Blood Testing?

[NoGiCorbarian]

Hey guys was just wondering on your views on blood testing in am mma events?

I understand the costs involved for a promoter would be huge if they paid for all the fighters tests but would it be possible to get an aaids test done via the nhs (each fighter is responsible for there own) and state that to compete the aids test cn be no older than say 2weeks before the fight etc?

does this sound like good idea?

to begin with i would say that semi pro and pro should have this as the likelyhood of cuts at am level (no headshots) are unlikly (from wht i have seen).

whats your veiws on this?

[TheJuice]

I, as a fighter would be for it, no question about it.

Was just thinking about this tonight and it bothered me thinking that an opponent I face may have some nasty little surprise and i'm putting myself at risk to fight for a measly 3 figures.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to get such testing done?

[Darkne$s]

Test is free but I don't know if the NHS ever gives you a paper showing you've tested negative.


I, as a fighter would be for it, no question about it.

Was just thinking about this tonight and it bothered me thinking that an opponent I face may have some nasty little surprise and i'm putting myself at risk to fight for a measly 3 figures.

Does anyone know how much it would cost to get such testing done?

[NoGiCorbarian]

Test is free but I don't know if the NHS ever gives you a paper showing you've tested negative.

i know you can ask for an std cert when u go n get checked out but not sure if they do with an aids test as never had one done i would imagine they either send you the results via a letter or u could ask for a quick print out from the doc etc when u get the results.

im suprised there isnt already sumthing like this in place with the iska etc as they seem to sanction alot of the local mma shows.

[thai-jitsu]

Itd be great to see blood testing, brain scans all that kinda stuff. If it added a £5 to ticket prices then itd be worth it, after all most spectators are there to see theirs friends/ team mates etc. Money is prob what stops this happening, either purses would need to go up for fighters to pay for it or promoters need to pay. Either way, spectators would foot the bill.

Does play at the back of your mind cause you dont want a nasty blood disease cause of a fight!

Out of interest, im sure Amateur Boxing has this stuff, who pays for that?

[Bateman]

The Boxing promotions I have been involved with the Fighter has to pay for his own scans and then produce them before the fight. No certs or scans then no fight. Obviously on fight night the fighter will receive a second basic medical given by the Doctor but that is just to ensure he has 2 eyes, 2 arms and can basicaly function and is alive.

Unlicensed , White collar etc I havent seen this happen , its much the same way as MMA

[Tommo]

I had one done when I was going to fight on FIGHT IKON and it was free at the local GUM clinic and covered you for Aids and Hepatitis etc... you got a certificate showing all this and took about 2 weeks. Think it had to be done 28 days before you fought

[Darkne$s]

i know you can ask for an std cert when u go n get checked out but not sure if they do with an aids test as never had one done i would imagine they either send you the results via a letter or u could ask for a quick print out from the doc etc when u get the results.

im suprised there isnt already sumthing like this in place with the iska etc as they seem to sanction alot of the local mma shows.

You can ask your GP to give u a cert but I dont think he is obliged to do so. I've heard about people going to work in Dubai etc needing them and had their GPs just do it for them no bother, but I have also heard that some were told to go do it privately as it was for business. I guess you can just say you have to show your new partner and they'd have to do it?

[NoGiCorbarian]

I had one done when I was going to fight on FIGHT IKON and it was free at the local GUM clinic and covered you for Aids and Hepatitis etc... you got a certificate showing all this and took about 2 weeks. Think it had to be done 28 days before you fought

see now why cant more promotions do this as it would help show people that it is a genuine sport also u cld impose fines for promoters who use fighters that dont have an upto date/ valid paperwork.

it realy needs someone like the iska etc to add sumthing like this as atm its down to the individual promoter n most dont compete so dont care who does or dont have aids etc

[thai-jitsu]

The Boxing promotions I have been involved with the Fighter has to pay for his own scans and then produce them before the fight. No certs or scans then no fight. Obviously on fight night the fighter will receive a second basic medical given by the Doctor but that is just to ensure he has 2 eyes, 2 arms and can basicaly function and is alive.

Unlicensed , White collar etc I havent seen this happen , its much the same way as MMA

Would be good to see bigger local shows making this standard. After all, if you want to fight & want the larger platform etc itd be worth it. Wouldnt be able to stop smaller shows not making it compulsary, but thatd be up to fighters appearing on their shows.

Couldnt see local NHS clinics being happy about doing this for a gym full of people 2 or 3 times a year. But, a few folk could prob get away with it a couple times. Alomh with a death, the last thing youd want to see is "No holds barred fighter gets AIDS at unlicsenced cage fight"!

[NoGiCorbarian]

Couldnt see local NHS clinics being happy about doing this for a gym full of people 2 or 3 times a year. But, a few folk could prob get away with it a couple times. Alomh with a death, the last thing youd want to see is "No holds barred fighter gets AIDS at unlicsenced cage fight"!

cldnt a promotion get a discount if they sorted a deal out with a private company for the tests work it into a sponsership pack etc i.e they get 30% off the test costs but gree to advertise the bussiness etc

[thai-jitsu]

Probably could I suppose. Dont think any fighters would like to be the face of an AIDS test though!

Atleast the skanks at the after party would know the fighters were clean. More chance catching something nasty after fighting than in the ring.

[jose969]

Test is free but I don't know if the NHS ever gives you a paper showing you've tested negative.

I have a bit of paper saying I dont have AIDS, well it says a little more than that but thats the gist of it.

I needed a test when I was getting a mortgage with my brother for my house, Mr & Mr Jose on all the paper work must of set a few alarm bells ringing.

[NoGiCorbarian]

I have a bit of paper saying I dont have AIDS, well it says a little more than that but thats the gist of it.

I needed a test when I was getting a mortgage with my brother for my house, Mr & Mr Jose on all the paper work must of set a few alarm bells ringing.

u needed an aids test to get a mortgage?!! wtf???? what bank was that with lol

[adamfromessex]

i'm aware of the pro's for this.......
110%.
Seperate note i was once told if u have an aids test it can severly increase ur life insurance or reduce chance of cover as u are seen to be of risk taking nature?
stupid but someone in the insurance industry could clear this urban legend up for me. got tested along time back, would have one again if an org. asked for it happily, just hope its via a needle and not....... THE SWAB!!!!!!

[Bateman]

i am guessing it would be down to the fighter to produce the relevant paperwork before the fight. It wouldnt be down to the promotion, obviously other rules would be in place about unable to make the fight , being fines for not having the completed paperwork, this could go down as a loss, etc etc. maybe the governing body would fine the promoter if all these are not in place, who knows. I will check the BBBC rules to see what they have in it ref scans and stuff.

Trouble is you cant just have one rule, you need to have many to police such a thing

[Romeoblood]

if this could be done through NHS for all fighters, it would be a great idea

I dont fight yet, but would be happy to take a test any time, no question

for my own safety as much as other fighters

think of it this way... my gym have a cage that is hired out to promoters, all it would take is for one speck of blood from an infected fighter to be on the canvas, corner post, fence, or whatever, this could potentially infect everyone who comes in contact with the blood

if everyone had tests, this would never happen

*PLEASE NOTE OUR CAGE IS CLEANED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MINIMISE ANY RISK AND FOR BASIC HYGIENE*

[Sherlock]

I have all Pro fighters tested on Fight Ikon events. I am proud to say that I believe my show was the first to do this in the UK other than the UFC; although many others also do now. The risk of transfer of infections in blood increases massively when you have ground n pound, especially with elbows. Standing fighting blood is exiting a wound and difficult to enter but when above someone dripping on their eyes/face or other open cuts etc. the risk increases a lot.

You can have a free test at clinics or some charge between £30-50. I use a private clinic and have testing kits that we can organise ourselves for very little cost. Results are back within 2 days and are completely confidential so do not go on your medical record or effect your insurance in any way.

I believe all pro fights should have these, the UK is massively behind on this compared to other parts of Europe. In the USA I believe fighter tests including CAT & CT scans can cost around £800 just to be eligable to fight and the fighter (or their sponsors) usually bear the costs. Tests for HIV and Hep B & C cost very little if anything. Once you have a clear test certificate it is valid for 12 months in most organisations.

I have had fighters tell me they think it is a waste of time but when I ask them this 1 question the usually see my point: Would you take a fight with somebody if you knew they had HIV?

[PointyShinyBurning]

i'm aware of the pro's for this.......
Seperate note i was once told if u have an aids test it can severly increase ur life insurance or reduce chance of cover as u are seen to be of risk taking nature? Pretty sure that's bullshit. How would an insurance company even know you'd had a test? They're also done as standard for a lot of things, like when you give blood for example, or get pregnant.

[Osaka Fight Gear]

100% needed imo. lol at jose969's mortgage comment, explain!

[Reedy]

its 100 % true that tests for HIV, Hep B and C and cat scans mean its safer to fight. Its only a matter of time before something terrible happens. In Sweden in december greg Knapp had to have blood tests and was given a medical that meant the looked at his heart beat after excerise. Basically a much more thorough medical than ive ever had in the UK which sometimes is just 2 mins filling in a form and having your blood pressure taken. In poland they insist in HIV, Hep tests. In canada it was HIV, Hep tests, and Cat Scan and another brain test which im not sure of the name for and a thorough medical. UK MMA is the wild west of MMA. We have great fighters and teams but terrible organistation other than some stella promotions.

The diversity in MMA in the UK is crazy, some shows are awful, and the fighters they have on there are in no fit state to be fighting, no skills and unfit and possibly HIV, Hep B or Hep C positive but they have a heart beat.

The big promotions in the UK should take the lead and make proving you dont have a blood condition a must. I think if a governing body is far away then it would be a very wise idea for the biggest promotions in the UK to get together and have some sort of trade standard when it comes to the medicals and blood tests.

Someone will get hurt in the end and everyone will be pointing the finger of blame at UK MMA.

[NoGiCorbarian]

The big promotions in the UK should take the lead and make proving you dont have a blood condition a must. I think if a governing body is far away then it would be a very wise idea for the biggest promotions in the UK to get together and have some sort of trade standard when it comes to the medicals and blood tests.

Someone will get hurt in the end and everyone will be pointing the finger of blame at UK MMA.

thats a realy good idea anyone know who theese lead shows are in the u.k scene im gunna be seeing james the promoter of battle arena on monday and was thinking of sugesting to him about blood testing for his show as around my area his is now one of the largest.

why dont we get in touch with local promoters with some info for them and put the idea across as fighters the promoters should listen.

[sjharvey]

It's a great idea. This is ONE thing that definitely needs to be implemented and policed religiously for it to become the standard.

[NoGiCorbarian]

so guys who else is up for approaching local promoters with some info on blood testing and its costs/pros etc and trying to get the ball started?

as i think the best way to do this is for the fighters to say its wanted.

[Bateman]

I know refs are tested in the BBBC , i think they plan on doing it with trainers and seconds because of the blood in corners ...

[dadyJ]

piss tests are more cost effective and the procedure is relatively simple.....might be a better option

[Spinning Back Fist]

the nhs is keen to promote increased testing (at least thats what my gp said when i went there last). from what i can gather most shows only require a test to have been taken 3-6 months prior to fight date so thats 2-4 tests a year. dont think thats that huge a burden on the state??