A consultant neurologist has raised concerns about the level of medical supervision at a mixed martial arts (MMA) event in Dublin and warned of the potential for serious injury.
MMA’s popularity has soared in recent years, particularly on foot of the high-profile success of Irish champion Conor McGregor.
However, ahead of Saturday's Cage Kings event at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght, Prof Dan Healy said the absence of formal recognition of MMA in Ireland meant it lacked sufficient levels of medical support.
As a consultant at Beaumont Hospital, Prof Healy said he had treated three brain haemorrhages associated with MMA fights in the last three years and worried a serious injury will lead to a fatality.
The promoter of the Cage Kings event has said Prof Healy’s views amounted to “scare tactics” and insisted full safety guidelines are in place.
Prof Healy said he is not calling for the sport to be stopped, rather he wants improved medical standards.
“This is not a neurologist trying to get cage fighting banned. But it’s a sport where a man can drive his elbow into an eye socket with as much force as he can apply or kick him in the head with as much force as he can apply,” he said.
He noted that in the heavily regulated boxing world, pre-fight medical tests are conducted while up to six ringside doctors are on hand to respond to injuries.
“Either MMA is banned or it’s illegal and that’s the end of it; there is no risk. Or, and I think this is the more preferable option, that MMA is recognised and helped and rather than being continually criticised for being unsafe, it’s helped to be made safe.”
He said the sport is outlawed in France and was only made legal in New York within the last week. "I am not calling for [SATURDAY'S ]event to be cancelled. I am calling for it to be made safe or to be postponed until it's made safe."
Siam Warriors, the promoter of the Cage Kings event, said they had made numerous attempts to contact Prof Healy regarding his concerns.
Fully sanctioned
Cage Kings features kickboxing and Thai boxing, as well as mixed martial arts bouts.
"We explained to Mr Healy that the event is fully sanctioned by the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) and that all competitors are following safety guidelines set by the ISKA, including submitting full annual medicals before the event and sit a pre- and post-fight medical on the day of the event," it said in a statement.
“Further to this we explained that all professional competitors taking part in the event must submit clear blood results as in line with safety measures set by the promotion itself.”
The promoters said they had agreed to meet Prof Healy to discuss his reservations. However, Prof Healy said he declined this meeting as his pre-condition that the event be postponed if the appropriate medical supervision was not shown to be in place was rejected.
“It is our opinion that Mr Healy is purposely trying to be disruptive and it is clear he has his own agenda,” the promoter said.
“We are indeed following all safety guidelines including the proper qualified doctors, paramedical staff and post-fight medical care.”
Prof Healy said the issue was simply down to ensuring serious head injuries could be dealt with quickly and effectively. He was also critical of Basketball Ireland as the host of Saturday’s bout.
“This event is very dangerous and I would like to see Basketball Ireland assist in making this sport safer by insisting that the promoter has appropriate safety standards on the night,” he said.
In response, Basketball Ireland said in a statement: “The National Basketball Arena is a multi-purpose venue available for hire to a wide range of promoters across a number of sectors including sport, education, religious events and entertainment.
“Following consultation with our legal advisers, Basketball Ireland knows of no good cause to rescind this contract. Neither have we been requested by any organisation to cancel it.”
