By what criteria do comissions decide whether a disability is disqualifying?

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wolffanghameha

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Bisping hid his eye blindness. Was that actually necessary or just that he was playing it safe? We have Shara fighting with messed up vision in one eye.

Bad myopia is allowed (eg Gaethje), but is there a limit?

Nick Newell could fight with one arm. Zion Clark fought pro once with no legs, against a guy with two legs.

If someone had a disability, what logic could you use to guess whether they'll be allowed to compete as a pro fighter? Or is it all about the level of competition? Again then, how do they determine whether it will be allowed? Is it the case that if you're disabled, you have to show a record (of lower level mma fights or of sports) that makes them believe you can defend yourself?

Is there any floor to what they'll allow?
 
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If you are missing two arms and two legs, you can't fight in Vegas, but you can still fight in Saudia Arabia.
 
wolffanghameha said:
Bisping hid his eye blindness. Was that actually necessary or just that he was playing it safe? We have Shara fighting with messed up vision in one eye.

Bad myopia is allowed (eg Gaethje), but is there a limit?

Nick Newell could fight with one arm. Zion Williamson fought pro once with no legs, against a guy with two legs.

If someone had a disability, what logic could you use to guess whether they'll be allowed to compete as a pro fighter? Or is it all about the level of competition? Again then, how do they determine whether it will be allowed? Is it the case that if you're disabled, you have to show a record (of lower level mma fights or of sports) that makes them believe you can defend yourself?

Is there any floor to what they'll allow?
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In short almost all athletic commissions have a vague requirement that they must be “physically fit to engage in unarmed combat.”

What that means is always left up to the commission and the doctors.

Nevada State Athletic Commission (NAC 467.017)

“The Commission may deny a license to any applicant who is not physically or mentally fit to engage in unarmed combat.”

So whatever “physically or mentally fit” means to the commission’s doctor.

All the examples you gave, despite the handicaps, all seemed like people that were fit to fight.

There are many out of shape nondisabled people that I wouldn’t consider fit to fight.
 
I watched the Zion Clark fight (a UD win for Clark) and it definitely seemed like a work.

The guy he was fighting apparently had an 0-4 record all by stoppage. But also, as I recall, the guy seemed to be going easy on Clark and was afraid to hit him. Nobody wants to be the guy that beats up a legless man.
 
Sticko said:
I watched the Zion Clark fight (a UD win for Clark) and it definitely seemed like a work.

The guy he was fighting apparently had an 0-4 record all by stoppage. But also, as I recall, the guy seemed to be going easy on Clark and was afraid to hit him. Nobody wants to be the guy that beats up a legless man.
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Nobody until Justin Gaethje steps up in that mother fucker
 
Honestly as long as someone has the ability to defend themselves even 1 arm. As long as they are mentally able to make a sound decision then they should. It might be some 1 armed dudes biggest dream to step into the cage. Fucking let him give it a go.
 
jeff7b9 said:
[ ] knees touching the mat
[ ] both palms touching the mat

<JagsKiddingMe> I think head kick soccer punts should be fair game.
He does not qualify as a downed opponent.
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I absolutely agree, if anything HE has the unfair advantage
 
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