Issue 103
July 2013
Having the right experience and education at cageside is vital in regards to athlete safety
A referee is the last line of defense in a line of people dedicated to protecting athletes competing in MMA. By the time that athlete enters the cage, I am confident that with a proper commission overseeing the event, and with proper regulation in place, that athlete has met all the safety requirements and should be in the cage. That makes my job a lot easier.
MARIO YAMASAKI
An MMA referee for 12 years, Mario has black belts in judo and BJJ. Each issue he discusses the hottest topics in the sport through the eyes of an official
Mixed martial arts is a safe sport, and has one of the most extensive safety mechanisms surrounding it; the athletic commission. Unregulated events are detrimental to the sport of MMA, and put athletes at unnecessary risk, and do nothing to improve the sport of MMA. I urge all fans, fighters and promoters to stay away from unregulated events, as it’s when events are unregulated that tragedies can happen.
Here is the second installment of my last line of defense spotlight on modern MMA, examining the various safety measures that go on backstage prior to a regulated fight card’s opening bell. Last month I discussed the role matchmaking and registration have on fighter safety, which both then lead onto the following fight night precautions:
HEALTH & SAFETY
Commissions also mandate that all athletes competing must undergo extensive medical examinations and must also meet specified medical requirements prior to them competing. Blood work is scanned for infectious diseases; MRI’s and/or CAT scans are monitored for head injuries.
Eye examinations, EKG’s, and many other significant tests are required in many Commissions. These are done a few weeks before the fight so that Commission can determine based on the medical evidence whether a fighter is fit to fight or not.
PRE-FIGHT MEDICAL
When most fans see the UFC weigh-in, what they are witnessing is Joe Rogan calling out the fighters and the classic stare down that generally occurs between both contestants. What the fans don’t see is what happens a few hours before, backstage where once again the Athletic Commission and their staff of doctors are doing a final evaluation 24 hours before the fight with each and every fighter.
There are not many sports that do this to ensure the safety of their athletes. These doctors painstakingly check each and every fighter for signs of dehydration, and any injuries that might be recent. They again check heart rate, and blood pressure and all conditions which will be tested under the strain of combat.
If there are any doubts, then that fight will be cancelled, because the mandate of the commission is to ensure the safety of the athletes at all costs. On many unregulated shows, this medical care is likely to be nonexistent.
RINGSIDE EXPERIENCE
During the night of the show, the commission ensures that a complete safety net of personnel is on hand to protect the fighter. Obviously, the doctors are on hand, but a good commission will staff it with doctors who are competent in ringside medicine, and have experience as an ER doctor, or neuro-trauma specialist. Paramedics are also on hand and offer immediate assistance when needed.
I’ve spoken about this numerous times; the dressing room inspectors are present to shadow the fighters and make sure that they are monitored before their bouts and more importantly immediately afterwards. The inspectors maintain contact with the fighters and look for any signs of medical issues that may be present.
Once both fighters have finished their bouts, they are examined again by the doctors, and as stated before they are medically suspended and their names entered on the database, to prevent them from competing too soon.
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