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UFC fighters critical of newspaper column targeting sport’s brutality
In one of the bloodier UFC fights in recent memory, Clay Guida wrestles with Diego Sanchez during their lightweight bout on June 20, 2009.
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 | midnight
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Chris Tuchscherer
Gabriel Gonzaga
For those who didn’t see it, Chris Tuchscherer had a rough welcome to the UFC.
The mixed martial artist made his debut with the organization last month at UFC 102 in Portland and was the victim of an early accidental kick to the groin from his opponent, Gabriel Gonzaga.
The unintentional blow was so dead on to the sensitive area that Tuchscherer temporarily blacked out.
When the fight resumed, it seemed clear that he was still feeling the effects of the shot. He ended up losing the fight by TKO in the first round.
For UFC fans who follow the sport, it was an unfortunate situation that can happen in MMA. Tuchscherer didn’t want to lose that way and Gonzaga didn’t want to win that way.
For John Canzano, a columnist for the Oregonian attending his first UFC event, it was an opportunity to write about the brutality of the sport.
In his Aug. 30 column, Canzano wrote:
I hated the Tuchscherer fight because I don’t like seeing humans run over by dump trucks. I followed the guy toward the locker room after the fight, and as he disappeared I saw his wobbling legs, and the confusion as he turned the wrong way in the arena halls.
Less than two weeks after the fight, Tuchscherer seems happy and warns that his cell phone signal is weak because he’s in the middle of harvesting crops from his North Dakota fields.
He doesn't know about the column that was written. He says he’s never met Canzano and was never interviewed.
When he hears an excerpt, he laughs.
“I did not feel that way at all, that’s funny,” he says. “Other than being sore in that area I totally knew where I was. I wasn’t walking around like a zombie or anything like that. I showered and went out and enjoyed the rest of the show.
“People that are against it from the start, I think that’s exactly what they’re going to write. They take one fight out of so many and try and turn the entire show into a bad thing.”
For the record, John Canzano is a respected journalist. He was once named the best sports columnist in America by the Associated Press Sports Editors. He’s covered a wide range of topics outside of the UFC: NFL, MLB, college basketball, the Olympics — and he’s won awards in the process.
But his column of the brutality of the event in Portland may be exaggerated according to the fighters that participated.
Of the 22 fighters who competed in the event that Canzano said left him "conflicted, sick and thinking a lot about humankind," not one went to the hospital, UFC President Dana White said.
Gonzaga, who wasn’t interviewed for the column, says it's not the first of its kind.
“These people like to make an example of it. They never give examples like the X-games, where there’s some guy on a motorcycle doing a backflip or the fact that people die trying to climb Everest every year,” he said.
“Some of the big media outlets are still learning that MMA is new, it’s not the same that it was 10 years ago. There are new rules to protect the fighters. Every sport goes through an evolution and like all sports, new rules are being added to MMA over time.”
From Canzano’s column:
I’d say that the state athletic commission needs to stop worrying about entertainment dollars and start putting the safety of the fighter first.
According to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer, all fighters are checked for both a mouthpiece and groin protector before every sanctioned MMA bout.
Tuchscherer was wearing groin protection for his fight against Gonzaga.
Metal protection.
“The funny thing about it is I had a metal cup on,” he said. “I just think that it was such a straight up shot that it pushed the metal up. It was just a freak accident.”
In addition to protection, fighters are given five minutes to recover from an accidental low blow like the one Tuchscherer took.
If the fighter cannot continue, rules state that the bout is either turned over to the judges’ scorecards after two full rounds or it's ruled a no contest if it happens early in the fight.
In either case, the injured fighter can stop the fight without worrying about taking a loss because of his inability to continue.
“Brock (Lesnar) was in my corner and was like, ‘Hey, if you’re hurt, not 100 percent, don’t fight,’” Tuchscherer said. “I’m not a quitter and I can be pretty stubborn-headed about that stuff. Part of it is my fault, I maybe shouldn’t have gone back out like that when I wasn’t 100 percent.”
Canzano brought up another opinion that has been mentioned before regarding MMA:
Someone is going to die in the Octagon someday. We’re headed straight there, and anyone who saw the damaging blows to the brains on Saturday, including UFC head Dana White, can’t ever say they didn’t see it coming.
There has been one death in sanctioned MMA matches. Sam Vasquez, 35, died from injuries he suffered in a fight with Vince Labardi on Oct. 20, 2007, in Houston. There have been no deaths in the UFC.
The Journal of Combative Sports reported there have been 1,465 deaths in the sport of boxing through November 2007.
“It’s possible, but you can die crossing the street,” Gonzaga said. “If you’re here to fight, you’re a professional that has spent a lot of time training. When a fighter gets in the Octagon, he’s prepared to fight. His body is used to things that normal people aren’t and he knows how to avoid dangerous situations.”
UFC fighters and fans will admit the sport isn't for everyone, and they're okay with that. What Tuchscherer says he doesn't want to see however, are those people using him as an example to give the sport a bad name.
“If he’s using my fight to make a bad name for the sport, of course I don’t agree with that,” Tuchscherer said. “I’ve never really ran into anybody like that. I’ve run into people who will say, ‘Wow, you do this stuff for a living? It’s crazy.’ And I’ll explain to them more about the sport and by the end they’ll usually say, ‘Huh, maybe that does make sense.’”
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
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Jon Jones defends belt for third time, downs rival Rashad Evans
| Date | Event | Headlining Match | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 | "The Ultimate Fighter Live" finale | Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann | Las Vegas: The Pearl at the Palms |
| June 8 | Boxing: ESPN2 Friday Night Fights | Kelly Pavlik vs. Scott Sigmon | Las Vegas: The Joint at Hard Rock |
| June 8 | UFC on FX 3 | Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall II | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| June 9 | Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Bradley | Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley | Las Vegas: MGM Grand Garden Arena |
| June 22 | UFC on FX 4 | Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida | Atlantic City, N.J. |
| June 23 | UFC 147 | Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin II | Belo Horizonte, Brazil |
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This "sport" is brutal and if any of these guys are trying to deny this they are lying. In fact these guys like to brag that they participate in such a brutal sport. Of course then they go into Dana White spin-mode the minute someone else says the same thing.
"In either case, the injured fighter can stop the fight without worrying about taking a loss because of his inability to continue."
BS. You probably won't get called to fight again in the UFC if you quit because of injury especially if you're just staring out.
Those gloves are pretty small but if these guys want to turn out like Ali, Chris Benoit, or Mike Webster it's their own choice.
Nice, unrepresentative and biased photo used to accompany this story. Shame on the editors using tabloid journalism to draw readers into this story.
Now then, damn right "it's their own choice." If any of you don't wish to partake in this sport, then DON'T. Nobody is forcing you. But by the same token, nobody has the right to tell others what they may or may not do with their own bodies and time.
Mixed Martial Arts is far less dangerous than boxing, and possibly even football. In boxing, of course, the entire purpose of the sport is to concuss the brain of your opponent. Thus the 1465 reported deaths to just one for MMA (albeit, MMA has a shorter history, but I strongly suspect the 1465 deaths that are "reported," is an under-reporting). In football, you have high-speed collisions of huge men, causing spinal injuries, brain damage, multitudes of destroyed knees and hips, and yes, sometimes death. I don't know the record for MMA athletes paralyzed or permanently maimed by the sport, but I've never heard of any and believe them to be quite rare. The fact is, delivering blows to the head is NOT the sole strategy -or even the most desired outcome- of MMA bouts. The ultimate form of victory is to submit -or "TAP OUT"- your opponent. That is, putting your opponent into a hold, whereby, he signals admission of defeat by "tapping out." Now what other sport other than maybe chess, has this gentlemanly, respectable way to end a match? Think about it.
DTJ...wow you need some education my friend. Rowe vs. Wade was the staple for telling women what they can do with their bodies. Abortions still aren't legal after a certain amount of time.
And yes you're DAMN RIGHT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL THEM NOT TO FIGHT! Why? Because I'm a frappin' American that pays into the health care system!!! And I don't want to pay taxes to help with health care for idiots A$$holes like this! Yeah everyone talks about how great Aly was, now I help pay for his health care...WRONG!
God most of you other Americans are morons, can't you folks think beyond 12" in front of your own damn face? And don't give me the BS about football, they're protected with the latest and greatest carbon compound and synthetic protective materials down to their jerseys...so why don't you actually do some research into sports attire and medicine before you make a ridiculous comment like that.
Football is an actual sport...MMA, sorry NO! Just two guys beating the snot out of eachother.
My suggestion, lets just take this where we want to go with it! Anyone remember "running man" book by Michael Crighton, or don't you folks read? (also movie for dummies). Lets just have a gladiator arena, throw lions & tigers in their and have guys fight to the death...that way I don't have to pay for their future health care! Problem solved on all accounts...I wonder if the animals will let you "TAPUS ER ANUS OUT"...thank you for reminding me why I can't wait to head to fortress Europa.
this guy above me is an idiot...how many offence and defenceive linemen die before 50... ever looked that up? .. high school kids die every year from broken necks and have for years... yeah they wear pads becuase if they did not they would have to replace the team every 2 games.... have you ever played football??? real football... ive been knocked out cold in a helmet 5 times...i also train MMA getting punched hurts but ..and there is blood but its no worse than football.. another outside obsever who dont know any thing...and mma fighters are not the ones your paying ..fool... the uninsured are who your paying for that cut them selves slicing vegatables lol .... and we need MMA in this counrty because are men are turning weak, fat, and lazy...and i would bet you are the perfect example of that..... dont like MMA dont watch dont read about it.... its hear to stay and will only get bigger becuases it pure..honest so far anyway
Rocco,
Yes, you are right about Saxappeal. I think he must have attempted to play football without a helmet. Now, he's drooling in his wheelchair, playing with a computer keyboard some orderly put into his lap. How else to explain his above post which is completely unitelligible.
Orderly! It's time for SaxSchlemiel's afternoon meds. Please pull his wheelchair away from the window, wipe his face, and put him to bed. Thank you. Nighty-nite, Schlemiel.
Numbers are easy lets talk per capita or percentages; you still haven't posted numbers of football players or or referenced your sources; so lets stop playing ametuer journalist and step it up son.
Rocco..."YO, AAADRIAN". Yeah get some brains bro. I do pay for even the insured what do you think the health care reform is all about. Are you that dumb that you don't understand that health care providers increase rates as liability and their expense goes up. Why do you think the gov. is thinking about taking it out of the private sectors hands you idiot and creating death panels etc (this is a lie but a good point to be made). God damn, bro you need to read more, start with some basics in capitalism and privatized health care. YOU ARE PAYING FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE...do some reading.
Me lazy? Hahaha Went to Johns Hopkins University avg. 32 credit hours per semester, psychology and education, as well as having a full ride for Jazz. I currently work ten hour days and still find 2hrs every evening to workout, both lifting and cardio, as well as cross training and marathon running. So Mr. Typical Vegas Punkster (with no edu I'm assuming) anytime you'd like to step on a scale and talk compare body fat percentage I'm up for it.
But hey, I certainly agree with ya, lets get rid of all the fat lazy people. Outlaw smoking, mandated weight limits, food rations so people don't freakin' over eat, and mandated gym time. I'm all game, this way health care will go down. Welcome to "1984" (read the book if you haven't already ACE!
Almost forgot, lets initiate prohibition again since alcohol is all empty calories! Think before you speak son!
Schlemiel,
To the real world, this is how your post reads:
"Slobber, slobber, slobber, groan, slobber, slobber, slobber, FOOTBALL, slobber, slobber, slobber, JOHN HOPKINS, slobber, slobber, slobber, GRUNT!"
So... was it at John Hopkins where they removed your Australopithecus brain and put into a glass jar for pre-meds to study? It that what you were trying to say with your unintelligible jibberish?
I'm not into football either; it's another way for gov./society to pacify and placate the masses so they don't turn their attention to the real issues at hand like a failing economy, energy crisis, and health care system. And wow you used a word with more than one syllable I'm impressed; it's rare that I hear that from Vegas locals. I just think people like you are fat and lazy because you didn't have the personal contstitution to go to college and hit the books...neither did any one of your "boys" here in UFC. They serve no other purpose (like you) in society then to serve as entertainment for a declining American psyche, of which you've completely bought into becacause you sir are WEAK, and can't think for yourself.
So pull your trusty sidekicks jock strap out of your mouth for a few moments to talk intelligently then maybe we'd have a decent conversation; because it's obvious you're hangin' with a bunch of nuts. Try using that muscle in your skull for once...
I'll speak in plain english so your simple mind can understand. MMA is not a sport, and the American taxpayer will have to support these brain damaged idiots just like Aly when they get older, and we're currently supporting their inuries right now by stitching them back up. The health care system is breaking down because people abuse it, and abuse their bodies, thus the failed marketing attempts by the gov. to set up "Healthy Cities" and other liberal public works programs. Where does this money come from? They don't just print it out at the mint. That money comes from tax payers.
Schlemiel,
Nobody is reading these self-delusions you post in order to feel better about yourself. I'm not your friend. I'm gone from this thread too, now. Not even your own mommy wants to hear it anymore. You'll have to make do trying to validate yourself by drooling in front of a mirror.
Oh nooooo's ur not my friend kiddo?
Awwww...did I hurt your fragile Vegas sensabilities! I'll let ya get back to your pop-up books and nap time.