It's seriously time to consider a 'Legends' division in MMA
I know that this will be a controversial subject but when has that ever stopped me before?
As more and more MMA stars continue to compete well after their prime something must be done. As a matter of safety, I would like to see them stop fighting. Though, I harbor no delusions about the fighters electively bowing out or the state athletic commissions (SAC) or promotional companies taking the lead and protecting aging fighters from themselves.
So since the fighters will not retire and the SAC'a and promotional companies will not take charge of the situation a compromise is in order.
Develop a 'legends' division. (Sounds a hell of a lot better than a 'seniors' division).
Fighters of a certain minimum age that can no longer safely compete with the young guns should be given the option of competing against other similarly situated fighters.
The UFC is already protecting its' marquee names that are past their prime. Since MMA is built upon the premise of the best fighters avoiding no one ( unlike pro boxing), protecting aging fighters should be done in an open and honest manner.
When an aging fighter has no reasonable chance of competing for the title any more, they should retire and protect their health/brain. But as a reasonable compromise since elective or forced retirement is not likely to happen, a 'legends' division would allow them a chance to continue to do what they love, the promotional companies can continue to earn and fans can still cheer their favorite fighter.
Otherwise, serve them up to the young, hungry wolves and enjoy the carnage. It's a gladiator sport, right?
follow me on www.twitter.com/drjcbenjamin
As more and more MMA stars continue to compete well after their prime something must be done. As a matter of safety, I would like to see them stop fighting. Though, I harbor no delusions about the fighters electively bowing out or the state athletic commissions (SAC) or promotional companies taking the lead and protecting aging fighters from themselves.
So since the fighters will not retire and the SAC'a and promotional companies will not take charge of the situation a compromise is in order.
Develop a 'legends' division. (Sounds a hell of a lot better than a 'seniors' division).
Fighters of a certain minimum age that can no longer safely compete with the young guns should be given the option of competing against other similarly situated fighters.
The UFC is already protecting its' marquee names that are past their prime. Since MMA is built upon the premise of the best fighters avoiding no one ( unlike pro boxing), protecting aging fighters should be done in an open and honest manner.
When an aging fighter has no reasonable chance of competing for the title any more, they should retire and protect their health/brain. But as a reasonable compromise since elective or forced retirement is not likely to happen, a 'legends' division would allow them a chance to continue to do what they love, the promotional companies can continue to earn and fans can still cheer their favorite fighter.
Otherwise, serve them up to the young, hungry wolves and enjoy the carnage. It's a gladiator sport, right?
follow me on www.twitter.com/drjcbenjamin
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 2/3/2010 7:27 AM 
Categories: MMA
Tags: UFC Coleman Shamrock Couture Miletich MMA
Categories: MMA
Tags: UFC Coleman Shamrock Couture Miletich MMA
I'm not too thrill with the idea of two individual getting into a ring attempting to knock one another head off. But in all fairness to the veteran fighters, I am compel to say that although the younger fighters are equipped with strength and speed, the veteran fighters are empowered with wisdom, experience, and knowledge. I realize it takes an older person longer to react, but their experience will help them compensate for the advantage a younger fighter might impose. Come on Doc, a "Legends" division? That is just a nice way of saying, we don't believe you're capable of winning a fight. You are way past your prime. However; we emphasize with your desire to continue fighting, so we have established a special division just for you. That is just wrong. I don't know of any professional sports wherein a person is force to compete with someone just in their age group. You can't argue the point of sustaining brain damage because I'm sure that delicate organ was destroyed a long time ago from years of relentless abuse. I say let them live life to the fullest. What is safe about fighting anyway? Since fighting exposes a person to unneccessary brain damage maybe we should do away with the sport all together. That would be one way of curing alzheimer disease. "just a thought." :<}
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I beg to differ, but for another reason. Lets say that we have a "Legends league" in order to protect older fighters from serious damage. Older fighters tend to get "weaker" in terms of agility and quickness, but not so much in raw strength, correct? So if Chuck Lidell lands a trademark right overhand flush, it's going to hurt you. An old fighter won't have the speed to block it (in our hypothesis. You could therefore make the argument that it's more dangerous for an old fighter to take on an aging Lidell than say a faster, more agile younger fighter with a good wrestlig/submission game... Even though he stands a lesser chance of winning the latter 10/10. I am however all for separate events where they can put all the celeberty/novelty match ups. An arena where the Legends may compete aswell as the NFL stars, street fighters, rock singers or what have you... Let's keep the real contenders separated from the rest, by all means!
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