MMA fights could be regulated more toughly as doctors call on ACT Government to act
Updated
The ACT Government needs to "set a community standard" and take a firm stance against mixed martial arts (MMA) and other combat sports, doctors' groups say.
But both the ACT branch of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the ACT Government agree banning the sport would only drive it underground, and place participants at far more risk.
Combat sports in the ACT are still regulated under the 1993 Boxing Control Act, and the ACT Government is looking to update the legislation later this year.
It is partly driven by the rapid growth of sports like MMA.
The new rules will cover everything from mandatory pre-fight and post-fight medical examinations of fighters, to banning weapons in the ring.
It will also seek to remove any organised crime influence upon the sport, particularly bikie gangs, through "suitability assessments" for those looking to participate.
'Violence not worth celebrating': doctors
The AMA has long been opposed to all forms of combat sport, and argues this is an opportunity the ACT Government should grasp.
President of the AMA's ACT Branch, Steve Robson, said the Government should be looking ahead to a future without combat sports, in their current form.
"We're not trying to be wowsers or anything like that," Professor Robson said.
"But I think it's an important opportunity that the ACT Government could embrace, to say 'well how can we set a community standard that sends a message?'
"Interpersonal violence isn't a thing to be celebrated or to profit from."
Professor Robson said there was a clear distinction between combat sports and collision sports, where concussion and other serious injuries are also a serious risk.
"If people are hurt, yeah that's a risk of the sport — but it's not the primary objective of what everybody is doing on the field," he said.
He said the AMA could not support combat sports, where matches can still be won by knockout.
"Having the whole aim of the thing to bash someone senseless — I don't think many doctors would support that," Professor Robson said.
Canberra fight scene 'booming'
Professional MMA fighter Duke Didier said mixed martial arts was growing rapidly in Canberra, and efforts to properly regulate the sport were both welcome and overdue.
"It's sort of been the wild west in Canberra," he said.
"All the other states have regulations, and Canberra has been a bit behind the eight-ball.
"So it's great that they're finally recognising mixed martial arts as the sport that it is, and regulating it."
Didier put much of the growth down to the exposure provided by competitions like the UFC.
"Canberra has a booming fight scene, it's definitely growing and growing — every day, every week," he said.
Government focus on safety
Director of Active Canberra Jenny Priest said the government body was confident the sport could be regulated and made safe.
"To ban sports, whatever sport it might be, you then have the risk of unregulated and potentially illegal activity popping up around the place," she said.
"Where you can ensure that the sport can be conducted safely, which is what we're focusing on, then that's got to be a good thing.
"There are risks in a whole range of different sports, but I think to just say well you should ban them — is not always the way to deal with it."
Ms Priest said the booming popularity of the sport was something that should be harnessed, and supported.
"There is good that can come from combat sport, but it needs to be properly regulated," she said.
"And there needs to be provision to ensure that any unsavoury elements, or poor levels of integrity that could manifest in the sport, are addressed through good regulation."
Topics: martial-arts, sport, government-and-politics, canberra-2600, act, australia
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