Combat Fighting Outlawed in Historic WSHC Vote
April 7, 2024; Stockholm, Sweden- Last night, the Worldwide Sporting Health Commission voted to outlaw all forms of professional combat fighting, including mixed martial arts and boxing. The decision comes just weeks after the results of a retrospective review of injuries resulting from combat fighting were released. The data, which included analyses of various neurological conditions affecting both current and former fighters, shocked even the biggest supporters of the sport, and it seemed inevitable that the WSHC would deliver this mandate- the only question was when.
Combat fighting has grown significantly in popularity over the last two decades, with more fighters participating and fights occurring far more regularly than ever before. Many believe sports betting has played an integral role in the growth of the sport, as fight purses have grown tremendously since betting was legalized and fans have been demanding fighters compete more often.
This week’s highly anticipated MMA championship bout between Sandoval Ferreira and Vlad Kovalenko has been canceled. The winner of the fight was expected to face unanimous belt-holder Derick “Lotto” Martino next month.
But with this growth in popularity has come increased scrutiny on the sport’s risks. Immediately following the death of Luis Hernandez during a heavyweight title bout and the passing of three leading mixed martial artists in a two-month span in early 2021, the majority of concerns focused on catastrophic injuries, but since that time, most of the focus has been on the long-term effects of repeated head trauma. In March of 2022, a registry of both professional and amateur fighters was developed to monitor a variety of conditions tied to head injuries. The initial reports, made public a year later, raised alarms, as data revealed that current and former combat fighters suffer from a seven-fold increased risk of depression compared to the general population and a 15-times higher rate of suicide. Upon the presentation of the preliminary results, many cried for the sport to be banned, but the WSHC held strong to its long-standing philosophy that due process be followed and actions be taken only after final data became available.
While many hoped that the final data would reveal that the preliminary conclusions were invalid and overstated the sport’s risks, this was not the case. In fact, the final data showed a slightly elevated suicide risk and similar risks of conditions such as Alzheimer’s, memory loss, and ‘neurological detriment”.
As a result, it was assumed by most that the WSHC would outlaw combat fighting. Still, many were upset by the decision, in particular Derrick “Lotto” Martino, who dominated the most recent International Games while winning an unprecedented three platinum medals and being dubbed “the greatest fighter of all-time” by numerous fighting experts. “The problem isn’t the sport,” said Martino after hearing of the decision. “The problem is there are too many fighters that are poorly trained and trying to compete. There are problems with regulations. Fighters shouldn’t be fighting so often, for instance. But it’s absurd that the WSHC is punishing the true professionals of this sport, who put ourselves at risk while being fully aware of the risks, and all because the sport’s governing body has failed to do its part to regulate the sport and protect its athletes.”
Members of the WSHC present the findings of a retrospective review of head trauma and related conditions in combat fighting.
Legendary promoters Jake Parker and Jamal Taylor, fierce competitors for years, put aside their differences to release a dual statement on the decision. “This decision fails to consider the far-reaching implications of banning a sport that not only provides entertainment to billions of people, but also provides a livelihood to many of the world’s most under-resourced individuals. We will review the data and engage with the WSHC in the coming days with the hopes of settling on increased regulations for combat fighting as opposed to a rash and unnecessary ban on the sport.”
For now, however, professional combat fighting events will be immediately canceled and the sport’s professional and amateur organizations will begin to shut down operations.