Sir, – I note that all three letters published in The Irish Times regarding the tragic death of Joao Carvalho are highly critical of MMA's supposedly violent, non-sporting nature (April 14th). A sense of perspective is needed.
None of those critical of MMA take into account that in nine years of regulated MMA events, Joao Carvalho’s death was only the fifth such fatality. This is considerably less than the number of deaths that have taken place in soccer, GAA, motorsport, horse racing, boxing, and many other sports in the same period. Should we also ban or limit media coverage of these sports because they result in the untimely deaths of those who participate in them?
Those who take part in MMA contests do so after years of training and are fully aware of the risks to their bodies when they compete. If two consenting adults – doing no harm to anyone else but one another – wish to put their bodies through this, then it is imperative that we as a society respect their decision to do so. – Yours, etc,
STEPHEN McDERMOTT,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – How much more risk is there in motor racing? Winners are lauded highly for their skill and bravery, and rightly so, but the choice to put themselves in danger is theirs alone. Measures have been taken in motor sport to contain the danger, and something similar could be done in MMA regarding rules on gloves and holds.
Would the uproar be so vocal if there were participants from the upper socioeconomic groups? MMA is, much like boxing, a sport of the “lower orders”.
Rugby players are probably playing a higher-risk sport, especially since it went professional. Any plans to ban rugby? – Yours, etc,
DERMOT TREACY,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.