Mixed martial arts has a problem, and it’s one that’s very much self-created. In early years of the sport – when a large section of competitors had little-to-no idea what they were getting into – quick stoppages, tapping to strikes, and throwing in the towel were all reasonably common. Over time, however – as athletes have become better trained and more diverse in their skills – MMA has adopted an ‘anything can happen at any time’ philosophy.
Bouts are relatively short, rounds are relatively long; let the fight play out to its end.
In gravitating to that position, the sport has removed a whole series of checks and balances designed to protect fighter safety.