EDITORIAL: Fighting brain trauma
There is no doubt that the Ultimate Fighting Championship has carved out a strong niche not only on the American sports landscape, but around the world. The Las Vegas-based organization has solid cards on seemingly a weekly basis and big-time feature bouts practically every month.
But the UFC also understands that it has an obligation to protect its fighters, and not just in the ring.
As reported by the Review-Journal's Pashtana Usufzy, the UFC announced a $1 million donation over five years to the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The funding will help the center continue its work to understand the long-term effects of brain trauma — an issue highlighted by much controversy in the National Football League, but which also surely lends itself to mixed martial arts, boxing and beyond.
In 2011, the Lou Ruvo Center began the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study, which now has more than 600 participants. Ms. Usufzy noted one of the study's goals is to determine if brain damage can be detected early enough for intervention.
In this day and age, sports organizations ignore the health effects of competition at their own peril. The NFL has learned this, and the UFC is smart to get out in front of this issue and better protect its athletes. Kudos to the UFC for its donation, and to the Lou Ruvo Center for its tireless efforts to make sports safer.
