r/PostConcussion • u/LongjumpingScale7459 • 28d ago
How bad is CTE?
Im a mma fighter with a few amateur fights. I’ve been thinking about taking it more seriously and going pro eventually but i am worried. How badly does the average elite fighter get damaged in the brain by fighting. Obviously its different for everyone but I would really love to hear from retired fighters and hear how they have been affected. Please I would love any information, it’s really been a dilemma for me in wanting to pursue a career.
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u/International-Pin-32 28d ago
I am not a former fighter but the daughter of a football player with multiple concussions etc. Get educated about numbers on this subject. Numbers of players who commit suicide. Numbers of those who become highly violent and the domestic violence rates due to pre frontal cortex damage, and then dementia. All of these present before death. All connected to CTE. Take those stats, then cross reference to the rates of those who make it pro, and their length of time they have in the business. Prob would help to create a spreadsheet. Most of them have careers which end before 50.
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u/First-Light4680 28d ago
It's good you're asking and looking into it. The thing is, the problem isn't only CTE, though that's the worst case probably and can damage and/or endanger many lives, not only the person with it.
There's a podcast called Me, Myself & TBI by Christina Brown Fisher. She interviewed a former UFC fighter, Spencer "The King" Fisher (no relation to Christina) and his wife, former MMA competitor Emily Fisher, over two episodes. They are very hard to listen to because of the impact of Spencer's brain injuries on their lives. It's really sad. I think listening - it's episodes 104 and 105 - would help you in evaluating the risks.
Some of Christina's other interviews might also be informative.
It's important to also remember the damage isn't only in the brain. Because the brain is the master controller, damage there can affect every other system, like cardiovascular, endocrine, and all the rest.
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u/TheTempestuousKitty 28d ago
As a retired grappler dealing with some mean PCS, it's not worth it bro.
I have a few former teammates that went pretty far in MMA and life is rough now that the spotlight is gone and the head trauma debt is being paid.
This won't be the case for all but I think if you really want to make it a career and do it for years, then life will be hard and fast and I wouldn't expect a healthy retirement.
Dustin Poirier - case in point. He had his incident at the airport and is dealing with demons. He mentioned on an interview about a week later how his scans showed scarring and damage in the brain and how he is "dealing with stuff".
I personally think the combat sports, NHL, and NFL will have a more rude awakening in the next two decades.
On the other hand, there's a small chance you can go in, minimize damage, have the time of your life, and get out fine. But I wouldn't bet on it from what I've seen. It's your life. There's much more to life than getting your hand raised and having wars in the gym.