Dana White On Concussions: "The UFC Is Safer Than The NFL"

[UptownRilla]

UFC President Dana White recently proclaimed mixed martial arts (MMA) to be the safest sport in the world when compared to other contact sports such as football

"Concussion is a huge dilemma right now for the NFL. Here's the difference between the UFC and the NFL as far as concussions are concerned. First of all, if you get a concussion, if you get knocked out or you get hurt whatsoever in the UFC, three months suspension. You are on suspension for three months and you cannot come back until you are cleared by a doctor. You can't have any contact whatsoever. In the NFL, you're not going to lose Tom Brady for three months, man. You lose Tom Brady for three months and your whole season is wiped out. So, the UFC, listen, we don't hide from it, it's a contact sport and that's what these guys do, (is) much safer. In the 20-year history of the UFC, it will be 20-years in November, there has never been a death or a serious injury. Never been a death or serious injury in 20 years because we go above and beyond when it comes to the safety of these guys. When you know you have two healthy athletes getting ready to compete, they get the proper medical attention before and after, it's the safest sport in the world, fact."

source: http://www.mmamania.com/2013/1/8/3852326/ufc-president-dana-white-mma-concussions-nfl-mma

 

[JonesBones]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

lol. safest sport in the world!

 

[johnsq316]

I have generally been impressed by MMA in general (not just UFC's) system of medical suspensions etc. as a system of protecting fighters from themselves.

And I think 4oz gloves and the few punch KOs they produce as well as the lack of a 10/standing 8 count rule are a safer system for the long term health of fighters than boxing where a guy gets hit in the head 200-300 times in a 10 round fight and can get "KO'd" 2-3 times in a fight without it being stopped.

 

[Heat13]

The only thing i don't understand is how they let fighters fight with injuries, but other than that i agree.

 

[brnforce]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

Look at the injury lists for for former NFL players. Even with advanced padding they suffer concussions regularly.

There is your scientific evidence.

 

[AP_RESURRECTION]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

yea, dana white is all about the logical fallacies - he just says anything and people agree with him - i guess he knows his audience hehe

i guess the premnise being, make wild claims that are over the top, and peoples perceptions move in that direction - now the ufc is safer than the nfl - maybe that will get hits on espn? that would be interesting

not that i thinka bout it, i could justify doing anything, just by saying, well its not as dangerous as fighting nun chucks against nick diaz, so im good - im off to the acme store

 

[America]

Dana White makes a very solid point with his comparison. This part in particular i 100% agree with.

"First of all, if you get a concussion, if you get knocked out or you get hurt whatsoever in the UFC, three months suspension. You are on suspension for three months and you cannot come back until you are cleared by a doctor."

NFL you're back in one to two weeks from concussion. To me, the UFC standards seem to be much safer.

 

[JonesBones]

Look at the injury lists for for former NFL players. Even with advanced padding they suffer concussions regularly.

There is your scientific evidence.

That is really scientific.

:redface:

 

[johnsq316]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

lol. safest sport in the world!

Yeah, and the more research the NFL does, the more they find out that all the little shots a player, particularly linemen, running backs, and linebackers, take in a game have a cumulative impact.

I really don't think Dana should be crowing about this - the more we study the brains of athletes the more we find out how much damage these guys are doing to their brains.

 

[Bubblun]

... and when a fighter get knocked out two or three times in a row he probably get fired.
the UFC is where the top, winning fighters are, that's why there aren't punch drunk fighters in the UFC.

 

[Chramelated]

Anyone see the Cincinnati-Duke bowl game? (Not NFL I know) but one of the Duke guys collided head to head with an opposing player, and was on queer street for a good minute. Then he was back in the very next play.

 

[JonesBones]

Yeah, and the more research the NFL does, the more they find out that all the little shots a player, particularly linemen, running backs, and linebackers, take in a game have a cumulative impact.

I really don't think Dana should be crowing about this - the more we study the brains of athletes the more we find out how much damage these guys are doing to their brains.

Yeah, he should fund his own study and then compare it to the NFL. That will happen. Never.

 

[TruckHarder]

If you only factor in the actual UFC Fights he would be right.

But when you factor in the training for MMA involves a lot of sparring and being hit in the head.... donno.

 

[blingking]

NFL has about 1700 players that are playing for 20-24 weeks a year (including pre and post season). The UFC has what 150 guys that are active 1-4 times per year.

And it depends on what you define as a serious injury.

Also the NFL brings in what 9 billion in revenue that is split almost 50/50 with the players, UFC books are closed but I'm fairly sure the split is not so even.

 

[DarthChen731]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

lol. safest sport in the world!

There's been a ton of AIDS and cancer research. They must be the safest diseases in the world, yah?

 

[mexiran]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

lol. safest sport in the world!

soft helmets would pretty much negate any head injuries in the nfl, but then there would be no cool sounds, so yea NFL dont' really care, just like how they wear pink for breast cancer.

 

[AP_RESURRECTION]

Yeah, and the more research the NFL does, the more they find out that all the little shots a player, particularly linemen, running backs, and linebackers, take in a game have a cumulative impact.

I really don't think Dana should be crowing about this - the more we study the brains of athletes the more we find out how much damage these guys are doing to their brains.

yea i think thats the point - these sports are all dangerous - they do the best they can but they are all dangerous - saying the ufc is safer than the nfl is not only lacking in any fact but also not really that big a deal

the nfl doesnt have a commission in the way - if the ufc had no commission, id expect them to allow the fighters to take risks for their profit

 

[TSK]

Yeah, and the more research the NFL does, the more they find out that all the little shots a player, particularly linemen, running backs, and linebackers, take in a game have a cumulative impact.

I really don't think Dana should be crowing about this - the more we study the brains of athletes the more we find out how much damage these guys are doing to their brains.

Yea. I think we could see some sad stuff in the next 20 years.

 

[Mad Jitsu]

So he actually has no scientific evidence to back up this fact?

Also, the NFL has spent tens of millions on concussion research for its players. The UFC has done what?

lol. safest sport in the world!

The NFL spent tens of millions on concussion research and came to the conclusion that football and concussions were unrelated.

The Tabacco companies spent tens of millions on cancer research and came to the conclusion that Tabacco and cancer were unrelated.

See any similarities?

 

[Lethal]

It's not perfect, but it works the best that it can. I think they're doing a great job.

The 3 month suspension certainly does help, as it's really the secondary concussions that cause severe long term damage. If