Tag: CTE

Heather Hardy’s Fight Beyond the Ring: Battling Brain Damage and Boxing’s Broken System

Heather Hardy’s Fight Beyond the Ring: Battling Brain Damage and Boxing’s Broken SystemHeather Hardy put everything she had into fighting. Now she’s paying the price for it. Despite being a relatively…

Heather Hardy’s Fight Beyond the Ring: Battling Brain Damage and Boxing’s Broken System

Heather Hardy put everything she had into fighting. Now she’s paying the price for it.

Despite being a relatively small and unassuming woman out of Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn, ‘The Heat’ was one of boxing’s most fierce females. While some MMA fans may remember her run under the Bellator banner, it was inside the squared circle where she truly shined, building an impressive 24-3 record and capturing the WBC world featherweight championship.

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Sadly, Heather Hardy’s career came to a crashing halt in August 2023 after going 10 rounds with former undisputed light-welterweight queen Amanda Serrano. Immediately following their fight, Hardy knew that something was seriously wrong.

“My vision was split, and double, and bloody,” Hardy said in an interview with Hamilton Nolan. “Sometimes that happens after sparring, you get a headache, but now it had lasted two days. So I went for the MRI, because fighters know that’s when you go to the doctor. You have health insurance for 30 days [after a fight]. So I went, I got my MRI, I went to the eye doctor. That’s when they told me that I can’t get hit in the head, ever.

“There was swelling, likely around the optic nerve. There’s a lot of research that was done with fighters who’ve lost their sight, and the things that happen with those kind of traumas, combined with multiple concussions. They explained that every time you get a concussion, a piece of your brain dies, and you just go on living without it. And I’ve had too much dead brain.”

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Before getting the diagnosis that would end her career in an instant, Heather Hardy had planned on competing in three different sports in 2024, including a bare-knuckle fight and a potential mixed martial arts bout with Serrano.

“By February of 2024 I had decided I needed to do this bare knuckle fight,” Hardy continued. “And by April 11, I had the diagnosis that I could never get hit in the head again. And it wasn’t until September that I got health insurance and got my own MRI. Because for all that time, the commission was just sending me to the eye doctor. And that doctor was so nice, but he kept saying, ‘It’s not your eyes, it’s your brain.’ They were slapping glasses on my face.

“Let me tell you, CTE is a real thing. TBIs, traumatic brain injuries, are a real thing. I was leaving messages, asking for a therapist. Because I kept saying, when you think of CTE and people getting really angry—like Aaron Hernandez killed those people. He also killed himself. You know, you get very angry, and then very sad. I kept on saying that I was the First Lady of Brooklyn boxing. I’m the First Lady of brain damage.

“Look at me, study me, help me! Like, do something for me. They had wanted to send me to some Cleveland Clinic in Vegas, where they weren’t even going to help me. They just wanted to take notes. And it just felt like, am I even a person? Is this real life?

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Hardy received no help from the Association of Boxing Commissions, leaving her little option for medical treatment. Fortunately, she was able to get help through NYU Langone, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers.

“When I got hurt, I wasn’t getting any help from the boxing commission,” Hardy said. “Because I didn’t have health insurance, I didn’t get the MRI. I wasn’t aware that all I needed to do was pay $1,200 and I could have got it. NYU Langone saved my life. They gave me an MRI, they gave me a therapist, they gave me a regular doctor, they gave me an OB-GYN.

“They’re gonna help me file for disability. I can’t work. I can’t concentrate. I have to smoke [weed] just to kind of relax my face. I have no peripheral vision. I have serious PTSD. And having no peripheral vision, if you can imagine, it’s my brain, not my eyes. So my brain didn’t understand that I couldn’t see anymore.”

Hardy revealed that she was eventually classified as disabled, noting that she can’t be outside for more than a few hours each day before it affects her vision — an affliction that makes it very difficult for her to continue training the next generation of talent at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn where she originally cut her teeth.

“Physically, the results of the brain injury, I have an official letter of disability from multiple doctors,” she said. “Because between the PTSD, I can’t even begin to tell you the physical stuff—I’m in bad shape. But I will say I’m in a safe place. So I’m feeling okay. I’m on the mend. I have about four outside hours a day before my eyes hurt.

“The only time I go outside is to teach my girls. I come to Gleason’s. It’s like a mental health check… it’s hard for me to hold pads, but all of my girls have kind of huddled around to make sure mom can get through four hours of work.”

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Heather Hardy Wouldn’t change a damn thing

Asked what she believes the sport of boxing could do to prevent more fighters from ending up in her position, Heather Hardy had a hard time coming up with an answer.

The only thing she knows for sure is that nobody should have to go through the pain and suffering that she has and continues to experience on a daily basis.

“I don’t know what I deserve,” Hardy admitted. “A lot of people, you know, you don’t get your flowers until you’re dead. I’m fine with that. My daughter will be at the service one day. I know what I did. I don’t know what the sport of boxing could have done different, but I know that the First Lady of Brooklyn boxing, the First Lady of DiBella Entertainment, never should have spent 2024 the way I did.”

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As for whether or not she would do it all over again, Hardy didn’t hesitate to answer that question.

“Everybody asked me, ‘Would you do it again?’ I would not do a single thing different,” Hardy said. “Because nobody ever did it before. So who the f*ck is gonna tell me I did it wrong, or I should have did it another way? Nobody did the sh*t I did. They said, ‘No Heather, you can’t do it.’ I said, ‘Got it. I can’t do it? Let me show you how I can.’

“I won a world f*cking title on HBO. What? I’m a little beach rat. If I can do that, I can f*cking do anything.”

UFC Produces In-Depth Conversation With Concussion Expert:‘I’m Not Concerned About Concussion Injuries’

The conversation and knowledge surrounding concussions and the affects they can have on a fighter both during and after their careers are more prominent and extensive today than they have ever been. This is a huge positive for combat sports across the board and it’s something that the MMA leader is placing more focus and […]

The conversation and knowledge surrounding concussions and the affects they can have on a fighter both during and after their careers are more prominent and extensive today than they have ever been. This is a huge positive for combat sports across the board and it’s something that the MMA leader is placing more focus and emphasis on.

Alongside studies written and posted by the likes of Erik Magraken, the UFC has started taking responsibility into it’s own hands by releasing its own studies or recently announcing the promotion’s first brain health education summit with invites being sent to athletes, managers and coaches.

In the latest release of more important information regarding brain health from the promotion, UFC commentator John Gooden sat down for an extensive and in-depth conversation with concussion expert Dr Cameron Marshall. The full discussion lasts nearly one hour and 20 minutes and is available via the UFC Fight Pass platform or the YouTube channel.

The chat is full of interesting takeaways but perhaps one of the most important is the following statement from Marshall. He explains why, when looking at the studies and research that has been conducted, receiving numerous concussions throughout a fighter’s career isn’t the main cause for concern.

The real danger is when those concussions come in a short space of time meaning that they have a greater impact.

“I’m not one to try and change sports like there’s people to be like, ‘we gotta ban MMA because of concussion.’ It’s not the concussion that’s the problem and I say this as a concussion researcher. I’m not concerned about concussion injuries, I’m concerned about multiple concussions in a short-time proximity because the research basically shows so far that if you get a concussion and you recover from that concussion and you get another one, it’s just another concussion. You don’t have this additive cumulative effect but when they’re back-to-back within that temporal window of vulnerability we call it, then you start to get additive and cumulative effects.”     

UFC Invites Key Personnel To First ‘Brain Health Education Summit’ Amid Growing CTE Concerns

Mixed martial arts is a combat sport and when you’re training and competing in it, it’s impossible to avoid withstanding a degree of physical damage by it’s very nature. That being said, with more knowledge and technology at our disposal, there are a lot of ways that the sport can be made safer than ever […]

Continue Reading UFC Invites Key Personnel To First ‘Brain Health Education Summit’ Amid Growing CTE Concerns at MMA News.

Mixed martial arts is a combat sport and when you’re training and competing in it, it’s impossible to avoid withstanding a degree of physical damage by it’s very nature. That being said, with more knowledge and technology at our disposal, there are a lot of ways that the sport can be made safer than ever before.

One of the biggest health developments across sports as a whole is the greater understanding of CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is one of the biggest concerns for combat sports athletes because of the constant risk of head injuries and concussions which can have a negative affect on the brain.

The awareness of this has grown massively in recent years which is especially important in a time where the health and future of former fighters has been a big talking point this year amidst the ongoing Le v. Zuffa lawsuit. In a recent development, the UFC are also taking matters into their own hands in order to provide greater education on how to prevent damage being done to the brain.

In a recent message that was sent out to key personnel in the MMA world, the UFC’s Performance Institute invited people to attend the MMA leader’s first “Brain Health Education Summit”, as seen below.

The invite was posted on social media by combat sports lawyer Eric Magraken.

“Hello UFC athletes, managers, and coaches, UFCPI is thrilled to announce it’s first-ever Brain Health Education Summit! Don’t miss this incredibly opportunity to hear directly from top researchers and the UFCPI team on the latest insights and practices to boost brain health, manage concussions and elevate performance.”

Continue Reading UFC Invites Key Personnel To First ‘Brain Health Education Summit’ Amid Growing CTE Concerns at MMA News.

Dana White Reveals Brain Damage with Scans revealing Black Spots: “I wouldn’t take one punch back.”

Dana White Reveals Brain Damage with Scans revealing Black Spots: "I wouldn't take one punch back."Dana White recently revealed that he has black spots on his brain stemming from his days as a boxer….

Dana White Reveals Brain Damage with Scans revealing Black Spots: "I wouldn't take one punch back."

Dana White recently revealed that he has black spots on his brain stemming from his days as a boxer.

Also known as brain lesions, black spots can show up on an MRI for a slew of reasons, including stroke, radiation exposure, genetic conditions, seizures, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injuries i.e. concussions. Of course, concussions and other TBIs can be the cause of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Dana White on Power Slap

CTE has been a hot-button issue in combat sports, specifically when speaking about White’s latest pet project, Power Slap. Debuting in January 2023, the maligned slap-fighting league has faced backlash from fans, fighters, and those in the medical field who were quick to call it nothing more than “sanctioned brain trauma.”

For those unfamiliar, Power Slap is a sport where two opponents take turns delivering open-hand slaps until either one person is knocked out or the judges decide whose slaps are more effective. The biggest issue with the so-called sport is that there is no defense involved. Slapees are required to stand there with their hands behind their back and take an uncontested smack from the slapper.

Needless to say, the “sport” has delivered some pretty insane clips on social media that have quickly expanded its popularity. However, with that has come more scrutiny. Still, White has remained a staunch supporter of Power Slap even in the face of his own medical issues.

“I used to box when I was younger,” White told TIME Magazine. “I went in, and I did one of those brain studies. I have black spots all over my brain from what I did. I wouldn’t take back one punch. Not one. The position that I’m in right here, right now, today, I wouldn’t take one punch back because I loved that much.

“And the doctors all talk about, ‘Somebody could die.’ I got news for all the doctors. We’re all gonna die. How do you want to live your life? What do you love, and what are you passionate about?”

Dana White on Power Slap

Dana White insists power slap is safer than boxing

During the same interview, White tried to explain why he has little concern over the health of his Power Slap competitors compared to those who compete in 10-12 round boxing matches.

“If you look at boxing, right, these guys train and spar for months leading up to a fight, then they go in there, and they fight 12 rounds. You’ve seen the UFC fights, knock-down, drag-’em-out wars. These guys go in and take three slaps or less… We spend the money.

“As long as you know you have two healthy athletes going in to compete, the proper medical attention is there that night, and they get the proper medical attention after, you take a huge portion of the risk out.

Dana White on Power Slap

Power Slap 9 will head to Abu Dhabi on Thursday, October 24 when super heavyweight champion ‘Da Crazy Hawaiian’ takes on Russian slap-fighting legend ‘Dumpling.’

Dana White on Power Slap

UFC Hall of Famer ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone says Power Slap is great ‘if you want to hear CTE brain damage’

Cowboy Cerrone on Power SlapDonald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone loves Power Slap — just don’t expect him to ever participate in it. On Friday night, the…

Cowboy Cerrone on Power Slap

Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone loves Power Slap — just don’t expect him to ever participate in it.

On Friday night, the controversial upstart promotion’s sixth event went down in Las Vegas and drew a plethora of combat sports stars, online influencers, and celebrities. Also on hand for the festivities was the UFC Hall of Famer who offered an interesting endorsement for Dana White’s latest pet project.

“I love it,” Cerrone said. “This is, like, if you just want to watch knockout, knockout, knockout, and hear CTE brain damage, this is the event” (h/t MMA Fighting).

The UFC CEO has been pushing Power Slap hard over the last couple of years despite continued criticism from professional fighters and fight fans who have labeled the quote-unquote “sport” as nothing more than a barbaric display lacking any legitimate athletic merit.

Former NSAC Chairman Admits Regret over Sanctioning Power Slap

The inherent danger of Power Slap has also been a hot-button issue considering the entire premise is to hit someone in the head as hard as you can with the recipient disallowed from defending themselves. Still, that didn’t stop the NSAC from sanctioning Power Slap, a decision Stephen Cloobec — the former chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission — quickly came to regret. “I made a mistake,” Cloobeck told The Associated Press. “I’m not happy about it.”

‘Cowboy’ Cerrone spent 16 years competing against some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts under both the WEC and UFC banners. His memorable wars with Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Jorge Masvidal, Robbie Lawler, Leon Edwards, Tony Ferguson, and Justin Gaethje earned him a spot in the UFC’s Hall of Fame class of 2023.

But even after more than 50 fights inside the cage, don’t expect to see ‘Cowboy’ step up to the Power Slap podium anytime soon.

“Not even I would do this,” Cerrone said with a laugh.

UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn claims CTE is a ‘Lie to cover up murders’

BJ PennUFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn is once again sharing his controversial opinion on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, otherwise known…

BJ Penn

UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn is once again sharing his controversial opinion on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, otherwise known as CTE.

Penn, who holds the distinction of being one of the few fighters in promotional history to capture world titles in two different weight classes, has seen his illustrious mixed martial arts legacy overshadowed by a series of confusing and controversial statements. In addition to denying the existence of dinosaurs and COVID-19, ‘The Prodigy’ has also taken a strong stand against CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head.

Athletes, particularly those competing in contact sports such as football, MMA, and boxing, are considered to be at considerable risk of showing symptoms of CTE, which occur in four stages, and generally appear eight to ten years after an individual experiences repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries. Those symptoms include behavioral problems, mood problems, and problems with thinking.

Many fight fans believe Penn, who officially retired from the sport in 2019 after 18 years of competing, is showing these signs in many of his social media posts, which are often nonsensical.

However, if you ask Penn about CTE, he will not only deny his symptoms, but he’ll outright deny the existence of the condition altogether.

“Do I have to keep telling you how fake CTE is? Ali, Frazier, Norton, foreman, Hagler, duran, Leonard, and Hearns never had it and they got a million times more than me each. CTE likes are a to cover up murders. Don’t make me tell you again kid,” Penn wrote on Instagram.

B.J. Penn Has a long history of denying CTE

It’s far from the first time Penn has taken that stance, as you can see in the below screenshots:

While Penn has become something of a joke in the MMA community following his failed political career and questionable stances on scientific facts, many fight fans are concerned for his long-term health more than anything. Unfortunately, you can’t help anyone anymore than they are willing to help themselves.