The Need For Greater Regulatory Oversight Of Japanese Mixed Martial Arts
Ian Murphy shouldn’t have been allowed to fight against Ronaldo Jacare on the DREAM 2 MMA card in Tokyo. That he was demonstrates the almost complete lack of regulatory oversight in Japanese MMA. The fight culture of the country is rooted in sumo and pro wrestling, with individual fighters often viewed as expendable and interchangeable commodities. In some cases even the simplest steps to protect the fighters’ safety are not taken.