While there will certainly be some knee-jerk reactions and attempts to change/ban/limit the sport, I don't think they will get much traction. MMA fights couldn't get licensed 10 years ago until the UFC agreed to make many significant modifications to the sport to make it more safe. They have a very good track record and I see that track record allowing them to make a stand against those who would seek to water the sport down at this time. Still - for this guys family and friends a very tragic story.
MMA fights couldn't get licensed 10 years ago until the UFC agreed to make many significant modifications to the sport to make it more safe That's because before Dana White took over the UFC, it was pretty much 'Survival of the Fitess' since people would eye-gouge, bite & throw low blows. Ever since, there's been rules in place for the sport of MMA, with the UFC leading the way. The difference between MMA and boxing is that there are two warriors in MMA that may have seperate styles and they go at it until there's a winner. In boxing (mind you, I love boxing), both fighters are pretty much doing the same things except one may be faster or stronger and/or fight in the southpaw versus the orthodox stance. There's been more documented deaths in boxing than in MMA (Florida has had more boxing-related deaths than any other state during the past 25 years, and other fighters suffer brain injuries) but we all are aware that this is a violent, contact sport and that even though slim, the chances of deaths are relavant.
That's because before Dana White took over the UFC, it was pretty much 'Survival of the Fitess' since people would eye-gouge, bite & throw low blows. This is simply not true. The first UFC run by Zuffa and Dana White was UFC 30 and most of the rules used today were in place by then including weight classes, mandatory use of gloves, and limits on what areas that could be targeted for strikes. Even UFC 1 had rules against eye gouging and biting. There is a pretty good overview here
And if you read what you posted, it wasn't until 2001 "under the new ownership [that] the UFC brand completely restructured MMA into a highly organized and controlled combat sport" meaning that's when rules were enforced. I remember when UFC was in it's infant stage with the Gracie's and the Shamrock's as their headliners that the UFC was way more violent than what it is now, hence the usage of rules. The point being is that even back then without all the rules & regulations, MMA did not have any type of documented deaths like boxing has thru-out it's conception.
The UFC was running in commission states and rules were both in place and enforced before Zuffa bought the company. Dana White has done a lot to popularize the sport, but he can't take credit for either creating or enforcing the rules. Dave Meltzer has done the best reporting on this issue but unfortunately most of his work isn't on the web. I agree completely on the comparison to boxing.
