Inside the outrageous world of child cage fighting: America's baby MMA arenas

The Daily Mail ^ | November 4, 2013 | James Nye

[EveningStar]

Inside the outrageous world of child cage fighting: Tiny boys who are trained to attack each other in America's baby MMA arenas

It is the heat of battle between two MMA fighters hemmed inside an industrial metal cage. One kicks, punches and strangles his way to brutal victory. His opponent breaks down and cries tears for his mother.

But this is not an unusual end to another televised brawl between two fully grown brutes, this is kids's MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts, which is rapidly becoming one of the nation's fastest growing sports among children.

It is estimated that three million boys and girls, some as young as five-years-old launch themselves at each other weekly across the nation engaged in Pankration - some wearing no head protection and throwing punches boasting gloves little more than one-inch thick.

Critics call it barbaric and fear for the children's safety and the effect on their behavior.

Supporters compare it's benefits to boxing and traditional martial arts and claim that it encourages self-discipline, fair play and exercise.

[Gene Eric]

I agree.

[Durus]

They are far more likely to get brain damage in a lot of other sports. Do you want to ban Football?

[FreedomStar3028]

Brain damage? Surely you must be kidding.

[MeshugeMikey]

There we have it.

Satans interested in promoting family values...those of HIS FAMILY..

[MeshugeMikey]

the Grand Provider ...the "god"-ess of stolen Largess....Sri Barry....probably wishes he had sons......that were involved in beating the tar out of each other.

ommmmmm.

now we know where that OBAMA money...comes from....

[MissTed]

Nope, not at all. Article states as young as 5 with no head gear. My daughter is a belt away from earning her black belt in Taekwon Do and they require head gear for kids. Why do you think that is??

[Durus]

I competed in dozens of full contact matches before the age of 18 and never once was required to wear head gear. It wasn't prohibited and people did wear it, but it wasn't required. I was required to wear head gear the very first time I stepped into a boxing ring though for a very specific reason. Boxing with weighted gloves, even with head gear, is dangerous. I didn't end up with a broken nose until I started boxing either.

Amateur Boxing, football, and hockey, all require head gear and all end up with more concussions than MMA fighters.

Mixed Martial Arts are just martial arts that actually teach people to fight...and there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes violence is the only solution. I know that goes against (idiotic) modern sensibilities but there you have it.

I suspect the article was overly melodramatic, even then it isn't really being very well read by a lot of people. Having already heard a "conservative" (male) talk show host have a full blown case of the vapors this morning over this article causes me to despair for our cause. He actually compared it to roman blood sports. Because obviously the children are slaves and fight to the death and their corpses are fed to lions. /s
That anyone can actually get this upset over a sport that statistically is safer than many other sports on the basis of a single article with absolutely not one shred of supporting evidence demonstrates the power media has even over conservatives. This talk show host actually claimed on air that children routinely get broken noses, have their arms or legs broken, or get "choked almost to death", when I know for a fact that this simply doesn't happen in any organized matches.

I can't speak for what barbarians do with their children, however that isn't MMA any more than it's boxing or WWF wrestling.

[bigheadfred]

I really don’t see the big deal, it gives kids an outlet in the cities. Honestly, what is wrong with this?

My wife runs an in home daycare. 4-6 small kids. There is at least one cage match every day.

Maybe really is the concern over brain injury. Many Vets coming home with concussive brain injury. Many impact sports people sustaining brain injury. I think they more they learn about the long term effects vis a vis Mohammed Ali (the boxer) there should be concern.

Unless people who have brain injury are automatically registered as democrats for life. Ever one knows how brain dead they are.

[FreedomStar3028]

Everyone here knows that MMA is not boxing....there is a LOT of grappling, and very little powerful face punching, from what I have seen. But to say that these parent’s shouldn’t be allowed to breed? That’s crazy, just because you wouldn’t let your child do this, doesn’t mean another parent can’t. Taking that position is doing exactly what we are against, other people controlling our lives.

[bigheadfred]

well here is the thing people have tendencies and when i was kid you learned how to fight in the sense that you have your individual rights and they should be exercised but they only extended to the limit of societal values but as the nanny state increased to this point the natural order is violated but the tendencies remain so this is no surprise destroy the family and you destroy civilization and all that is left is rollerball

[bigheadfred]

some wearing no head protection and throwing punches boasting gloves little more than one-inch thick

very little powerful face punching, from what I have seen

so you think that risking your kid to brain injury is worth it see my post last a here and there fight when you are a kid is expected but this is sanctioned so it is UNDER CONTROL and no matter how they aggrandize it as sport in this twisted world it is a measure of control i disagree with you cant kick your kids ass when he deserves it but you can put them in a cage to fight yay

[Durus]

MMA fighting results in less brain injuries than football and hockey. Do you want to ban children participating in those sports too?

[bigheadfred]

Do you want to ban children

lets start there Logan and Run with it

[Durus]

70's Sci Fi reference aside you comment doesn't make a lot of sense. Under what power would the government regulate children participating in sports? Would that be the "stupid yokel parents can't raise their own kids so we will do it for them" found in the imaginary liberal blanket grant of unlimited government power otherwise known as the "general welfare clause".

[FreedomStar3028]

Umm, junior league football, basketball, hockey, baseball, ALL result in concussions and the like. If you can’t at least agree that since you think this is wrong, then all the other sports are too. Then I’m not going to discuss this further with you.