These Vicious Four Year Olds Train For MMA Cage Fighting

Depending on the rules of engagement, the amount of equipment and the officiating, children can effectively find themselves in an honest-to-goodness MMA fight. It’s hard to feel particularly comfortable with that idea.

Concussions are a serious concern at any age, and damage to the brain lingers permanently, never truly healing. Youth football is rightly on a steady decline, a fact which many attribute to the increased awareness of the dangers of concussions. And of course, the simple fact is that unsanctioned, barely supervised cage fights are a recipe for tragedy.

That said, as long as there are parents wearing Xtreme Couture shirts decked out in flying skulls, children’s MMA is here to stay. While it can be relatively safe, if the participants wear equipment and particularly destructive techniques like knees and ground-and-pound are barred, the lack of uniformity between outlets begs for trouble. One can only hope  everyone uses their best judgment and prioritizes safety above all else.