As thrilling as the scope of combat sports can get, the risk to health always remains. CTE, especially, is one of the most common outputs that can plague fighters. To that end, UFC announced a five-year extension of collaborating with Cleveland Clinic and its continued support of the Professional Athletes Brain Health Study. Now, nearing the end of that extension, UFC CEO Dana White still upholds the cause.
This multi-year commitment supports the research purpose with a $1 million donation to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. It ensures that research will go on to help determine the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma and the higher risk of developing CTE. Since joining the landmark study in 2011, UFC has committed over $2 million in three funding rounds. Running through the arrangement (2021-26), White talked about it recently:
Yeah, there isn’t no secret. Get punched in the head and kicked in the head in not good for you…Very bad for you. So, we actually take image of their brains in the beginning. And keep following it, and, and…watching, uh, to make sure that their brains are still healthy.
Dana White for ‘The Man Behind the UFC’ Segment on The Dr. Phil Podcast with Dr. Phil McGraw
In the early days of the UFC, White repeatedly promoted MMA as safer than boxing. Even declaring it “the safest sport in the world” in 2012. In recent years, he’s taken a similar tack with Power Slap. Thus, they tout the pre-bout medical screening and officials overseeing the fights as mitigating risks. Specifically with gimmicky yet entertaining stuff like slap-fighting, White says athletic state commissions should be happy, as it takes much of the physicality out of pure combat.
Dana White talks working with The Cleveland Clinic. pic.twitter.com/BIk587TYYk
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) November 7, 2024
The risk can persist even without direct trauma. White himself reported having brain spots and edging closer to CTE terrain before the historic UFC 306 pay-per-view (PPV) card. The UFC antitrust case from ex-UFC stars Cung Le also saw various transcripts from fighters with head trauma pleading for better pay packages.
UFC bossman makes striking point of difference with NFL to point need for athlete safety
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a type of brain damage found in 345 of 376 deceased former NFL players, as per the Boston University CTE Center. This has spurred efforts to diagnose CTE cases. By comparison, a 2018 BU study of the general population found one case of CTE in 164 autopsies and that one person with CTE had played college football.
To be fair, a charging game has the safety net of wearing helmets and padded clothing. UFC CEO White upholds that, in comparison, MMA is far off. MMA Unified rules allow for nothing but a mouthguard, padded palm gloves, and sometimes compressions.
Compressions for shins and elbows help with blood flow, hinge movement, and even some layer of protection. But White says that the same does not happen for the head. Unlike more open and mixed-based combat sports, UFC does not use headgear.
Hence, premier sports promotions like UFC make sure fighters enter and exit the foray in the best possible conditions. Many UFC fighters also tie up with 10X Health Systems’ Supplement Protocol and Superhuman Systems Protocol.
Sometimes, damage to athletes’ brains comes in long-term issues. Memory loss and depression, rage, and a tinge of severe alcoholism are all pitfalls of CTE. This remains an area that only needs further improvement. Consequently, the bossman is all here for it.
