Scott Coker supports Luo Ruvo brain study

[Wild]

Bellator President Scott Coker has been in the combat-sports industry for more than 30 years, but never did he consider it his job to facilitate the trauma of fighting.

Instead, he considers it a chance to promote the growth of martial arts, which is why new data on the brain damage fighters suffer over their careers is worrying.

“It just makes it so alarmingly real,” Coker told MMAjunkie.

The longtime promoter supports a move by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to require regular brain health tests at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, which is currently conducting a long-term study into the effects of combat sports on brain function.

Some 650 participants are currently participating in the study. Coker said he’s also sent to the clinic two fighters, whom he declined to name, after noticing changes in their speech patterns.

“As a friend, I said, ‘Look, we’re not going to fight you any more. You’ve got to go get checked out. If the Cleveland Clinic clears you, we’ll bring you back,’” Coker said. “And I have yet to hear from the two athletes we sent over there.”

At a press conference Tuesday in Washington D.C., Coker presented alongside other supporters of the Cleveland Clinic Professional Fighters Brain Health Study, which included Sen. John McCain, Spike President Kevin Kay, former NFL great/Strikeforce fighter Herschel Walker and former pro boxer Larry Holmes.

Spike also renewed its financial support to the clinic with a donation.

LINK: Bellator's Scott Coker supports Luo Ruvo brain study, will recommend fighters who get KO'd

 

[Priziesthorse]

@ErikMagraken , do you think Spike and Zuffa donate money to these brain trauma studies to mitigate the damages they will likely be facing in future lawsuits?

 

[ErikMagraken]

@ErikMagraken , do you think Spike and Zuffa donate money to these brain trauma studies to mitigate the damages they will likely be facing in future lawsuits?

I don't think so as I don't see how that can mitigate damages. If there is any selfish reason for the donations it's a tax deduction but other than that I like to believe these organizations support this study because it's the right thing to do.

 

[GSPTrainingInAPool]

Certainly a good idea. There is a need to be proactive about the situation, especially when we see all these former NFL players with acquired brain injuries.

 

[ErikMagraken]

For those interested in this I've been in touch with the NSAC and they issued the following statement with further details about this new requirement for fighters -

Protecting the health and safety of all contestants is the most important goal of the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC). To effectuate that goal, across the last four years the NAC has been encouraging various fighters licensed by the NAC to participate in the Professional Fighter Brain Health Study being conducted by the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the Cleveland Clinic. The researchers conducting that study have recommended, and the NAC has adopted as its policy, the development of a database containing neurological function assessment results on all fighters licensed in Nevada. The information in that database will be gathered through implementation of a test called a C-3 Test, which makes various neurological assessments.


In addition to the specific requirements described in NAC 467.027 which sets forth the minimum requirements for determining an applicants’ physical and mental fitness to engage in unarmed combat in the State of Nevada, the applicant must also take a C-3 Test to be administered by a representative of the Cleveland Clinic and submit the results of that test to the NAC. The results of the C-3 Test must be submitted along with an unarmed combatant’s application for license similar to the presently required physician’s report, ophthalmologic eye examination, MRI/MRA, CBC, HIV and hepatitis test results. This new testing is required every time that a fighter submits an application for a license.


The C-3 Test is a neurological function assessment designed to gather information about a fighter’s balance, reaction times, hand-eye coordination and dynamic visual acuity. The total time to take the C-3 Test is between 15-30 minutes. Each applicant must present themselves to the Cleveland Clinic for testing prior to submitting their application for a license. This test will be implemented officially in the upcoming months.