MMA injuries report: A five-year review (2002-2007)

by MMAmania.com on Apr 16, 2008 3:15 PM EDT Comment 38 comments

mma injury

Quoteworthy:

"During the 635 professional MMA matches, 300 of the 1,270 athletes sustained documented injuries with an injury rate of 23.6 per 100 fight participations. Most common reported injuries were lacerations and upper extremity injuries. Severe concussion rate was 15.4 per 1,000 athlete exposures, or 3% of all matches. No deaths or critical sports-related injuries resulted from any of the regulated matches during the study period. Age, weight, and fight experience did not statistically increase the likelihood of injuries after controlling for other covariates."

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine recently published a report of a five year study of injuries sustained during sanctioned mixed martial arts competition that took place in Nevada. The conclusion: the overall risk of critical sports-related injury appears low. Take that, haters.

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Interesting statistics Mania…. I wish someone would throw that In haters like Bill O’riely’s face every time his ignorant ass opens his mouth up about the SPORT that I love!!!

by john on Apr 16, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

dude when do you have time to meet your herb hookup? you say you smoke all day, but your NEVER away from this site. So either you get it delivered to your home or you have a portable ISP device??

by BLOodyMEss on Apr 16, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you think it would make a difference? Bill O’Reily doesn’t believe in science. He would just tell you to “Shut Up!” That guy’s such a jack ass.

by GregC on Apr 16, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice report, too bad that we did suffer the loss of Velasquez? (I think that was his name)

by CageFightingKip on Apr 16, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sam Vasquez…RIP

by CageFightingKip on Apr 16, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great post. That is a testament to how professional and well prepared the fighters are. And boosts the integrity of the sport.

by Billy Carnage on Apr 16, 2008 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“Age, weight, and fight experience did not statistically increase the likelihood of injuries after controlling for other covariates.”

Yep, this sport is A-OK for physicially and mentally developing kids.

by Clayton on Apr 16, 2008 3:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

only 23% injury rate?! sign my toddler up then! i can’t wait for my infant to join.

by kama kaze on Apr 16, 2008 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriosuly. Infants are really of the ideal age. With all that spongey tissue it’s almost like infants are made of rubber. Let’s put cage’s in hospital nurseries, already.

by Clayton on Apr 16, 2008 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

most of those injuries were cuts and stuff, only 3% was major. like serious concussion

by MMAkid on Jun 11, 2008 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kids and toddlers weren’t included unless they competed in “professional MMA matches.”

by rhv on Apr 16, 2008 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

better than boxing

by rob on Apr 17, 2008 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YEAH BOY!!!!! now mma came become more mainstream! hopefully they bring UFC down here in florida!!!

by CBfighter on Apr 16, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they have already had two fight nights at the hard rock in Hollywood,Fl

by James S on Apr 16, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not for a while though. I think the UFC is long overdue for a return show in FL.

by Jase on Apr 16, 2008 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH SNAP!

by jerrolds on Apr 16, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There goes another broken limb. Chalk up another injury!

by ViolentMike on Apr 16, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two guys standing and sustaining blow after blow for 12 rounds (boxing) has a more long term affect on the brain. A one punch/elbow cut isn’t that bad compared to repeated blows to the head…just ask Ali!!

by kevin on Apr 16, 2008 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I would be interested in seeing a comparative study with boxing over the same time period using similar measures.

by Dugout on Apr 16, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Finally…One for the good guys. Hopefully this will cut down on some of the MMA bashing.

by Shadyone33 on Apr 16, 2008 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe eventually…but there’s still a boatload of ignorance out there just waiting to voice its opinion.

by SeeRed on Apr 16, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah take that, and break my arm O’riely!…:)

by ntvman on Apr 16, 2008 4:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Really glad someone decided to conduct this study.

by Alex P on Apr 16, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think it’s very relevant and I’m sure the authors of the study would agree.

by rhv on Apr 16, 2008 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was just explaining this topic just yesterday!!You know’that the injuries in boxing are much more devistating.. I would rather nurse a broken arm,than have swelling of the brain from getting hit two three hundred times. you have seen the punch stats.

by Hendo on Apr 16, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Would like to see comparative stats for football, which I’m sure has a much higher injury rate and as an added bonus has become one of the most boring, over-hyped, and over-commercialized sports in the world.

by SeeRed on Apr 16, 2008 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know the stats off the top of my head, ubt I have seen reports that the violence of the NFL actually shortens people’s lives by up to 20 years. That doesn’t take into account the suicides brought on by the depression resulting from multiple concussions that team medical personnel “encourage” players to play through.

by PW on Apr 16, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right on. Bill O Reilly has absolutley no understanding of the athletic prowess involved in this sport, but for two dudes to just punch each other in the head for 12+ rounds is fine. If a fight ends suddenly in MMA, the fight is stopped as quick as possible with the guy gettin dropped not sustaining too much extra damage. (There are exceptions, but there are in every sport.) No sport should be taken at face value, there’s nothing Bill O’ Reilly can do to stop the revolution of MMA, it’s too strong. Sit back, relax, look deep and enjoy the fights you old pecker O’ Reilly. The results speak for themselves.

by Primary Knuckle on Apr 16, 2008 5:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How many of us are adding comments and having it not posted???

by rhv on Apr 16, 2008 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone know how these stats compare with boxing or other socially acceptable sports?

by rhv on Apr 16, 2008 5:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

bet O’riley dismisses it unless the people who conducted the survey come on his show, if they dont than they’re jokes, O’riley=tool!!!!!! him and dana should fight!!!!!

by ( (Adam G) ) on Apr 16, 2008 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Just today SI.com published a little piece by Frank deFord that argued boxing is being supplanted by MMA because boxing is not violent enough. I copied and pasted the text from the top of this thread in an e-mail response to him. The link to the article is: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/frank_deford/04/16/mma/index.html

by PW on Apr 16, 2008 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is wonderful news. John Hopkins U is a medical brand that everyone recognizes, which i think is a major feather in the mma cap. It’s also nice that the study has a 5 year scope so it’s reflective of the sport throughout the duration of the popularity explosion.

This has to silence a lot of critics already.
Lets face it thought. MMA is internationally strong and is only now penetrating different North American marketplaces.

Can the “haters” answer one question for me?
How is MMA as or more dangerous then NASCAR is to the drivers of their sport? Anyone remember what happen to Earnhardt Sr? And that would be like Chuck Liddell getting killed in the cage live on PPV. (knock on wood).

It’s just ridiculous that it has taken this long for people to open their eyes. This is the oldest sport in the history of mankind. Let’s look at the upside that MMA provides. If you don’t know what I am talking about then I suggest you look into Roger Huertas story.

MMA 4 Life.

by Big Zino on Apr 16, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As much as this help the critics then you get the old time sports writers who still slurp and suck on the long,hard prick of boxing. Like the SI report above. Basically comparing it to mind numbing gladiator/video game violence. It seems for every positive there are 3 negative articles that come out. Sadly the old time writers call boxing the sweet science of not getting hit and consider MMA nothing more then a high school chick fight with hair swinging and uncontrolled punches flying. They do not see the art in learning a combination of styles. I think most MMA fans will agree that there is plenty of art in hooking up a triangle choke while getting slammed to the ring (a la Nate Diaz). I also believe there is a art form in fending off multiple styles of attack. Hopefully some time soon these grandfathers of boxing will start retiring so the new generation of sports writer can take their place….

by Da Monkey on Apr 16, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mania
A cool idea for you: Could you guys find after fight pictures of the some the fighters? Like the ones seen on the wall in the background on TUF. I know I’ve seen one of Forest floating around. I’ve always wondered what these guys look like a day or two after a major fight.
Just a thought.

by mac daddy on Apr 16, 2008 8:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sam Vazquez became the first documented mixed martial arts fatality in North American when he died Friday in Houston. Vazquez was 35 years old.

Vazquez was knocked out by Vince Libardi on October 20 in Houston suffered a major stroke a few weeks later.

by Clarke D on Jan 24, 2009 4:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

To all the positive comments: what numbers were you reading?!

These numbers show that approximately half of all competitions result in an injury to one of the combatants. Those aren’t small numbers, and despite some of the comments here, the numbers do not say that the 3% concussions were the only “serious” injuries incurred.

This probably makes MMA better than boxing and “pro wrestling”, but it doesn’t do anything to refute the argument that all 3 of them are dangerous; just that its is the lesser of 3 evils.