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Comment by hervature | Hacker News Reader

I agree with most of what you say. But why do you think no gloves would be safer in MMA? Without gloves, you would have guys breaking their knuckles on people’s skulls. It would be like how Anderson Silva broke his leg.

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You just answered your own question. People would be more likely to to break their knuckles on people's skills which means there will be less hits to people's skulls to cause concussions.

I'm very into combat sports and I've seen this argument a lot. It makes no sense to me. Watch some bareknuckle boxing, people are not holding back and just break their hands all the time and knockouts happen much earlier. The newest science on CTE makes it seem like accumulated small damage might actually be worse than periodic large damage, so the only argument in favor of bare knuckle boxing is that you get knocked out so quickly that you don't get a chance to accumulate damage.

8oz gloves seems to be a very reasonable middle ground to me.

>The newest science on CTE makes it seem like accumulated small damage might actually be worse than periodic large damage

That's the idea of gloveless, you can't just trade blows all day. It probably would make boxing safer (where safer means choosing hand damage over brain damage).

In MMA I believe it would reduce boxing and increase the prevalence of grappling and muay thai. Ultimately the goal I'd like to aim for is less chronic head injuries, I think gloveless would do that, but who knows.

On the topic of ditching "safety gear" I'm curious what CTE rates are comparing American Football to Rugby or Australian Football.

It's mostly an idea that is repeated ad infinitum by Joe Rogan and because of his large audience people have begun repeating it as if it made sense. Just like playing on a basketball court, it's not a good idea.

It’s been suggested - and backed with studies - since the 80s. Your recently bias is showing.

Joe Rogan is a tool but he’s not always wrong.

There would also be a lot more blood and blood exchanges would happen every match (bloody knuckles hit bloody face).

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