Dubai-based fight sports activities promotion M2MMA is advancing its mission to determine stronger security protocols in skilled preventing as scrutiny round head harm administration intensifies throughout contact sports activities globally. The shift comes following a severe incident involving Tongan rugby worldwide Eli Katoa, who underwent emergency mind surgical procedure in November 2024 after sustaining a number of head impacts throughout a single match, highlighting the necessity for constant medical oversight in high-impact athletics.
M2MMA
Katoa’s case presents a warning for fight sports activities particularly. Throughout warm-ups earlier than a Pacific Championships match in opposition to New Zealand, the 25-year-old Melbourne Storm ahead collided with teammate Lehi Hopoate, leading to a major affect to the pinnacle. Regardless of displaying indicators of disorientation, medical workers cleared him to play. He then sustained two extra head impacts in the course of the match, one on the nine-minute mark and one other shortly thereafter.
He was faraway from the sector following the second incident, however his situation deteriorated whereas seated on the bench. He skilled seizure exercise, was administered oxygen, and underwent pressing surgical procedure for a brain bleed that night. He stays in secure situation.
Chris Cannon, Basic Supervisor, M2MMA, stated:
“The scenario with Eli Katoa is a strong reminder of the stakes in touch sports activities. Relating to mind well being, there have to be no hesitation and no assumptions. Fight sports activities have an obligation to guide. Our focus is to make sure athletes are assessed, monitored, and guarded with the best stage of care, and that we proceed evolving greatest practices that not solely shield their long-term well being but in addition facilitate peak efficiency.”
In contrast to most sports activities, the place unintended head contact is prevented, fight sports activities deliberately contain head strikes, inserting athletes in a essentially completely different threat class. Coaching, struggle preparation, competitors, and restoration all require structured medical oversight that prioritizes long-term athlete well being over short-term competitors targets.
Persistent traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has grow to be central to fight sports activities dialogue. The situation, a progressive neurodegenerative illness linked to repeated head trauma, presents with signs together with reminiscence loss, behavioral modifications, aggression, government dysfunction, and melancholy. Neuropathologically, CTE includes cerebral atrophy, intensive neurofibrillary tangles, and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Analysis exhibits CTE happens most incessantly in athletes uncovered to repetitive head impacts, together with boxers, soccer gamers, ice hockey gamers, rugby gamers, and combined martial artists.
A shift in athlete conduct displays rising consciousness. UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has publicly decreased sparring, citing mind preservation as central to his coaching technique. He said throughout a 2021 post-fight press convention, “You solely have one mind. Protect it.” Holloway defined that he performs no laborious sparring and avoids head strikes throughout coaching, arguing that fighters have already skilled sufficiently earlier than competitors.
Champion fighter Ilia Topuria has adopted data-driven preparation strategies. Topuria’s workforce assigns numerical values to completely different zones inside the octagon and tracks opponent strike patterns by location, constructing strategic plans to neutralize most well-liked preventing positions. Past competitors evaluation, Topuria incorporates restoration applied sciences, together with mind photobiomodulation gadgets like Vielight’s Neuro Duo, which makes use of focused mild remedy to help neurological perform and assist restoration from head trauma.
M2MMA‘s operational framework addresses these considerations instantly. The group has staged two occasions in Phuket, Thailand, that includes athletes with expertise in main world promotions, together with ONE Championship, UFC, PFL, and WBC title environments. The promotion has now appointed Reynold Andika Pratama as Vice President of Wearable Intelligence and Utilized AI Programs Engineering.
Pratama holds a grasp’s diploma in engineering and has over eight years of expertise managing advanced expertise packages throughout Southeast Asia and the UAE, with experience in hardware-software integration and enterprise-scale digital transformation throughout greater than 180 websites.
Tiago Henriques, EMEA Head of AI and ML at Google Cloud and M2MMA Advisor stated:
“We’re dedicated to a research-driven strategy. The precedence proper now’s guaranteeing knowledge high quality, implementing security frameworks, and growing evidence-based options in order that fighters and medical groups can profit from correct info. The work takes time, however the finish objective is evident. We need to help athletes with expertise that enhances their well being, decision-making, and longevity within the sport.”
At M2MMA, Pratama leads the event of clever wearables and sensor platforms for fight sports activities. The mandate contains sensor-integrated gear, developed in collaboration with Inexperienced Hill Sports activities, in addition to good mouthguards, biometric sensors, and efficiency monitoring gadgets that stream real-time affect analytics, cognitive and physiological indicators, and customized coaching suggestions to medical groups and athletes. Information will likely be time-synced to the bout clock, verified on-chain for integrity, and routed by means of privateness controls.
Preparations are underway for M2MMA’s subsequent occasion in 2026, the place the promotion plans to introduce up to date medical protocols. These will embrace extra detailed pre-fight assessments, improved oversight throughout occasions, and structured post-fight follow-up to make sure athletes obtain acceptable medical help.
Adrian Maizey, CEO of Rand Capital Espresso, Skilled in Monetary and Information Analytics, M2MMA Advisor defined:
“That is about constructing a wiser and extra fashionable fight sports activities ecosystem. Jeff’s ambition and willingness to disrupt conventional pondering are compelling. Whenever you mix robust expertise perception with a real dedication to athlete welfare and efficiency, you will have the muse for one thing particular.”
Chris McCormack, Two-time Ironman World Champion and M2MMA Advisor added:
“In elite sport, preparation and safety are every thing. Athletes carry out at their greatest once they belief the programs round them. Our objective is to equip fighters with instruments and help that assist them perceive their our bodies and their restoration, to allow them to step into competitors at their peak and with confidence of their wellbeing.”
M2MMA additionally stands aside from conventional struggle promotions as a publicly traded firm within the USA beneath the ticker image $RLAB, providing fight sports activities followers and traders a uncommon alternative to take part instantly in supporting the group’s development and its mission to guard athletes.
Below the management of CEO Jeff Robinson, M2MMA has assembled an advisory board consisting of specialists from elite sports activities, AI engineering, and world expertise sectors. The board consists of Tiago Henriques, Head of AI/ML Know-how Observe for Google Cloud EMEA; two-time Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack; Adrian Maizey, funding chief credited with increasing Starbucks operations in South Africa; Olympic silver medalist and Commonwealth Video games gold medalist John Steffensen; and blockchain professional Gary Zavaleta.
