Article about the MMA “controversy” is amazing due to the source of the “anti-MMA” view and some of the statements he makes. Things start out quietly:

Maryland fighters are about to move from the sidelines to the center ring of a sport that’s generated world-wide controversy.

Mixed Martial Arts’ rough and tough image has kept it away for years, but Maryland lawmakers are now sold on its cleaned-up attitude. Critics, though, claim we’re putting our athletes in a dangerous position.

Kai Jackson takes an inside look at the controversial sport that’s coming to Maryland.

Mixed Martial Arts is a relatively new sport that’s generated controversy around the world since its creation. Now, this sport is about to become legal in Maryland.

No problem there…but here’s where the fun starts–where do you go when you want a straight answer and measured, reasonable analysis? Where else–you go to a doctor that worlds for Vince McMahon’s WWE! And why would *he* have anything bad to say about MMA? Oh, that’s right–the WWE is essentially in competition with the *entire sport* of MMA:

Fifteen years ago, Mixed Martial Arts had a bad boy reputation appearing ruthless and rule-less. Critics even called it human cockfighting.

Dr. Tyler Cymet, the Mid-Atlantic doctor for World Wrestling Entertainment, told Jackson, “It’s a simulated bar fight.”

Uh, no, Doc…it’s a *real* fight….the outfit you work for is the one that presents *simulated* fights. You know, the whole thing about “worked matches” and “sports entertainment”. Anyway, the good doctor continues with another knee slapper. I’ve emphasized my favorite part:

Dr. Tyler Cymet says professional wrestlers’ injuries are accidental, while MMA fighters’ injuries are inevitable.

“Fifteen percent of the people involved are going to need to get sewn up in the face. Three percent are going to get cut on the body. Three percent are going to suffer concussions. That’s 21 percent total that are going to need medical attention,” said Cymet.

By his own numbers that’s 18% with minor lacerations and cuts. Big deal–it wouldn’t surprise me if there was more cutting and sewing of players in the NHL. And since its damn near impossible to get meaningful medical data out of the WWE I can only speculate, but I’d be willing to wager that the concussion rate in the WWE is significantly higher than 3%. I’d also guarantee that the incident of severe injury is *much* higher in the WWE–I read all of the insider pro wrestling news it just about every week some wrestler or another is out with a torn muscle, ligament damage, broken bones, etc. Cymet should go into politics, since he’s a natural–he tries to act all alarmed about the injury rate in MMA when its almost certainly much lower than professional wrestling in general and the WWE in particular.

And he’s not above an out and out lie…let’s return to our highlighted statement:

Dr. Tyler Cymet says professional wrestlers’ injuries are accidental, while MMA fighters’ injuries are inevitable.

I assume he’s referring to the many severe injuries in wrestling and not the cuts that occur–WHICH ARE FOR THE MOST PART SELF INFLICTED “BLADE JOBS”. Dr. Cymet may want to review how pro wrestlers ‘bleed’, and as a public service here’s a YouTube video showing just that featuring some of his company’s biggest stars:

I guess I can’t expect the mainstream news media to know that the WWE and pro wrestling is essentially in competition with the UFC and MMA, which makes his comments as credible as asking the CEO of Pepsi about Coke. That requires actually doing research and “work” which most local news outlets are deathly afraid of. Much easier to throw up a fear mongering “scare” story and get some ratings without worrying about the underlying veracity of what is reported.

Of course the dangers inherent in either MMA or pro wrestling pale in comparison to just walking the streets of Baltimore, which is always right at the top of the list for the “Murder Capital of the USA”.

Mixed Martial Arts controversy comes to Maryland @ TV-13 Baltimore