Fighting fans always want tough knockdowns, fantastic submissions, or two tired fighters brawling away! The first Mixed Martial Art (MMA) game could be more appealing due to the roughness, even to most spectators. However, some experts argue that nowadays, there is a slight difference in safety between kickboxing and MMA. Because of this representation, there has been intense debate regarding the legitimacy of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Nevertheless, other critics contend that it instigates brutal acts on the sides of the players while at the same time exposing them to potential grave bodily harm. Mixed Martial Arts should not be legalized not only due to prominent risks to the participant’s health but also other concerns such as its ethical standards, cases of financial injustice among fighters, the unhealthy risks that soldiers undertake to remain within the games’ limits, and general safety issues.
One of the prominent arguments for legalizing MMA as a sport is the financial benefits of this game. However, a study by the Athletic, a sports media company, found that over 70% of the issues disturbing Fighters are related to financial matters (Fowlkes 1). According to the fighters, they only take half of what they earn in the sport, which leaves most of them struggling financially and mentally, forcing them to take on sponsors and support that are mostly unbeneficial to them (Fowlkes 1). Additionally, authors like White Caroline oppose games like MMA as a mode of employment and urge the government to provide ways that will facilitate these families to live off their sweat (White 1). Joining in the fray of opposition, Kevin Lole states that even though there is some beneficial support from the MMA management, those who suffer from financial and payment injustices are elites in the game (Lole 1). Fighters may occasionally turn to engage in risky and illegal acts, such as covert street disputes, which have the potential to cause severe harm or even death.
Even though legalizing this combat sport can bring financial benefits, the health hazards associated with the sport do not make the financial benefits worthwhile, as some fighters even lose their lives while playing the game for money. Scholars have found fights such as MMA to have long-lasting health impacts on its participants, with the severe outcomes being Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (Lim et al. 1). According to Lim (1), the “Punch Drunk Syndrome,” now known as Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), was first discovered in boxing competitors in 1928. Even though the infections can be found among other sportspeople, boxers and MMA fighters are the vulnerable populations to this infection due to the memory disturbances that result from the long-term effects of punches and repetitive head trauma that results from prolonged exposure throughout the gamers’ lives. It is important to consider such essential facts when deciding whether or not MMA should be legalized.
Another essential consideration regarding the illegalization of MMA is the ethical and moral issues raised by the sport. MMA, in contrast to many other sports, is a contact sport with the possibility of catastrophic injuries despite the competitors agreeing to participate knowing this. These possible consequences raise concerns about the ethics of mixed martial arts (MMA) and the sport’s promotion because they can include both short-term injuries like fractured bones and long-term ailments like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) (Lim 1). Another point is the debate over consent and individual choice. MMA competitors decide to compete, knowing full well the risks associated with the sport. The matter becomes more intricate, though, when one considers factors such as the status of the economy, psychological issues, or a simple desire for fame that are driving these sportsmen to jeopardize their health (Fowlkes 1). In general, while debating the legitimacy of the sport, the moral and ethical issues surrounding mixed martial arts have been and probably always will be a point of contention. Ethical concerns are also raised regarding the sports requirements of physicians along the ring (Sethi 461). This implies that the sports are dangerous enough to need immediate medical attention at the slightest inconvenience. With the Hippocratic oaths that medics take, the violent nature and risk of MMA sports raise questions on whether the physician is going against their oath by endangering the patient’s life (Sethi 461). This is a serious concern, especially with the death of fighters that have occurred when inside the rings.
Mixed martial arts should also not be allowed due to the brutal dangers associated with their training. Research by Jensen et al. (66) showed that most mixed martial arts injuries result from training, with Taekwondo recording a percentage of 81.5% injuries, 90% in Karate, and 77% in MMA. Meanwhile, during competition, the study including 55 MMA fighters indicated that about 22% of the injuries result from competitions, making MMA training one of the most dangerous sports training to do. A study by Jensen et al. (66) shows that with more athletes joining MMA, more training injuries are likely to occur, increasing the percentage of injuries in the head region (38.2%) and the lower body parts. A study by Ruddock et al. (2) supports this notion through its findings of the highly intense training required among combat fighters such as MMA fighters. These combats require consistent training of the body, increasing body fatigue, inconsistent body weight, and injuries. These conditioning methods, even though they may increase the fighter’s durability, have long-term effects on the fighter’s body, including mental fatigue, increased instances of physical injuries, and other health risks, especially with the rapid inconsistent weight loss and gain that results from it.
Mixed Martial Arts developed as a fusion of many combat disciplines to ascertain the most practical fighting technique in actual combat situations. During its infancy, mixed martial arts (MMA) was frequently called a “no-holds-barred” competition and was decried as uncontrolled and brutal (White, 2007). Many people viewed the sport as ruthlessly untamed and potentially lethal because of this portrayal of it. Although few detailed rules existed when mixed martial arts (MMA) was still somewhat unregulated, early misconceptions about the sport were not untrue. These days, a comprehensive set of rules is the norm for each professional mixed martial arts match, making the aftermath of a fight significantly less uncertain and hazardous but still enough to sustain injuries or are not applicable in most cases since most fights are conducted in the streets (Abdalazem 1). According to Kesting, professional MMA rules are meant to be applied within the fighting cages. However, most people learn MMA to conduct themselves in street fights where rules and laws do not apply (Kesting par 18). This means that a lot of damage and casualties happen to people fighting in the streets, giving it enough points not to be legalized.
Another aspect that negatively paints the world of MMA is drawing the children into cage fights. In the United States, no specific federal rule prohibits children from taking part in boxing, and more than eighteen thousand youngsters below the age of nineteen. Even though cage fighting and boxing are very different, glovesBoxers wear gloves and other protective gear during contests. Participants in cage fighting typically don little to no protective gear, and so are the children drawn into MMA. According to (Stubbs, parents who let their children play sports like cage fighting might defy pediatricians’ advice and instill a different and defiant character within a child (Stubbs par 6). With children being drawn into the chaos of MMA, it is high time for the governments to prohibit the sport owing to the damage it will pose to children.
The proposing parties of the legality of MMA restrain themselves to the limited and short-term positivity of legalizing MMA. Most proponents believe that MMA has evolved to the extent of establishing rules that will protect the fighters during the fights. However, as illustrated above, rules only apply within the cage, while MMA skills can be applied anywhere without the bound of the rules, and the casualties are not limited to death. Additionally, most people are attracted to the short-term benefit of a high salary per fight. However, the game is risky, putting the player’s life on the line. The most exaggerated argument is the autonomy of consent from the fighters to fight even though they are aware of the dangers. However, when life is at stake, the government’s authority to protect a person’s life cannot be overridden. It is the work of the government to set legislation to prohibit MMA and ensure everyone’s safety.
In conclusion, the MMA should be authorized not only for individual development but also for the growth of the sports industry. Even if there are some benefits to legalizing MMA, the negative impact of MMA legalization outweighs the benefits. Various reasons outlined the potential risk factors of MMA to people individually and the society. These risks involve getting injured or being killed in the fight, experiencing financial problems and insecurity, going through strenuous training that may damage the body, being misused in the streets away from the ruled platforms, drawing in the children into caged fights that will alter their thoughts, get hurt and instill defiant behavior. Since the lives and safety of the public are at stake, the government should chip in to make necessary measures for illegalizing MMA and protect the public and the fighters from possible corruption and injuries as a result of MMA.
Works Cited
Abdalazem, Reem. “What Is the Most Amount of Money a Boxer Has Won in One Fight?” Diario AS, 22 July 2022, en.as.com/other_sports/what-is-the-most-amount-of-money-a-boxer-has-won-in-one-fight-n/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Fowlkes, Ben. “‘Nothing else Even Comes Close’: Why Money is MMA Fighters’ Top Concern.” The Athletic, 2 June 2020, theathletic.com/1849121/2020/06/02/money-financial-insecurity-mma-fighters-top-concern/.
Jensen, Andrew R. et al. “Injuries Sustained by the Mixed Martial Arts Athlete.” Sports health vol. 9,1 (2017): 64–69. doi:10.1177/1941738116664860
Kesting, Stephan. “Too Deadly for Boxing, MMA and BJJ: Illegal but Effective Combat Sports Techniques.” Selfdefensetutorials.com, 22 June 2022, selfdefensetutorials.com/illegal-and-effective-combat-sport-techniques/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
Lim, Lucas J H, et al. “Dangers of Mixed Martial Arts in the Development of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol. 16,2 254. 17 Jan. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijerph16020254
Lole, Kevin. “Amid Pay Controversy, Wisest Course of Action for UFC Fighters is to Share Salary Information” 2022.
Park, Joshua Shweiki, University of Maryland, College. “Should the MMA Be Banned?” Study Breaks, 27 Feb. 2023, studybreaks.com/thoughts/should-the-mma-be-banned/.
Ruddock, Alan, et al. “High-intensity conditioning for combat athletes: practical recommendations.” Applied Sciences 11.22 (2021): 10658. https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210658
Sethi, Nitin K. “To be or not to be ringside? Ethical issues about combat sports medicine.” The Physician and Sportsmedicine, vol. 50, no. 6, 2022, pp. 461–462.
Stubbs, Roman. “The Rise of Youth Cage-Fighting.” Washington Post, 2022, www.washingtonpost.com/sports/interactive/2022/youth-mixed-martial-arts/.
White, Caroline. “Mixed Martial Arts and Boxing Should Be Banned, Says BMA.” BMJ, vol. 335, no. 7618, Sept. 2007, pp. 469.1–469, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39328.674711.db.
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