How Dangerous Is MMA?

by Kid Nate on Jun 10, 2008 10:34 AM EDT in News Comment 9 comments

This Press-Democrat profile of ringside physician Dr. Gary Furness paints a grisly picture of MMA behind the scenes:

The knockout was the scariest moment of the night, but certainly not the only medical issue facing Furness. He had to deal with another broken nose, a heavyweight staggering from extreme dehydration, one 170-pounder whose head had been gashed open by repeated elbows, and another with a fractured bone in his right hand and a second-degree AC separation in his right shoulder, among other maladies.

Just another night at the fights.

HT FightOpinion.

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Well...lets see...

I was a pretty good football player in high school. And in one game I suffered a concussion (was ko’ed briefly), dislocated finger, separated shoulder, and a large gash on my chin. And those were hardly the only injuries I suffered in my high school career (torn shoulder muscles, complete tear of the hamstring, a few more concussions, I have arthritis in a few of my fingers from the sheer amount of times I broke and dislocated them…etc)

But it is so much more dangerous to participate in MMA than football.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 10, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

well the beauty of football

is that none of those “routine” injuries show up on camera at all and all but the most devastating on-field injuries don’t even slow the play down. Center broke his wrist? Just swap out the backup center, no problem.

by Kid Nate on Jun 10, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The list I mentioned above of what happened all in one game…the one that got the most attention from everyone was the gash on my chin. Because it bled like hell. It was by far the least serious and hurt the least…but you’re right…if they can’t see it happen (my shoulder was horrible amounts of pain) then it just isn’t a big deal.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison

by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 10, 2008 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Axe gash and broken bones..

are just that.. visually appalling but not quite the medical emergency that it may look… unless if the broken bones are your neck and spine.. Is MMA dangerous? very much. There’s the constant threat of having neurologic damage and even death. But compared to others sports, or American Football for that matter, not that much. It may even be safer. In a sport where the athletes participates knowing that they’ll get hurt or will be hurt, they’re not only physically but also psychologically prepared to take the hits of their opponents. They would know how to react to each and every blow of their opponents. In football, however, they have this false sense of security with pads and helmets. They would go all out in tackling their opponents thinking that they would not get hurt since they have their gears on. Just compare it Rugby, I don’t have the numbers but I know Rugby players has lesser injuries than in American Football.

by Johann on Jun 10, 2008 11:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Joe Rogan wants them

He has said at numerous events.

He also doesn’t want fights to be stood up if the action is stalled.

by mythbuster on Jun 10, 2008 11:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

uhmm....

the knees to the head?

by Johann on Jun 10, 2008 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

on a downed opponent?

by Johann on Jun 10, 2008 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

by mythbuster on Jun 10, 2008 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember one game in a high school state soccer tournament with the same list of maladies. And that was just my team (KO was goalie’s head meeting goalpost during a scuffle for the ball—self-inflicted concussion, head gash was from dirty play going up for headers, broken nose was from head butt in altercation after the game, broken hand was actually broken thumb from messy landing after a tackle with guys on top… OK so no dislocated shoulder, but still… plenty of blood from elbows and cleats). And that’s a wussy sport like soccer… ;) Why would we demand pro MMA to be safer?

Fun stuff is dangerous. Armor is boring. Let us play!

by swarmofkillermonkeys on Jun 10, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs