[Fourteen Reason]

Children as young as six are taking up the controversial sport of "cage fighting", alarming medical experts and sports officials.

The violent sport, also known as "ultimate fighting" , combines martial arts, wrestling and boxing but with few rules often looks like little more than a brawl.

The Republican presidential nominee, John McCain, has described it as "human cockfighting" but the popularity of the sport, which usually takes place in a cage, has spread to young American children.

Egged on by parents who regard it as character-building, the children fight two minute bouts in small cages. They are required to wear head gear and padding.

They can kick, punch and grapple with each other but are not allowed to use elbow blows or hit to the head when the opponent is on the ground.

Experts say the child version of the sport is growing along with the popularity of the adult equivalent, now showing on cable television and even in a new film, Never Back Down.

Last month, CBS became the first of the big television networks to announce a deal to broadcast prime-time fights. Regardless of any psychological harm, medical experts believe young bodies cannot withstand the pounding.

"It's dangerous from a physical standpoint," said Dr Lisa Thorton, a paediatrician with the University of Chicago Hospitals.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...8/wcage128.xml

[Boxer]

.... and kids dont do this with boxing? F that the worst and i know from personal experiance WWF was what all the kids used to do when i was young, straight off the top turn buckle otherwise known as your mothers couch.

I hate articles like this, screw them MMA is unstoppable now and i wouldnt have it any other way.

[NaglfarCommando]

what about the kids in thailand?

[HahOranges]

What a stupid article. McCain doesn't have the stance on MMA as he used to.

And it's reaching children because their parents are morons.

[DSHO]

I was reading this shit in the paper today.

[Payday86]

There is always gonna be someone hating.

[ShogunOOORAH]

Originally Posted by NaglfarCommando

what about the kids in thailand?

Those are my little heroes. WAR THAI KIDS!

[iowejf]

It's not necessarily the negative coverage of mma right now that pisses me off so bad. It's the fact that every mainstream article I have ever seen has clearly been written by someone who has never watched three full fights in their life. The ignorance behind the blind condemnation is inexcusable. However, so is 6-year-old mma.