I spoke to major commission members. No one I talked to is aware of any regulatory body that has developed training or best practices for cornering in combat sports.
No wonder so many don't realize they're supposed to also be health advocates:
Every time one of these controversies happens, the accused parties claim either their fight expertise or special nature of their relationship with the fighter. And on those levels, no one can offer much criticism.
But basically no one has had formal training *on how to corner*.
I'm told by some commission members in big states this may soon change, at least in terms of direction on best practices in cornering.
Right now in MMA, cornering is pit crewing. New tires, full tank of gas, get back out there. Few accept or understand the health advocate role.
Some outright reject it. How can there be a health role if they're sending ppl there to FIGHT?
But the reality is we do this *all the time* in combat sports.
It's why we have weight classes
It's why boxers no longer have 15 rounds
It's why commissions approve bouts
And so on.
The truth is cornering is exceedingly difficult. It's a really difficult job that requires fight knowledge, competitive guidance and so much more.
Because it is so difficult, that's precisely why formalized training around it is so badly needed.
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