Undefeated NZ UFC fighter Israel Adesanya says MMA is a safer sport than both boxing and rugby - even though it looks much worse.
Adesanya says a lack of understanding is the reason that a lot of Kiwis haven’t embraced the UFC and MMA.
“Look at rugby, the national sport, you have guys weighing 130kg, 140kg, who can run like sprinters full clip into each other causing brain damage constantly on that field.
"In boxing, you’ve got CTE from head trauma constantly."
The Nigerian-born middleweight, who has a 13-0 record, concedes that there are brain injuries in MMA, but the variety of ways in which a fighter can win makes it safer.
“You can get that in MMA as well, but the thing is with the MMA there’s more ways to win so it’s safer, as much as it looks worse.”
Adesenya said that if boxing is the sweet science, then MMA is the sweeter science.
Dan Hooker, whose first round knockout of American Jim Miller last Sunday means his next bout will be against a ranked opponent, also encouraged Kiwis who have so far been reluctant to embrace MMA to get the know the fighters.
“Follow our training, get to know us as people and fighters and see how much effort we put into it,” said Hooker.
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