Episode 6: Mixed Martial Arts Sport Medics

Episode 6: Mixed Martial Arts Sport Medics

Author: Sport and Leisure Cultures Research Group October 9, 2020 Duration: 46:30

In this episode of Transforming Sport, I interview Sport and Leisure Cultures research group member Dr Alex Channon about his ongoing research with combat sport medics.  An expert in mixed martial arts and combat sport scholarship, and an avid practitioner, Dr Channon recently turned his attention to medical care, or lack thereof within combat sports. Here he discusses the importance of situating sport medics within the social, economic, and political frameworks which place pressures on combatants, sports organizers, coaches, broadcasters and medics to provide a spectacle for viewers, often at the expense of the health of athletes. Noting a lack of regulation for medical care by any governing body for MMA sport within the UK, Dr Channon discusses the variations in medical care, who is defined as a sports medic and what strategies medics use in what are often ethically fraught situations. Dr Channon has a recently published academic article in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 

He can be found on twitter at @DrAlexChannon, and his other research is accessible via his University of Brighton staff profile page: https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/persons/alex-channon


Hosted by the Sport and Leisure Cultures Research Group at the University of Brighton, Transforming Sport digs into the complex and often surprising ways athletics intersect with our everyday lives. Each conversation moves beyond scores and statistics to explore sport as a powerful social force, examining its relationship with politics, health, economics, and identity. The discussions, led by researchers and expert guests, are grounded in academic insight but focused on real-world implications. You’ll hear thoughtful analysis on how communities are built through leisure, how inequalities are both challenged and perpetuated on the field, and what the future holds for physical culture. This isn’t about predicting winners; it’s about understanding the deeper currents that shape why we play and watch. The central question throughout this podcast is how sport itself must adapt and evolve to meet the pressing challenges of our time-from climate change and technological disruption to ongoing fights for inclusion and fairness. By listening, you gain a clearer picture of the transformations already underway and the ones still desperately needed. Tune in for a nuanced perspective that treats sport not just as entertainment, but as a vital lens for examining contemporary society.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 16

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