Blog comments

• Hi Paul,
  As a MMA fighter/trainer and an operative in the crowd control/security industry for 16 years I'am appalled of the lack of understanding by you guys on this subject before going to air. This interview has been nothing more than subjective and opinionated. Is it television or the training in the MMA gyms that is causing violent outbreaks in Northbridge?? ALCOHOL and DRUG ABUSE you imbecils....seriously, are you pollies that against a sport that you have to use it as a scapegoat for the senseless violence that happens in Northbridge. Whats next, are we going to blame the new WA Angels lingerie football team for an increase in rapes and sexual harrassment cases?? Grab a brain guys cause in all seriousness you two sound like your punch drunk. To think we have politicians in charge that simply blame a sport for the negative social outcomes in Perth is quite distressing. We all know the real problem with society....its people like you who turn a blind eye to the real problem and its not MMA.

  darryl chin Tuesday 5 March, 2013 - 4:20 PM

• MMA? At first I thought it was a new drug on the streets.
  This is important? I'm so glad that we've prioritized what is deep and meanful to our existence.
  There is no such thing as evolution, I've discovered, because it seems that all we want to do is crawl back into the primordial slime or climb a coconut tree and throw nuts at each other.

  Dellas Friday 1 March, 2013 - 9:05 AM

• I wonder if Ron realises that martial arts, mixed or not, have been around for 1,000's of years? It's hardly new to Perth. Why not try this, for violent offences any any other number of crimes: properly penalise the offenders! If you assault someone; break into their home; drink drive and injure/kill someone then you properly penalise them. Not just a warning or a fine, but extended community service or imprisonment. I'm more than happy to pay extra tax dollars to enforce law and free the rest of us up from "nanny state" lowest common denominator thinking.

  Steve Thursday 28 February, 2013 - 2:38 PM

• This is absolutely not true. The fact that mma is a sport that causes bodily harm to one another has nothing to do with street violence! I don't blame rugby league and their NINE deaths a year when a child is hurt being tackled. why should this be any different?
  For the most part mma fighters are the most honorable sportsmen on the planet and hold nothing but respect for one another and the human condition. We have the highest level of dedication and well being to ourselves and those around us, that I have seen in any athlete.
  Also banning the cage in mma does not ban a dangerous activity it removes one of the greatest safety precautions ever provided in ALL sport. I am a professional fighter, not because I am violent, unstable or un-intelligent. In fact my secondary job is a therapeutic care worker specializing in early childhood trauma and I have seen lives changed for the greatest when everyone else had given up on them, because of mma.
  Blame individuals, don't insult an entire culture.

  Hoshi Wednesday 27 February, 2013 - 8:17 PM

• The government is just looking for something to blame and look like they are doing something about the problem of street violence a bandaid solution if you may, instead of actually finding a real solution. They should actually take a good look at the facts of injuries in the sport of MMA,compare for example boxing Vs MMA in cage, MMA in ring Vs MMA in cage and the real facts/statistics will show they have made a false and uneducated statement. I would be glad to have anyone of these politicians come do a mma class so they can actually respect that it is a true sport with some of the hardest most disciplined athletes in the world and educate them on what is best for MMA combat athletes safety if this is truly there concern.if the government is wanting to move forward and progress the rules ensuring maximum combat athlete safety in MMA then they need to follow suit with the rest of the world and Australian states who have been proper educated and have researched there facts ,states such as PERTH & VICTORIA must replace the outdated boxing ring with the modern safe enclosed mma cage.Otherwise we would be moving backwards, when we need to move forwards and keep up with the rest of the world who have the cage and are experiencing the benefits of keeping their athletes safer not allow them risk of injury or possibly death from falling out of unsafe boxing ring. Otherwise we need to vote out these uneducated politicians who are willing to sacrifice safety of our MMA combat athletes and stalling the growth of MMA as a professional sport.

  reganneoh Wednesday 27 February, 2013 - 7:00 PM

• Those are really good points. How about the MMA video games? Should the format be changed on the game as well? Are they going to take the so called "cage" out in the video Game as well? Ron Alexander makes some pointless arguments without facts.

  Dharmesh Patel Wednesday 27 February, 2013 - 5:34 PM