The Doggy Bag: The ‘Not This Again!’ Edition

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Is there any sense that the training taking place in major gyms is part of what is causing so many injuries? With so many marquee fighters in so many gyms, isn’t it reasonable that people would be getting hurt, even if it’s just sparring or grappling? Also, the work ethic that makes guys champions in MMA could also work against them if they are fanatics about training. -- Chris from Arcata

Brian Knapp, features editor: Whenever violence is a pillar of a given sport, injuries are sure to follow. Ask the National Football League, where stars often drop like flies.

The answer to both of your questions is yes. This is not the MMA world in which many of us grew up. Money, fame and risk have entered the equation in a significant way, as have the resulting consequences. Fighters now look upon the sport as a career, not just an avenue through which to make a little extra money on the weekends. With so much on the line professionally and financially, fighters have continued to press the limits in training and they have continued to injure themselves -- at an alarming rate. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo and former light heavyweight titleholder Quinton “Rampage” Jackson were the latest victims, their withdrawals casting a pall over UFC 153 in Brazil.

While the recent rash of injuries has left the sport in a serious funk, no one can blame fighters for pushing the envelope in training or bowing out of an event if they believe they are injured badly enough. They have too much riding on each appearance. Can a happy medium be struck somewhere? Only time will tell.

In short, the UFC has grown too fast for its own good. In 2012, it plans to promote 31 events -- three more than it promoted in 2005 and 2006 combined. With nearly three shows a month, matchmakers have precious little flexibility when it comes to securing suitable replacements for injured fighters, particularly in the coveted headline and co-headline slots. We have seen it play out time and time again over the past month, the situation reaching a tipping point with the embarrassing cancellation of UFC 151 on Sept. 1.

The UFC has either maintained or increased its schedule load every year since 2004, when it only promoted five shows. That number moved to 10 in 2005, 18 in 2006, 19 in 2007 and 20 in 2008. The promotion and its broadcast partner, Fox, have now pushed the sport beyond its limits. Unfortunately, there appears to be no end to the ambition, the human body be damned.

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