MMA Deaths: How Many Fighters Have Lost Their Lives?

Alright, let’s talk about this MMA fighting stuff, you know, the cage fights on TV. Folks keep askin’, how many MMA fighters have died? Well, it ain’t a pretty topic, but it’s somethin’ we gotta look at.

Now, I ain’t no fancy doctor or nothin’, but from what I hear, things can get real dangerous in that cage. These fellas, they punch and kick and wrestle, and sometimes, bad things happen. It’s like, you know, when you’re workin’ on the farm and somethin’ goes wrong, only these guys are hittin’ each other instead of hay bales.

• They say punches to the head ain’t good.
• And sometimes, the body just gives out. Too much strain, I reckon.

So, how many exactly? Well, it ain’t easy to say for sure, ’cause records ain’t always kept the best. But they tell me, as of 2023, about twenty fighters died in fights that were, you know, official-like, with rules and referees and all that. And then, there’s another nine or so who died in fights that were, well, more like backyard brawls, no rules, just two fellas goin’ at it.

Now, that sounds like a lot, and it is, don’t get me wrong. Twenty lives lost is twenty too many. But you gotta remember, there’s a whole heap of these MMA fights goin’ on all over the world. Every weekend, it seems like there’s another one on TV. So, compared to all them fights, maybe it ain’t as many as you’d think. But still, it makes you think, don’t it?

MMA fighting safety is a big deal, or at least it should be. They got doctors and rules and such to try and keep these fighters safe, but accidents still happen. Sometimes, it’s the heart that gives out. Like, all that fightin’ puts too much stress on it, and it just stops. Other times, it’s the head. Too many punches, and the brain gets hurt real bad. They call it, somethin’ fancy, brain somethin’ or other. Anyway, it means the brain’s bleedin’ and that’s real bad news.

It’s different from boxin’, though. In boxin’, it’s mostly just punchin’, right? But in this MMA stuff, they got all kinds of ways to fight. They can kick and wrestle and choke each other, too. Some folks say that makes it safer, ’cause you ain’t just gettin’ punched in the head all the time. But then again, you got more ways to get hurt, too. It’s a trade-off, I guess.

Now, I heard that none of them deaths happened in that big UFC thing. You know, the one with all the famous fighters and the big crowds? That’s good, I guess. Means they’re doin’ somethin’ right to keep their fighters safe. But it don’t mean nothin’ for them other fellas fightin’ in smaller shows, does it? They need protection, too.

So, how dangerous is MMA fighting? Well, it ain’t like playin’ checkers, that’s for sure. It’s a rough sport, and there’s always a chance somethin’ bad could happen. But it ain’t the most dangerous sport out there, neither. I heard horse racin’ and football and even cheerleadin’ can be pretty dangerous, too. It’s all about risk, you see. These fighters, they know the risks, and they choose to fight anyway. It’s their passion, their way of makin’ a livin’, or maybe just a way to prove somethin’ to themselves.

But still, it makes you wonder. Is it worth it? Is it worth riskin’ your life for a fight? I don’t know the answer to that. It’s somethin’ each fighter gotta decide for themselves. But me, I just hope they got good doctors lookin’ after them and good rules to keep things as safe as they can be. And I hope they don’t push themselves too hard, ’cause at the end of the day, it ain’t just about winnin’ or losin’. It’s about stayin’ alive and bein’ able to go home to your family.

And that’s the truth, plain and simple. We need to remember these fighters, the ones who passed, and hope that things get safer for the ones still fighting. It’s only right. They’re just tryin’ to make a living, or follow their dreams, and they shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price for it.

So yeah, twenty official deaths, nine unofficial, as of 2023. That’s what they say. And while it might not be as common as you’d think given how many fights there are, every single one of those deaths is a tragedy. MMA fatalities are a serious thing, and we shouldn’t forget it.