Though not at this time on the UFC roster, the Fallon Fox-saga is an intriguingly controversial case whose impact has quite evidently filtered through to the UFC. Fox is the first and only transgender MMA fighter, originally born Boyd Burton in Toledo, Ohio. Fox underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2006 and made her pro-MMA debut as a featherweight in 2012. As if the notion of a transgender fighting against someone born a woman wasnt controversial enough, Fox was also guilty of not disclosing her transgenderism initially, only making the information known after her first two fights. As you might expect, this subject has proven to be highly controversial, not only in the MMA community but also in the wider sporting world. UFC fighter Matt Mitrione was suspended for the strong views he expressed on Fox, stating that he believed she possessed a huge advantage over female fighters. The UFCs colour commentator Joe Rogan was equally dismissive, highlighting how mens natural reflex and bone density advantages meant that even with the surgery and hormonal therapy Fox had undergone, she still had an unfair advantage over female competition.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
