For nearly half a year, MMAjunkie.com medical columnist Dr. Johnny Benjamin has been writing about medical issues in the world of mixed martial arts.
While a longtime proponent of change for the sake of fighter safety, Dr. Benjamin now gets to live out a fantasy scenario: What would he do if appointed the Commish of MMA?
In his latest "Ask the Doc" column, Dr. Benjamin lists the 14 issues he hopes the MMA industry and state athletic commissions will soon address.
Q. If you were the "Commish" of MMA, which things would you focus on in 2009? (from "Anonymous")
A. The "Commish?" Like the "No Taste League?" Very nice. I feel honored. I don't know what to say. Thanks for thinking of me.
If MMA had an official commissioner and I, for reasons unbeknown to me, was chosen, my first action would be to appoint Nick Lembo from the New Jersey State Athletic Commission as commissioner and then immediately resign.
Mr. Lembo is a truly knowledgeable and extremely talented sports executive. And fortunately for the sport of MMA, he is universally respected and a fan of the game.
Maybe Commissioner Lembo would appoint me as a special adviser. My suggestions would include (in no particular order):
1. Continue the current ban on knees and kicks to the head of a grounded opponent. I know that this is a particularly sensitive subject with the hardcore MMA faithful. I realize that we are all tired of seeing fighters "turtle up," but there are many, many techniques available to a competent fighter to address such a defense. Pinning a fighter's head against the cage and delivering knees is a potential recipe for disaster (despite what you may have witnessed years ago in PRIDE).
2. We all know that I am not a fan of foot stomps. So I'd ban them and get that one out of the way early. Foot stomps are not likely to win a fight and should fall under the category of "nuisance fouls" much like fish-hooking and knees to the groin. Proponents often state that a well placed foot stomp can change the momentum or positioning of a fight. But so will a sharp knee to the groin – and that's not legal.
3. Define back of the head to include the region from the crown (top) of the head backward, down to the base of the neck and side to side from just behind the ears. No blow of any kind is legal in this area. Many vital structures reside in this difficult-to-protect region. It also creates an easy-to-understand rule that can be consistently enforced.
4. Legalize 12-o'clock elbows (currently, the ban is too hard to enforce). If the back of the head is properly protected, a 12-o'clock elbow is probably no more dangerous than an 11:30.
5. Continue legislative efforts to legalize MMA promotions in all 50 states. If states allow professional boxing, what rational are legislators using to prohibit MMA?
6. Require yearly baseline psychomotor (neurocognitive) testing for all fighters. Mandate that all fighters who suffer a KO or TKO must "pass" their re-tests before they are allowed to return to contact.
7. Add a small amount to ticket prices, licensing and promotional fees to fund concussion and injury research in combat sports.
8. Progress fighters early in their careers slowly despite their potential box-office appeal.
9. Standardize the pre-fight medical clearance process and create a national database for this information.
10. Require blood samples for drug screens. Utilize WADA labs (World Anti-Doping Agency) for processing samples. Randomly screen fighters.
11. Specify which specialty of physician may provide clearances for fighters and evaluation of certain post-fight injuries. (If a fighter has an eardrum rupture, evaluation from an ENT specialist makes far more sense than an orthopedic surgeon.)
12. Allow aging stars past their prime to end their careers with dignity and not as grizzle for the latest crop of young and hungry rising stars.
13. Lobby for MMA inclusion as an Olympic sport.
14. Require by law that Comcast (and all other cable providers) carry HDNet so more fans can enjoy the up-and-coming talent showcased on regional shows.
The Special Adviser to the Commish has spoken.
