OMG! That is awfull. Is Zach Kirk still paralyzed?

Damn that’s messed up

If states don’t force their commissions to get these things under control, they’ll just get worse. Granted, it shouldn’t be the government’s job to stop people from not doing what they need to do to be informed and not fight at 17 with no experience, but it would save a lot of grief and red tape if there were more in place to stop things like this from happening.

Is one hell of a snake pit here in the states. Third party sanctioning is the way to go in my opinion, simply because I’ve seen the ISKA do a fairly good job here in TN, and the other shows I’ve been to sanctioned by them (I’m presuming this is what we mean by third party sanctioning, yes?).

The scariest part is dealing with some of the sharks who promote fights. Theres only a handful of guys who are actually looking out for the fighters best interest, and improving the sport. If it’s not an honest promotion, it’ll usually be some joe blow gym trying to get their name out, and thats their number one priority. I’ve seen kids as young as 16 fight, and I’ve seen promoters help them get around the red tape just because the kid will put on an exciting fight.

And don’t even get me started on a promoter who owns a gym giving his fighters guys who shouldn’t even be in a cage.

I wholeheartedly agree for the new legislation to make amateur MMA safer.

It looks bad for our state and for MMA when these freak show events end up leaving people seriously hurt.

MMA is a sport, and amateur MMA is just the same, only at a lower level. These drunken asses that are stepping into cages and causing bad publicity for the sport are not atheletes. They are just idiots.

Amateur MMA should be held in the same regard as pro, just on a smaller scale.

Hopefully this new bill will clean up the mess before fear-based witch hunts start being conducted by desperate politicians or close minded “activist” types…

Can be found here.

(Shenandoah) — A Shenandoah ultimate fighter is now contending for use of his limbs. 20 year-old Zack Kirk was rushed to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha after being immobilized in a ‘take-down’ at Saturday night’s Mayhem Martial Arts fight at the National Guard Armory. His mother Diana tells KMA News his fifth vertebrae was crushed and his spinal chord damaged. She reports that after a three-hour surgery, he has some use of his arms after replacing the vertebrae with a bone from his hip. Monday’s M-R-I showed everything is lined up properly and there are no cuts in the spinal chord, but it did reflect chord damage. Diana believes miracles happen and says Zack is going to be one of them.

Kirk’s friend and fellow-fighter Joe Perkins tells KMA News it was a freak accident that could have happened in football or wrestling just as easily. Perkins explains that Kirk went for a take-down but his unnamed contender had his arms restrained, preventing Zack from breaking his fall with his arms. He was then rolled over irresponsive. Without realizing injury, the opponent dealt a blow or two before the referee halted the match. Perkins says after exchanging a few words with Kirk, the referee called for a stretcher and Kirk was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Read that the Kid was never asked his age. When the fight was over the ref asked if he was OK. He said “I think so” and then had to have his friends carry him to the car. There was no medical staff present.

These people made a choice to enter these events(though I see a problem with a legal kid without parents permission.), while I see nothing wrong with better run amateur shows, I do see a problem having the government take charge. Government does nothing well.