Mixed martial arts fighters and trainers have agreed to external regulation after meeting the sports minister Michael Ring.
Mr Ring met the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation — the governing body for amateur MMA — and Irish affiliates last week to discuss issues raised by the death of a fighter following a bout in Dublin last month.
Joao Carvalho, a Portuguese fighter, died from brain injuries apparently sustained during his fight with Charlie “The Hospital” Ward at Total Extreme Fighting, an event organised by a new promotion company.
“I welcome the acknowledgment on the part of MMA event organisers that safety standards at their events in Ireland are in urgent need of very significant improvement,” Mr Ring said yesterday.
He called the death of Carvalho a tragedy and said that lessons should be learned to improve safety in the sport. “The introduction of appropriate safety standards cannot come soon enough, and I hope that all participants in MMA events, whether amateur or professional, youth or adult, would be protected by the introduction of those standards.”
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Mr Ring had instructed John Treacy, chief executive of Sport Ireland, to find a way of regulating the sport as soon as possible after Carvalho died. MMA events have been exempt from Sport Ireland’s regulation because the sport has no national governing body.
The Irish Amateur Pankration Association, which oversees much of amateur MMA in Ireland, will discuss how it can become the official governing body next week. It will be subject to Sport Ireland’s regulation while its application is considered.
Mr Treacy told the IMMAF and other stakeholders that they would need to focus on safety guidelines during the application process, which takes up to three years. Under the Sport Ireland Act, passed last year, if promoters do not implement the recommendations then MMA could be banned.
John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor’s coach and president of the IAPA, will meet government officials over the coming weeks to establish the IAPA as the national governing body. Mr Kavanagh said that there were close to 100 MMA clubs in Ireland, the majority of which had competitive teams fighting under the association.
“MMA is enjoyed both recreationally and at an amateur level by many thousands nationwide,” he said.
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“We will set about putting in place best practice for MMA clubs. MMA is only growing in popularity and, just like any other sport, we need our own national governing body working in partnership with Sport Ireland as we enable many young athletes to train and compete.”
The IAPA published guidelines on the standard of care required at events it has sanctioned earlier this year.
At amateur fights, two doctors are required to be available cage-side along with a paramedic crew. Professional events need ambulances and treatment rooms at the venue.
The IAPA regulations also state that no children under 12 can compete, under-18s must wear headgear and no knee strikes are allowed in junior fights.