8 Ways Fighter's Bodies Changed Forever Because Of MMA
1. Gary Goodridge Is Diagnosed With CTE After A Lifetime In Combat Sports
One of the most difficult things about being a combat sports fan is the moral dilemma concerning whether it is ethical to watch fighters regularly suffering concussive trauma when the danger of degenerative neurological diseases later in life is everpresent. Even the most famous fighters in history haven't avoided the lasting damages of a career in combat, as evidenced by Muhammad Ali's struggles following his retirement.
In MMA, Gary Goodridge is one of the most notable examples of a fighter who sustained way too much damage during his career. Big Daddy suffered a total of 24 KO losses across MMA and kickboxing, and countless more concussions in training.
Since retiring from competition in 2010, Goodridge has been diagnosed with degenerative dementia, a form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and has since gone on to detail what life is like living with a disease that is progressively worsening.
Goodridge's story issues a stark reminder to everyone involved in combat sports about just how great the human impact can be as a result of the violent entertainment that we all enjoy.