When is too young?

Tito Ortiz · 21-09-2011 8:44pm #1

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3827583/The-caged-fighters-aged-EIGHT.html

Now this is taking the pi$$ :eek:

Professey Chin · 21-09-2011 8:45pm

Just looks like a grappling match.No harm.I was competing at that age.
Although I didnt get that kinda setting granted.

John Ferguson · 21-09-2011 8:45pm

This was on BBC news tonight too!

Tito Ortiz · 21-09-2011 8:51pm

John Ferguson wrote: »

This was on BBC news tonight too!

You might need to get these 2 for October if u get anymore pull-outs

Jason McCabe · 21-09-2011 8:59pm

Saw this on the news. It was just a grappling match.

However this was completely the wrong setting for this match

Sort of **** we dont need

Stephen_King · 21-09-2011 9:05pm

It was a grappling match-I cant really see the harm in it. Full MMA would be a different story. As for the setting being wrong, would you agree with kids being admitted to MMA shows as spectators?

bjj-fighter · 21-09-2011 9:26pm

The problem I have with it is the pressure on the kids, fair enough its a Grappling match, but the competition mats is where they should be along with other children and without pressure from a large and possibly rowdy crowd. But the media is just utter rubbish about this, its not 'Cage Fighting'.

Barry.Oglesby · 21-09-2011 10:12pm

And on page 26, The Sun's coverage of MMA and the UFC...

Look they get their sales from making people irate. This is the same paper that blamed Hillsborough on the victims. We're not talking about the shining beacon of the fourth estate.

That being said, there is nothing so uncommon as common sense, as putting two 8 year olds on display in front of a crowd of alcohol fueled MMA fans proves. What goes through people's minds?

Xlami · 21-09-2011 11:20pm

As unpopular as he is GAD had a good article in the telegraph setting the record straight. Obviously no one on the forum needs to read it but it's the type of article you'd like to see appear in the mainstream as opposed to some sensationalist bull****.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/100019801/the-ignoranti-namely-the-bbc-and-sky-condemn-mma-and-boxing-yet-make-fools-of-themselves/

Mellor · 22-09-2011 2:28am

Xlami wrote: »

As unpopular as he is GAD had a good article in the telegraph setting the record straight. Obviously no one on the forum needs to read it but it's the type of article you'd like to see appear in the mainstream as opposed to some sensationalist bull****.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/100019801/the-ignoranti-namely-the-bbc-and-sky-condemn-mma-and-boxing-yet-make-fools-of-themselves/

If this was a karate tourney, or a judo tourney, or any other combat sport there wouldn't be an issue.
But because its cage fighting its evil and barbaric :rolleyes:

It's nonsense, there was no strikes at all. It's basically a wrestling/BJJ match. I've seen kids paly like this the whoel time, its not dangerous.

That said, the promoters were idiots for putting this on in the setting it was in. Should of been on open mats.

efb · 22-09-2011 6:41am

Guys,

I think the common consensus is,grappling is ok, but wrong location and I would disagree with them 'fighting' in a cage.

Rowdy boozy adults is not a good audience for these young lads.

I would even question them 'grappling' on a competitive show.

EnjoyChoke · 22-09-2011 8:58am

No way kids that young should be exposed to that kind of environment. There's a few pictures of them securing leg locks, which is also something I wouldn't be comfortable with 8 or 9 year olds doing, particularly in front of a baying crowd.
Overall the media is blowing it out of proportion, but Sky were fairly balanced on it, comparing it to kids doing rugby, along with the usual mock horror. Whoever let it go ahead is a bit of an idiot.

22-09-2011 9:57am

I was fighting in kickboxing opens at that age. Light contact and heavily padded for those.
That just looked like a grappling match, crying is a common occurrence when loosing at that age.

Good to get them into it that age but maybe not in that environment with all the drunken fools shouting in, always hated that at boxing shows when I was a kid.

Barry SeanScoil · 22-09-2011 10:09am

Deleted User wrote: »

crying is a common occurrence when loosing at that age.

or any age for that matter

DrPhilG · 22-09-2011 10:11am

I know a fella on another forum who is friends with one of the kids fathers. His son was the lad who cried.

It was a 5 minute exhibition bout before the main card, the boy who cried did so because he lost, not because he was hurt which some of the media seem to be reporting.

I agree it wasn't an appropriate stage for kids that age though. Not only for the competitors point of view but how did the promoters not realise the inevitable bad press that would come from that?

DrPhilG · 22-09-2011 10:44am

Police confirm no legal action required.

http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/national/news/9266377.Cage_fight_boys__no_police_action/

Barry.Oglesby · 22-09-2011 11:24am

Surprisingly even handed answer from a Tory:
"Getting more young people doing sport is great but I do ask myself whether it really does have to be in a cage," Mr Hunt told the BBC. "It just feels to me, it feels very barbaric and I know there are concerns about children that young doing a sport like that.

"We don't want to discourage children from doing sport, and particularly young boys with all the social problems that we were thinking about in the summer. We have to recognise that sport has a very, very important role but I think with this particular sport, I think some people will ask some questions."

Killme00 · 22-09-2011 11:41am

Huge props for the fourth estate reference

Richy06 · 22-09-2011 4:06pm

The news is after making it's way accross the pond...

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/9/22/2442027/bbc-news-sky-news-irresponsibly-report-cage-fighting-story-nspcc-british-medical-association

John Ferguson · 22-09-2011 4:17pm

The Northern Ireland press have really grabbed this one. I have had interview debates on 3 radio talk shows today (2 on BBC Radio Ulster and one on U105).

And on top of that the shopping center venue for the next CC public weigh in have pulled it because of the negative publicity they fell "Cage Fighting" will bring!

Jason McCabe · 22-09-2011 4:32pm

John Ferguson wrote: »

And on top of that the shopping center venue for the next CC public weigh in have pulled it because of the negative publicity they fell "Cage Fighting" will bring!

Just takes one eejit to throw a spanner in the works.

I would hazard a guess that motor biking is a little more dangerous yet wisely accepted.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 22-09-2011 9:17pm

Jason McCabe wrote: »

I would hazard a guess that motor biking is a little more dangerous yet wisely accepted.

Not only motor racing, but more people are killed by FISHING in Ireland than any other sport!.

Sorry to hear about your troubles John.

Anakin.S · 22-09-2011 9:22pm

Knowing the unjustified negative publicity that MMA gets I would completely blame the organisers of the event who permitted the filming of this grappling match and the idiot who posted it on the internet.

The term 'Cage Fighting' was hijacked a long time ago by people who don't understand the discipline and dedication required to compete in MMA, perhaps if promotions stopped using this hijacked term MMA will have a chance......

riffmongous · 22-09-2011 10:40pm

Was on the rte 2300 news just now too

Cill94 · 24-09-2011 11:31am

It's the fact it's in a cage. That's always going to give the sport a barbaric stereotype. Most people have heard of 'cage fighting'. MMA on the other hand? They don't know what it is unless you start mentioning kneeing people in the head etc. It's just a violent stigma that's attached itself to the sport. I'm sure if this was even in a ring the reaction would have been much more placid. Also as has been mentioned above, this really was a bad setting for the fight. If it had been in a competition at a local sports hall then it would look fine.

When is too young?

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