Minister of Sport Michael Ring has pledged to regulate mixed martial arts in Ireland, following the death of Joao Carvalho in Dublin on Monday night.
Carvalho, who lost to Dubliner Charlie Ward at a Total Extreme Fighting event in Dublin on Saturday night, passed away after spending 48 hours in critical condition at Beaumont Hospital.
The Portuguese fighter was checked by doctors at the National Stadium in the aftermath of the fight before undergoing emergency brain surgery, but doctors were unable to save him.
Dr Mick Molloy, Emergency medical consultant at the Bon Secours Hospital Tralee and Wexford General Hospital, says it should be mandatory or at least regarded as highly important that an emergency consultant or anaesthetist be present.
Ian O’Doherty, columnist with the Irish Independent, says there has to be a change in the rules.
And Jack Anderson, Lecturer in Law at Queens, Belfast, says the problem with MMA is that it’s not recognised by Sport Ireland and so it regulates itself.
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