Atrocity in Alabama Could Become a Major Source of Negative Attention for MMA

With the UFC looking to clean up their image after getting a major network deal, this news item certainly won't help their cause.

Remember when the video of kids competing in a grappling contest made everyone believe children were competing in MMA? Well, this bit of news could be even bigger news if the video and story becomes widespread.

Cage Potato presented the story as their "Outrageous News of the Day."

Robert Clairday should be celebrating, as he became Alabama's first licensed promoter under the new Alabama Athletic Commission. Instead of worrying about other people fighting, Clairday and his business partner, Ray Echols, should be preparing for their own fight in the PR world.

Clairday actually held a bout in which two 12-year-olds competed in an MMA match. That's right, two 12-year-old kids competed with small four-oz. gloves in a cage.

Towards the end, you can see Christian Echols (son of Ray Echols, who plays the role of cornerman) reach for his head from an accidental headbutt. Christian stumbles around the ring in a manner that would suggest a concussion if he were playing a team sport.

Instead of being concerned for his own son, Ray attempts to tell his son that he's fine and prepares for another round.

The final clip of the fight has since been removed, but both children ended up going to the hospital and Christian received stitches for a gash that resulted from the headbutt. (CagePotato.com)

Here's an image of Christian's injury that his father ignored so that the 12-year-old would simply continue on.

The Alabama Athletic Commission was set up in order to regulate the sport of MMA in Alabama. New rules that helped to protect fighters (like blood tests) were set up for promoters to comply. Most promoters attempted to follow the rules, but Clairday and Echols clearly disregarded the rulebook.

In true jerk form, Echols made a statement to The Cullman Times about the unsanctioned events, events that he himself, of course, never put on.

“I personally wouldn’t have [fought on one of those unsanctioned cards] because I’m not willing to take that chance,” he said, ignoring the fact that he allowed his underage son to compete at one such event. “I’m not playing Russian roulette.”

He may not be playing Russian roulette, but the Alabama Athletic Commission is by letting these guys promote MMA shows with a track record of such a disregard for fighter safety.