By Noel Murphy
LEGALISED cage fighting could earn Victoria $45 million from a major tournament, according to a Geelong professional.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) exponent George Sotiropoulos said the safety of fighters was at risk while their sport was staged in boxing rings.
“There are lots of guys who have fallen through the ropes onto the ground, onto concrete,’’ he told the Independent.
“Guys have been knocked out. This is real and it’s dangerous.’’
Sotiropoulos was in Geelong last week to visit relatives after coaching an Australian team for the filming of The Ultimate Fighter Australia-UK tournament The Smashes in Sydney.
Mixed martial arts should be staged in cages for both fighter safety and for the sport’s integrity, he said.
“It’s the right climate and a safety mechanism at the same time.
“In a ring, you can get tangled in the ropes, you can fall through.
“MMA is not purely a striking sport. It’s wrestling and striking and we use the cage.
“You get pinned against the side as opposed to pinned to the ropes where you can fall.
“It’s like an enclosed trampoline.’’
Sotiropoulos said concerns that cage fighting was dangerous lay with outdated perceptions of the sport.
“When the sport first started there were no rules but regulations have increased over the years as the sport’s enjoyed increasing popularity,’’ he said.
“Rules have changed since then, commissions have gotten involved and fighter safety is paramount. Doctors always check fighters before and after.
“Cages present the right environment for the contest but it’s also safer for the fighters.’’
MMA popularity had grown so much that fights now presented economic injections of up to $45 million a tournament, Sotiropoulos said.
He believed Victoria was doing itself a disservice not pursuing such opportunities.
“UFC 110 in February 2010 and UFC 127 in February 2011 generated $45 million in New South Wales each time,” Sotiropoulos said.
“Not legalising cage fighting is costing Victoria, costing local talent and costing local fighters.’’
The 12-episode Smashes series is set to go to air on Fuel TV next month.
Sotiropoulos declined to give anything away about the result but said the Aussie team of four welterweights and four lightweights “gave very good account of themselves’’.
The Ultimate Fighting Champion-ships competitor is scheduled to take on UK team coach Ross Pearson later this year.
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