SAFE MMA - backed by BAMMA, CWFC and UCMMA

[chrislamuk]

Sounds like a positive step forward.
Will the tests pick up on any brain injuries? I've read up on the dangers of multiple concussion on Google Scholar recently and it's pretty scary stuff

No they won't

[Rosi]

You were ripped off Rosi, I charge my fighters (including former boxing world champions) £50 for exactly the same blood tests and still make some profit!

Well, it wouldn't be the first time.

But my point still stands that for what SAFE MMA is offering (not *just* the blood tests), it represents very good value for money. I believe it's a better system and more cost effective than the medical licensing required in most of the US states.

(If you want stories about being really ripped off, ask me sometime about what happened in Vegas...)

[Grizzly.]

You can get a documented blood test done at your local GUM clinic for £50, I know two guys who did it for ISKA shows.

I'll be interested to see where this goes in the next 6 months and how many promotions use it.

[Rosi]

You can get a documented blood test done at your local GUM clinic for £50, I know two guys who did it for ISKA shows.

Out of interest, do they ask for ID when they do the blood test?

[chrislamuk]

Out of interest, do they ask for ID when they do the blood test?

Probably not, but neither would your GP

[Rosi]

Probably not, but neither would your GP

Fair point. It would be easy enough to close that loophole with the SAFE MMA system in place though.

[chrislamuk]

Fair point. It would be easy enough to close that loophole with the SAFE MMA system in place though.

But it wouldn't. Your gp would be the one taking the blood test not SafeMMA, you'll be analysing a sample sent to you in the post taken by a third party.

[Will Samuelson]

I'm glad I read through most of this thread because it has painted the outline of a potrait for me.
A portrait that we are all adding lines and shading to, which might become a masterpiece if some idiot doesn't come and scribble on it.

I see the short term like this:

This system (or idea/company) will start seperating promoters, gyms and fighters into various tiers; such as where a fighter can afford to fight and/or where a manager and/or gym might send their fighters because of financial calculations.
It might end up messy to begin with but I genuinely believe that sometimes you need to make a mess just to know how to tidy up properly.

Longer term, you will have (or hopefully) an organisation or body that will be trusted and setting a benchmark for anybody else who might (want to try and) follow. Reality will bite in that a lot of pro fighters might start accepting that unless they are absolute prodigies or make it on TUF to the big show; they will realise that you will be fighting at a loss or just covering training overheads if they are really lucky.
I mean, I'd love every promoter to come on here and openly start a thread about how much a first timer or (up to) fourth timer makes for a bout. After you've paid your 6 - 10 weeks of training and maybe taken time off work, then paid your fee for Safe MMA; covered your own fuel or travel costs - just how many Tesco Value beans can you buy with your change?
I think this will be an eye opener for fighters to realise that if you are fighting as a profession - there isn't a "Pass go" sign or community chest for you funding. You'll be scraping a living by and you'll have to give it all you have unless you are a massive ticket seller.

And if you are wondering what the heck I am going on about - you might need to eat some hash cakes this evening to be on my mystical plane.

[Rosi]

But it wouldn't. Your gp would be the one taking the blood test not SafeMMA, you'll be analysing a sample sent to you in the post taken by a third party.

There's a pack sent out to the GP by SAFE MMA; on the medical form it would be straightforward to get confirmation to say that photo ID has been provided (much the same as happens for anti-doping tests).

[chrislamuk]

Thanks for that Rosi, so just to clarify, at the moment your medical forms do not ask the doctor to check the identity of the person presenting for the medical?

As an aside, I hope that you don't think that I'm against this organisation cos I'm not. You know me and know my credentials and I'm all for fighter safety, and you also know that I'm pushing for more testing than SafeMMA is at the moment. But we have to clarify things for everybody concerned.

I have a number of questions for SafeMMA, unfortunately I have prior work arrangements and cannot attended your press conference next week and thank Marc publically for the personal invitation. So I'll ask the questions now and may be you could answer them on this forum and also during your press conference.

1. SafeMMA is owned by 76 Harley Street, which is a private medical entity providing private medical services. SafeMMA comprises of medical specialists who are part of 76 Harley Street and one of them is the clinical director of the private medical company. Some people may think that there is a conflict of interests here. As SafeMMA advertises itself to be a not-for-profit entity, what steps has it taken to separate itself from the profit making side?

2. Why are fighters compelled to have their blood tests done by SafeMMA, why can't they try and save themselves some money and go elsewhere for their HIV, hep B and C tests and send the results to yourself to put into your register. As people have said, they can probably get the test done far cheaper than the price quoted by SafeMMA.

3. Who analyses your blood samples? Will the testing be done on site by 76 Harley Street or do you subcontract it to a third party? If it is done by the parent company will they charge SafeMMA for the testing?

4. Why does the GP have to do the medical? Why can't they get a registered doctor other then their GP to do it? May be a team doctor for example or a doctor at work if they are health professionals.

5. Why does SafeMMA not advocate MRI MRA brain scanning as part of pre fight testing once a year? I have emailed SafeMMA but have not received an explanation. I am aware that one of your medical advisors works for the ABA and one reason given is that scanning is not required on the amateur boxing side. However, with respect, amateur boxing is a completely different sport in which the objective of a fight is to accumulate points during a bout and not to cause a concussive injury to the opponent. Also in that sport they use head protection to reduce impact from punches and the gloves are specially design to absorb and not transmit shock. The argument that the ABA does not scan brains is invalid as they also don't insist on blood testing.

MRI MRA is the gold standard imaging technqique looking at brain abnormalities and they is why it is used in the UFC and also professional boxing. I agree that scans do not necessarily correlate to impaired brain function, but I put it to you that if you do find abnormalities of neurological functioning then you are too late, that damage has already been done! Some of these guys have been training and fighting for years and many may have received many episodes of concussion. Damage from these concussive episodes and repeated trauma from head punches may accumulate, and brain damage from this accumulation is only picked up on MR imaging. You have to realise that aneurysms are not the only things we look out for. MR scans also give us a base line to which subsequent images over the years can be compared. If changes are found on scanning the boxer can then be advised to stop competitive fighting to prevent further damage.