Boys fighting in MMA world youth championships captured in brutal set of photos
TEENAGERS trade blows in barbaric photos from the controversial World MMA Championships for Youth being held in Russia.
The grim pictures show faces contorted in determination, and young boys seemingly knocked senseless in the brutal gladiatorial contests.
Getty Images Russia’s Imran Satiev batters Shahboz Qushmatov of Tajikistan at the MMA Youth Championships[/caption]
Getty Images Bogdans Zips of Latvia is bloodied and beaten after MMA fight[/caption]
Boys aged 16 and 17 from 10 countries from the former Soviet Union are competing in nine different weight categories in the Russian city of Yaroslavl.
The competition rules state all fighters must wear gloves, mouth guards, groin protectors, head protectors and shin guards.
Even though organisers contend the competition is perfectly safe for the young fighters, there are two ambulances on stand-by at the event along with two teams of doctors.
The images of children competing in MMA fights highlight the growing concern over safety of teenage combatants and whether the sport brutalises the young fighters.
Getty Images Kyrgyzstan’s Eshpolot Temirov with blood pouring from his nose[/caption]
Getty Images Aleksey Trofimov of Russia shows no mercy as he punches Kazakhstan’s Amanbek Amankeldi[/caption]
Getty Images A medic tries to stem to blood pouring from Czech Republic’s Nikolas Stamidis’s nose[/caption]
Getty Images A coach looks on horror at the brutal fighting[/caption]
Getty Images Latvia’s Maksims Rizovs in the red and Ukraine’s Denis Nemchinov trade blows[/caption]
Getty Images Denis Nemchinov of Ukraine ends up through the ropes[/caption]
Getty Images Tajikistan’s Khudobakhsh Kayumov in the blue helmet fights Armenia’s Levon Tsatryan in the red[/caption]
Getty Images Tajikistan’s Sherzod Rasulov and Nikita Leskovics of Latvia fight at the 2017 World MMA Championships[/caption]
Teenage fighters Eshpolot Temirov and Nurullo Aliev wrestle in the ringGetty Images
Getty Images Ion Garajia of Moldova on the cavnas at Yaroslavl’s Voznesensky Arena[/caption]
In many countries, only adults over 18 are allowed to compete in full contact clashes.
However the MMA community is divided on whether it is wise to allow under-18s to fight without limits.
Medical experts are also voicing concerns.
RELATED ARTICLES
'this is just the start'
Former UFC star Rory MacDonald intends to make a big statement on his Bellator debut
back home!
After gruelling years of building careers in the US... Brit stars cannot wait for homecoming at Bellator London
'Let's get boxing ones'
Conor McGregor posts pic of belts with his son as Floyd Mayweather ducks Sun's question on mega-fight
London calling
When is Bellator 179, who is fighting and what is the latest ticket information and prices?
Con Air
Conor McGregor turns down three movie roles to concentrate on potential superfight with Floyd Mayweather
watch this space
Baby Slice says he is BETTER than iconic father Kimbo Slice ahead London debut at Bellator 179
KICK BOX-OFFICE
Amazing story of how kickboxer Ruqsana Begum trained in secret to avoid offending Muslim family and conquered illness to become world champ.. and is now set for Hollywood
UFC 211:
Stipe Miocic produces savage TKO victory over Junior Dos Santos to defend heavyweight title
NATURAL CHARMER
Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers vison his MMA debut thanks to brutal first round submission
WHO'S BAD
Who is Stipe Miocic? The UFC heavyweight champ who is also a firefighter - all you need to know
SHOT AT REDEMPTION
When is UFC 211 - Stipe Miocic vs Junior Dos Santos 2? Full TV, streaming and undercard info
'LET'S GET P***ED'
Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers pays tribute to his family after stunning MMA debut win
Dr. Rebecca Carl, member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness, fears for head injuries.
Dr Carl told Parenting.com: “Kids don’t need to be hit in the head to get a concussion. The force of being thrown to the ground is enough to injure the brain.
“I don’t think there’s enough data available to say that MMA is safe for children.”
Kyrgyzstan’s Eshpolot Temirov cowers as Tajikistan’s Nurullo Aliev prepares to hit himGetty Images
Getty Images Russia’s Dzhamaludin Aliev in red helmet and Kyrgyzstan’s Semetey Zhyrgalbek-Uulu[/caption]
Amazing photo as Gancear Petru kicks David MuntyanuGetty ImagesRussia’s Abas Iusupov is hit in the face by Kyrgyzstan’s Meerimbek BolotbekovGetty Images
Getty Images Coaches of the Kyrgyzstan national youth mixed martial arts team react[/caption]
Getty Images Tajikistan’s Shahboz Qushmatov on the deck[/caption]
In Russia last year, the head of the Chechnya region Ramzan Kadyrov was blasted after his 10-year-old son Akhmad took part in a televised MMA competition involving kids as young as eight.
Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko who heads the Russian MMA Union criticised the event, saying: “What happened at the tournament in Grozny is unacceptable and, moreover, cannot be justified.
“There were little ones, eight years old, punching each other in front of happy adults. Is it really so important for you to organize a spectacle at the cost of children’s health?”
Leave a comment