MMA fighter dies after Aiken bout

Aiken Standard ^ | 6-28-2010 | Karen Daily

[Route797]

Officials said they expect an autopsy will confirm preliminary findings that a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter who made his professional debut at the "Confrontation at the Convocation" Saturday at the USC Aiken Convocation Center was pronounced dead Monday from blows he received during the weekend bout.

Thirty-year-old Michael Kirkham of Gaffney was struck five or six times during the first round. The father of five children received several blows to the head, which caused the referee to stop the bout, said Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton.

[erman]

oh and by the way... soccer is the deadliest sport on earth.

Click here for proof

[bvw]

Well, that’s true. Worse would be the government getting involved. The standard liability laws are all that is needed.

Still ... keep what I suggested in the back of your mind.

IMO Pro MMA is not a healthy activity.

[bvw]

You’re right! I thought you’d link to the infamous ‘soccer war’.

In terms of brain pan and spinal injuries heading the soccer ball by boys under 17, girls and women of any age, should be banned by the sport. Someone’s going to class action on that one, someday, I’d bet.

[spunkets]

Thanks for the link. That guy was out of his league. This was his first pro fight and it's the time to make that sort of conclusion. I didn't see any excessive hits from the opponent. He certainly could not defend himself. There was a distinct lack of skill and weakness from a lack of training. Also, I think it was the front and side hits that were the hardest. He was getting pounded in the face from the opponent, who he had in a weak head lock. Then he was pounded with repeated frontal and side hits again.

I think the ref did the right thing by not calling the fight 'till the opponent was "wiping" the back of his head. Those weren't hits. At that point it became clear that he was incapable of defending himself.

"Tyson, for example, has no neck and a fat, puffy head—you could hit him all night."

Thanks. When can I start?

[spunkets]

"#1 Rule of war: Wars are won by cowards who have to win. Fact: Fools ‘fight’. Winners win. "

Ridiculous.

[bvw]

Why?

[John Will]

He was way to fragile to even be in the ring in the first place. 150 lbs at 6’9, there’s no muscle or bone or fat to protect him.