SB Nation User Blog: themachiavellian

Go, Diego, Go!!! - Fan poster from UFC 107

themachiavellian — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:03:47 -0000

Go, Diego, Go!!! - Fan poster from UFC 107

Michael Schiavello apparently confirming part of the fight card for Dynamite! via his...

themachiavellian — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:22:16 -0000

Michael Schiavello apparently confirming part of the fight card for Dynamite! via his Twitter.

This Fan Shot was promoted to the front page by Nick Thomas.
Dynamite!! 2009 coverage

Is the white in Diego Sanchez's cut coagulant or bone? From this Fight! Magazine gallery.

themachiavellian — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:12:45 -0000

Is the white in Diego Sanchez's cut coagulant or bone?
From this Fight! Magazine gallery.

UFC Ring Girl and Professional Hot Chick Natasha Wicks finally has her photos released from her...

themachiavellian — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:48:50 -0000

UFC Ring Girl and Professional Hot Chick Natasha Wicks finally has her photos released from her RawVegas shoot.

Up Next in Sports, a new site by the ICHC group, promotes MMA to the front page. I keep making MMA...

themachiavellian — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:46:28 -0000

Up Next in Sports, a new site by the ICHC group, promotes MMA to the front page. I keep making MMA lols there, but we need more!

Randy Couture advertising his Mother-of-all-Workouts for Body by Jake Tower 200

themachiavellian — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:20:18 -0000

Randy Couture advertising his Mother-of-all-Workouts for Body by Jake Tower 200

Head Injury Treatment Across Sports

themachiavellian — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:09:12 -0000

From Slate.com:

On Saturday, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow got crushed in the chest by a Kentucky defender. As he flew backward, a teammate's knee knocked into the back of his head and his arms went limp as he flopped to the ground. Tebow vomited on the sidelines several times after being carted off the field, and he was eventually brought to a local hospital. The diagnosis: a concussion.

The reports are "cautiously optimistic" that he'll be able to play against LSU on October 10. For someone who was apparently unconscious for two minutes, that seems like an unhealthily quick turnaround for an athlete. Dr. Robert Cantu, who devised the grading scale for concussions, says Tebow probably suffered a severe level of damage and should take as much time to recover as possible.

I bring this up because of the occurrence of (possible) brain damage to MMA fighters. If I'm not mistaken (correct me if I am), all UFC fighters who lose via (T)KO are required to receive brain scans. Obviously, this policy is necessary because the rotational forces from a blow to the head are more likely to induce traumatic brain injury than the head-on collisions of American football. However, MMA fighters are usually aren't forced back into combat ASAP. Part of this is the nature of the sport - they fight on a contract-by-contract basis instead of having an entire season planned in advance, so it's easier to sit out for extended periods of time (especially when there isn't as many sponsorships on the line). The reports in the article about pro football players trying to be tough ("If your vision gets blurry, just hit the guy in the middle,") and furthering the damage is painful to read, and I'm glad many MMA organizations are aware enough of these risks to take monitor of their brain-addled fighters.

I've been knocked out once (kick to the head during a soccer game), and while it was the worst migraine I've ever had, I still felt as though I had to play on through the pain. The desire to continue for a top-level athlete must be overwhelming, yet to ask them to entertain us after such a critical injury is unfair. Thankfully, he is apparently getting top-tier treatment. Good luck, mate.

Cracked.com's 5 Insane Fighting Manuals "I’m not positive, but I think Bas Rutten has made the f...

themachiavellian — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:13:58 -0000

Cracked.com's 5 Insane Fighting Manuals

"I’m not positive, but I think Bas Rutten has made the first self defense instructional video for the bad guy. Which is troubling news because it’s much, much better than the ones for the good guy."

From Sherdog's P&M forum.

themachiavellian — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:28:32 -0000

From Sherdog's P&M forum.

War Machine attacks an opponent during a possible referee time-out. No one really knows what the...

themachiavellian — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:44:11 -0000

War Machine attacks an opponent during a possible referee time-out. No one really knows what the ref was doing...