By: Angelina Yang
Youth Mixed martial arts (MMA) or cage-fighting has grown in popularity over the last decade, exposing kids to potential brain injuries. With the possibility of this kind of danger, why are we still promoting this sport and not doing anything to stop it?
As youth MMA grows so do its rules and regulations. Many adolescents dream of being the UFC’s next generation of stars, but what does that really mean for them? In many places, youth MMA is banned. However, California is one of the places where young fighters can compete in legally sanctioned bouts.
Having a brain injury is serious, especially for youths whose brain is not fully developed. A brain injury can vary from “mild” to “severe.” Some mild effects are difficulty concentrating or remembering new information, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, and anxiety. After a severe brain injury early physical, occupational, and speech therapy is indicated to help optimize their functional potential. Even then they may not return to their baseline level brain of function.
Isaiah Triana a 10-year-old boy who is participating in the youth MMA had to “cut weight” to be eligible. He didn’t eat for several hours. “Cutting weight is the hardest,” he said. He stared in the mirror as his figure stared back at him with a scab on his left knee from a recent staph infection. “He’s like a unicorn, we just have to make sure we don’t break him, “his trainer, Douglas Vileforte, said as he began to wrap Isaiah’s hands.
As soon as the round started, Isaiah caught a kick and drove the other fighter into the cage before taking him to the ground, grabbing the kid’s wrists, and beginning to pull. He had his first submission and victory in the tournament in just over a minute. Walking out of the cage Isaiah asked when he might fight again that afternoon. After learning that it would be some time Isaiah sighed disappointed “I have to wait for another win,” he said. This is very appalling, since when does a 10-year-old boy get bummed out for not being able to go fight soon again. This alone should show how this is a negative impact on a child’s moral behavior. While participating in so many fights it is hard not to assume that these children will resort to violence when faced with difficult situations.
Although there have been improvements in the rules and regulations to make youth MMA safer, such as having a doctor and an ambulance stationed outside the cage, this further proves how serious injuries can get. The organizer of the tournament, Jon Frank said “If it’s not regulated properly, it is very dangerous because these kids are really good.” Someone needs to step up and save our future generation. That someone could be you.