Any time you participate in a full contact sport there is a risk of brain injuries. I would run the same risk if I were playing football or hockey. Any sport that puts you in a situation where you can get hit in the head lends itself to this possibility. I understood there was a risk when I began fighting as an amateur.
The UFC and state athletic commissions do an excellent job of making my career as safe as possible. We are tested before every fight and have to be cleared by the doctor before accepting the next fight. We are given blood tests for diseases, MRI’s, CAT Scans, EKG’s and everything else you can think of. If I began to see any markers for permanent damage on tests such as a CAT Scan, I would consider a career change.
