Urgent regulation of MMA needed, says Michael Ring

Minister for Sport Michael Ring has called for the urgent regulation of MMA and is calling on department officials, Sports Ireland and the Sports Council to introduce regulations.

Mr Ring's comments come after the death of Portuguese MMA fighter Joao Carvalho on Tuesday.

Mr Carvalho died from injuries sustained at an MMA event in Dublin last weekend where he suffered a technical knockout loss to Charlie “The Hospital” Ward in their welterweight contest at the National Stadium.

The fighter had been in a critical condition at Beaumont hospital since Saturday night’s event, having fallen ill shortly after his fight.

Mr Ring said regulation is needed to ensure safety standards at the mixed martial arts fights are upheld.

“We don’t have control over these events at the moment. They are not regulated,” he said.

Speaking on RTÉ's Sean O'Rourke Show, Mr Ring said "clearly there's a problem. It's not going to go away and it needs to be looked at. It's awful that a man died in Ireland and that there are three people in hospital with brain haemorrhages because of this sport."

Former boxer Mick Dowling said that efforts have to be made to make the sport safer such as introducing gloves or head-gear.

“The referee should have known he was in trouble, he staggered. He was in serious trouble but when he fell the referee allowed him take more punches.

“I don’t know if it can be regulated but there is a need for some sort of regulations, ” he said.