I think one immediate and reasonable change would be to have HIA’s conducted by an independent body. At the minute, club doctors conduct pre-season baseline assessments and the in-match assessments. While I’m not questioning their integrity, they are on the payroll of the organisation who need their “assets” on the pitch.

If the RFL conducted/appointed independent specialist doctors to conduct ALL of the HIA assessments, both pre-season, sporadic review in season and for in game knocks, they could ensure true independence to the tests. Which, if nothing else, would be a mitigation further down the line for future cases.

What about you...?

I agree though. Kneeling over somebody stricken landing bare fist punches. Some sport that.

Sounds made for Ben Flower.....

Come on cat, they are hardly boxing gloves are they?

No i don't watch it. I could get it for free if i stand at the top of King Street of a weekend. I don't see the attraction. Until recently i was on Facebook and used to see posts like 'MMA training tonight' Seems everyone in the world is an MMA fighter but me. I'd better stay indoors

Maybe he was watching this when he formed his opinion. Article states MMA and it looks bare fisted to me.

[size[iBare fist fighting in Mixed Martial Arts makes history in Cheyenne[/i[/size

Well you wouldn't have thought of that as its a small time regional company which is probably the exception that proves the rule.

I hadn't heard of it, after having a look I've not heard of any of the fighters, and the pay scales don't seem to be thst well published suggesting its a couple hundred dollars at best.

The one I did know about it BKFC, which is pretty much just boxing with hand wraps, no ground work.

Re top level mma (ufc/bellator) in most occasions if someone does take a couple of shots like you describe it gets stopped pretty much straight away, if someone takes shots whilst covering up (not actually getting hit) the refs will stop it.

Post matches, all fighters get assessed by an athletic commission, and if showing signs of concussion, or if they get knocked out get suspended from training (never mind fights) for 6 months and sometimes up to a year.

One thing that mma doesn't have, that boxing does is those standing eight counts, a boxer who is clearly concussed, on jelly legs gets up on instinct to keep on fighting (much like rl players used to) instead of the ref calling it.


I cant speak for the people you associate with, but from my experience of mma and bjj training, you dont get too many ppl like that, they either leave very quickly cos their ego can't take being bettered at everything, or they get shown up if they throw their weight around. And I'm not talking about getting beaten up, just wrestled and held down by someone with more experience, its incredibly humbling.

Again there's always going to be the odd exception.

But hey yeah it's pretty terrible, I'd rather watch Sean o'loughlin tackling and then not get suspended cos he's got a 'previous clean record'. That's safe for all involved

It seems MMA is not immune to brain damage arising as consequence of participation. I really don't think the occasional high tackle in RL is anywhere near the impact of these sports where the most lauded method of winning is to incapacitate your opponent through loss of consciousness brought about through head/brain trauma. A sport which celebrates kicks, punches, and elbows to the head. https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/1/13/2 ... ain-trauma

It seems MMA is not immune to brain damage arising as consequence of participation. I really don't think the occasional high tackle in RL is anywhere near the impact of these sports where the most lauded method of winning is to incapacitate your opponent through loss of consciousness brought about through head/brain trauma. A sport which celebrates kicks, punches, and elbows to the head. https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/1/13/2 ... ain-trauma

Fair enough, I am no expert on these matters. It does seem clear that there is a wide disparity between sporting bodies and their policy on the risks of brain trauma.

High impact collisions are the heart and soul of Rugby League and other contact sports so I don't know where this is going.

Limiting contact training sessions clamping down hard on late or high challenges would be a start to it. It's not about cutting out the impacts altogether but to cut out unnecessary ones.

If you watch a rugby union game they do appear to have almost got rid of high shots ... not totally of course.
League has always been tougher, with far more high tackles. Our game will find it quite a challenge.