It is well established that blows that rattle the brain have both short and long term health effects for combat sport athletes. Strikes to the head have been shown to cause concussion symptoms as well as lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Blows to the head also have the potential to cause fatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as cerebral hemorrhages.
With the evidence mounting that striking sports are more dangerous than once thought (with modern science showing that even blows to the head that do not result in concussion can result in CTE), MMA may one day find itself at a critical moment where the sports’ survival — in its current form — is at risk.