“Senseless, unnecessarily risky”- Sports doctor CALLS OUT the brutality of slap-fighting


“Senseless, unnecessarily risky”- Sports doctor CALLS OUT the brutality of slap-fighting

Dr Brian Sutterer (R) has strictly opposed slap-fighting

Dana White has just announced that he will be promoting a new fighting league – albeit, one that is a bit different. A short while back, the promoter announced a slap-fighting championship.

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While there certainly are connoisseurs of the sport, there are as many, if not more detractors. Inherently violent, the idea of a league like this has come under scrutiny from not just the general public, but also fight fans, citing the lack of any martial art or formalized technique. Recently, a sports doctor also commented on this new development.

Dr. Brian Sutterer posted a video to his YouTube channel a week back, discussing the harm involved in a sport like this. He said, “I don’t think any commission should be backing slap fighting. I think it’s one of the most senseless, unnecessarily risky and dangerous sports.”

He continued, “You literally are not allowed to protect yourself. And so what you get is basically just two people trading concussive blows for one another.

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Brian Sutterer explains what makes slap-fighting so dangerous

A still from a slap fighting competition
A still from a slap-fighting competition

The obvious argument that non-combat fans will bring up is the fact that slap-fighting, although dangerous, is just another serpentine head from the world of fighting. The rebuttal for such a claim will be the fact that in fighting, the very first thing that the referee asks the athletes to do is to ‘protect yourself at all times.’ As pointed out by Sutterer, there is literally no scope for this in slap fighting.

Dana White (R) will be at the helm of a new slap fighting league
Dana White (R) will be at the helm of a new slap fighting league

He also delineated the similarity between slap-fighting and other kinds of combat sports. He said, “If you strike someone with more of the hard bones of the wrist or the carpus, it’s really no different than just punching someone. Your wrist bones sit right underneath this lower portion of the palm. So if you make contact with someone’s face striking with that portion of your wrist, it’s not a slap at all. It’s essentially the equivalent to an open-handed punch.” [H/T MMAJunkie]

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Hence, the key differentiator is the lack of protection offered by the former. No doubt, Dana White will come under hot water for this new development. The UFC has often been questioned for its brutality, and also the lack of healthcare coverage afforded to the fighters, who put themselves and their lives on the line each time they step into the octagon.

WWE superstar and Youtuber Logan Paul had also tried to delve into slap-fighting, which had created quite the buzz. However, he stepped away from it citing health concerns. Maybe, his brother Jake warned him of CTE!

Slap fighting might be an interesting watch, but some people, rightfully, are already flinching away from it.

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