Former MMA fighter pledges brain for CTE research

Former MMA fighter Julie Kedzie recently vowed to donate her brain to CTE research, becoming one of the first female fighters to do so. 'Chronic traumatic encephalopathy' or CTE is a medical term used to describe the degeneration of the brain thought to be caused over a period of time due to repeated head trauma.

A term that is widely known in the MMA community, CTE is a grave concern for all combat sports athletes. While there is no way for an athlete to test for the condition while alive, a few symptoms that may indicate brain trauma include memory loss, anxiety, depression, behavioral changes, and impulse control problems.

In a report by Erik Magraken for MMA Underground, Kedzie made the decision to pledge her brain after learning about the disproportionately small number of female participants in the field of CTE research. When asked what inspired her decision to do so, she replied:

"I just thought it was the right thing to do and wanted to know how to do it, and then did it."

While the former UFC and Strikeforce fighter may have retired from active competition in the octagon, it's safe to say that she is still making huge contributions to the sport. 'Fireball' currently plays the role of a matchmaker at Invicta FC.

Read the full report here.

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When Joe Rogan and Steve-O discussed the risks faced by MMA fighters and boxers

Joe Rogan is no stranger to the physical strain that MMA artists put themselves through. The UFC color commentator and popular podcaster has extensively trained in martial arts and continues to be vocal about the dangers of brain damage in combat sports.

In an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast with Steve-O (#1900), Rogan discussed the difference between head trauma suffered by boxers and MMA fighters. While Steve-O pointed out that boxing may be more dangerous than mixed martial arts when it comes to head injuries, the 55-year-old stated:

There's a lot of thought to that... You have to stay inside the boxing range... The big gloves... There's a lot more thudding. The thing that people don't understand about head injuries is that, CTE in particular, you don't have to get knocked unconscious to get it. Repeated small blows can give you CTE."

Watch the clip below:

While CTE continues to be a major concern for all combat sports, it is a condition that certainly deserves to be talked about more as the sport of mixed martial arts grows in popularity worldwide.

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