Former UFC fighter Nam Phan’s speech

[Kforcer]

Strange how it can impact some people and not others.

Chris Leben is known for being in slug fests and absolute wars, is still competing now for bare knuckle fc yet his speech seems pretty much unaffected. But I’d say he has taken more damage fighting than Nam Phan.

Must be the sparring.

I think a lot of it is the boxing. Nam Phan was a successful amateur boxer and then, after his MMA career trailed off, a not-so-successful pro.

 

[hydro481]

This is truly sad to see. I was childhood friends with Nam until 4th grade or so when he moved away. I saw him again when we were in our 20s and he was the same nice guy I always remembered. He was never the clearest speaker but this is definitely a lot worse. You could barely make out what he's saying. I honestly hope he's on some kind of pain meds or something cuz seeing someone so young with CTE, especially someone I've known, is just really tragic.

 

[DR Nick]

I think everyone should watch this before they first start fighting.

 

[daniel san]

He needs subtitles. It's clear that his speech has deteriorated, but not as bad as you would initially think. Listening to him from years ago, he still had a bit of a slur/speech impediment.

 

[dogsdonutsdragons]

Fuck me that's bad, hasn't fought in two years hopefully he is retired.

thats where most of this damage is from.
boxing is dumb. its all head strikes to prove what? you can win with just your hands? that sounds like something you save for an exhibition match not something you turn into a sport. 99% of boxers retire broken and beaten and poor and a huge chunk of those are ruined mentally and physically.

same for mma. I've known guys who just fought a few times on the regional circuit and were fucked let alone guys who made it all the way to the ufc. usually its you become a great or you are lucky enough to be forced to retire early. .
i'm not here to play daddy and say fighting shouuldn't be a thing because its bad for peoples brains.
I think you only live once and fighting should definitely be an option.
but most definitely not the way its done now. right now we have a machine profiting off of these guys way to much. fighters should be paid way more than any other sport- it carries the most risk. they are the show. anyone with a company behind them and money can promote and hold an event. the fighters are what sell the cards the ufc name contributes to only a small percentage of sales. they also are participating in a sport that damages their minds and body more than other other profession or sport i know of. so to me that means they need guidance and help managing finances , post career options, access to mental health help and behavioral monitoring and even the bottom teir ufc fighter should leave the organization with a bank account full of cash and anyone competing under the organization for a decade should be able to retire comfortably. . One fight could change your whole life. no one is dying playing basketball or baseball.

as a fan and someone who grew up with martial arts and the sport and who has permanent injury just from a basic training accident the older i get the more pointless this all seems. it all seems like sheep are making money for the machine. the fighters are supposed to be the kings not the soldiers marching to their deaths. that needs to change. fuck guys like dana who flaunt blowing millions when this is the situation.

 

[Space Dog]

I’m surprised everytime I hear him speak. How is that even possible?

Alistair Overeem's "weak" chin is a blessing rather than a curse. A few strikes and he goes out cold and fight is over, no prolonged punishment.

Reem = eat 1-3 strikes fights over.
Nam Phan = fights to the bitter end and eats 100+ strikes.