMA Athletes

Jon Jones’ MMA Licence Reinstated Clearing His Path For Return to the Cage

December 11, 2018

(Screenshot via MMAFighting.com) After testing positive for metabolites of the steroid turinabol during an in-competition drug test at UFC 214 Jon Jones exposed himself to a host of potential legal consequences given that this was his second anti-doping infraction in the UFC’s USADA era. In September Jones cleared one of the biggest of these hurdles securing … More Jon Jones’ MMA Licence Reinstated Clearing His Path For Return to the Cage

Combatives Doctors Cautioned to Lookout for Vertebral Artery Dissection Following Complications From Chokeholds

December 11, 2018

Adding to this site’s combat sports safety study archives a recent article was published warning doctors overseeing combative sports training to be aware of the risk of spontaneous vertebral artery dissection following a chokehold submission. In the recent article, titled Vertebral Artery Dissection in Active-Duty Soldier Due to Mixed Martial Arts Choke Hold, the authors highlight … More Combatives Doctors Cautioned to Lookout for Vertebral Artery Dissection Following Complications From Chokeholds

Kickboxing and Sambo Granted Provisional Olympic Recognition

December 1, 2018

Today it was announced that Sambo and Kickboxing have been granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee. The following information was contained in a press release published today: The International Sambo Federation (FIAS)…and the World Associations of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) were granted provisional IOC recognition for a period of three years by the EB. These … More Kickboxing and Sambo Granted Provisional Olympic Recognition

Study – Tracking Retinal Changes May Prove Useful in Tracking Boxer Brain Damage

November 8, 2018

A study was recently published noting that Olympic boxers had retinal changes compared to a control group not involved in contact sports suggesting this may hold value as a biomarker in determining when an athlete has been exposed to too much career head trauma. In the recent study titled “Investigating possible retinal biomarkers of head … More Study – Tracking Retinal Changes May Prove Useful in Tracking Boxer Brain Damage