Latest news with #combatSports
The Sun
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
UFC icon Randy Couture ‘rushed to hospital by helicopter with serious burns and injuries after a horror race car crash'
MMA SHOCK The MMA legend is also dealing with the effects of smoke inhalation , Senior Digital & Print Combat Sports Reporter UFC icon Randy Couture was airlifted to an emergency burns unit after a nasty crash at a race track. The former two-division champion has pivoted to racecar racing in recent years and was set to make his National Hot Rod Association debut this year. 1 But 'The Natural' ended up being involved in a crash on Tuesday, which left him with first and second-degree burns, during a practice run at a track in Kansas City. The 62-year-old's car was rushed to the nearby burns unit, where he currently remains, after completely wrecking his car. According to TMZ, Couture is expected to make a full recovery. Couture recently spoke of his excitement with his latest post-fighting venture. The former American army ranger said: "This is a new way to tickle that competitive spirit that I've had most of my life. "A new place for me to get competitive and make a mark in racing." "I'll bring all the things I developed as a wrestler and martial artist into this realm and see what we can do. "I have no idea how it's going to go, but I'm excited about the opportunities." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Combat sports review after death of kickboxer, 15
A review of the safety of children who compete in combat sports has been ordered by the government following the death of a 15-year-old world kickboxing champion. Alex Eastwood, from Fazakerley in Liverpool, died on 29 June 2024, three days after he collapsed following an unsanctioned charity fight against a 17-year-old opponent in Wigan, Greater Manchester. Advertisement Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock told MPs that Sport England would work with the martial arts sector to identify safety improvements and present a plan "in the coming months". She was responding to calls for better regulation of martial arts competitions from Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden, who is supporting Alex's parents. 'Safeguarding failures' Carden said he had called the debate in the House of Commons with "a heavy heart" and that "Alex's death was not simply a tragic accident but a preventable loss" which had "highlighted a dangerous gap in our duty to protect children". Advertisement Alex's father Stephen Eastwood and step-mother Nikita were in the public gallery to hear the debate. Speaking outside Parliament while holding a photograph of his son, Mr Eastwood said several safeguarding failures had come to light during Alex's inquest. He said parents often "assumed" sporting events were sanctioned and regulated, but that had not been the case with the charity fundraiser fight at TKMA Gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan. Mr Eastwood said he and his wife had fallen "victim" to the assumption "that everything was above board - we assumed that everything was in place". Advertisement He said it was only during last month's inquest that the family had discovered "that wasn't true". Alex Eastwood's death has been described by an MP as "not simply a tragic accident but a preventable loss" [Family handout] Mr Eastwood said he would not like to see kickboxing banned for children since "it helps keep them off the streets, it helps tackle obesity, it's good for mental awareness [and] it gives them a springboard going into future life". But he said there needed to be better safeguarding, first aid facilities and medical care available. Mr and Mrs Eastwood are due to meet Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy on Monday and will ask her to implement "a minimum standard for gyms that have children in", including "proper DBS checks and proper safeguarding". Advertisement Mrs Eastwood urged other families involved in kickboxing to ask questions of the venues where their children train and compete. She said: "Ask, is this a regulated gym? Where are your DBS checks? Who's your health and safety officer? Who's your safeguarding coach?" She suggested that gyms could also display this information on their walls. Peacock said her department and Sport England would work together to develop guidance for the martial arts sector and review safeguarding codes to ensure they were fit for purpose. She said Sport England would also work with the children's charity NSPCC to help educate parents and carers on what to look for when considering martial arts tuition. Advertisement Peacock said her department was also exploring ways to strengthen safety standards in clubs and competitions that are not affiliated with national governing bodies. She said conversations were also being had with the martial arts sector to understand how to help parents and carers be confident that their children are safe when participating. 'Unsanctioned and unregulated' Carden told the Commons the inquest into Alex's death heard that standards around safety, medical oversight and safeguarding varied widely, and in many cases were absent. He added: "If a match is unofficial or unsanctioned, there is no guideline minimum standard that must be met to provide safeguarding for a child participant, no minimum standard of medical support that might be required, no maximum rounds, no periods of rest, no welfare checks on participants, and no risk assessment and critical incident plan. Advertisement "It should stop us all in our tracks to learn that in this country, children can be placed in combat situations without clear, enforceable national protections." Carden said Alex's family had "done everything right - everything a loving family would do. They encouraged him to get involved in a range of sports and activities and supported him when it became clear that he had a talent for kickboxing". But he said "they and Alex were failed by a lack of safeguarding, responsibility and regulation". He told MPs: "Every single day, children up and down the country take part in activities like Alex did. They lace up gloves, put on headgear and step into training halls and rings, with no minimum standards in place to ensure their safety." Advertisement He said parents like the Eastwoods would be oblivious to some of the risks of unsanctioned and unregulated bouts. Peacock said: "The coroner's report on the case of Alexander Eastwood highlighted specific issues around clubs and competitions that are not affiliated with a national governing body. We are now looking into that as a matter of urgency." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. More on this story Related internet links
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Combat sports review follows death of Liverpool kickboxer, 15
A review of the safety of children who compete in combat sports has been ordered by the government following the death of a 15-year-old world kickboxing Eastwood, from Fazakerley in Liverpool, died on 29 June 2024, three days after he collapsed following an unsanctioned charity fight against a 17-year-old opponent in Wigan, Greater Minister Stephanie Peacock told MPs that Sport England would work with the martial arts sector to identify safety improvements and present a plan "in the coming months".She was responding to calls for better regulation of martial arts competitions from Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden, who is supporting Alex's parents. 'Safeguarding failures' Carden said he had called the debate in the House of Commons with "a heavy heart" and that "Alex's death was not simply a tragic accident but a preventable loss" which had "highlighted a dangerous gap in our duty to protect children".Alex's father Stephen Eastwood and step-mother Nikita were in the public gallery to hear the debate. Speaking outside Parliament while holding a photograph of his son, Mr Eastwood said several safeguarding failures had come to light during Alex's said parents often "assumed" sporting events were sanctioned and regulated, but that had not been the case with the charity fundraiser fight at TKMA Gym in Platt Bridge, Eastwood said he and his wife had fallen "victim" to the assumption "that everything was above board - we assumed that everything was in place". He said it was only during last month's inquest that the family had discovered "that wasn't true". Mr Eastwood said he would not like to see kickboxing banned for children since "it helps keep them off the streets, it helps tackle obesity, it's good for mental awareness [and] it gives them a springboard going into future life".But he said there needed to be better safeguarding, first aid facilities and medical care and Mrs Eastwood are due to meet Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy on Monday and will ask her to implement "a minimum standard for gyms that have children in", including "proper DBS checks and proper safeguarding".Mrs Eastwood urged other families involved in kickboxing to ask questions of the venues where their children train and compete. She said: "Ask, is this a regulated gym? Where are your DBS checks? Who's your health and safety officer? Who's your safeguarding coach?"She suggested that gyms could also display this information on their said her department and Sport England would work together to develop guidance for the martial arts sector and review safeguarding codes to ensure they were fit for said Sport England would also work with the children's charity NSPCC to help educate parents and carers on what to look for when considering martial arts said her department was also exploring ways to strengthen safety standards in clubs and competitions that are not affiliated with national governing said conversations were also being had with the martial arts sector to understand how to help parents and carers be confident that their children are safe when participating. 'Unsanctioned and unregulated' Carden told the Commons the inquest into Alex's death heard that standards around safety, medical oversight and safeguarding varied widely, and in many cases were added: "If a match is unofficial or unsanctioned, there is no guideline minimum standard that must be met to provide safeguarding for a child participant, no minimum standard of medical support that might be required, no maximum rounds, no periods of rest, no welfare checks on participants, and no risk assessment and critical incident plan. "It should stop us all in our tracks to learn that in this country, children can be placed in combat situations without clear, enforceable national protections."Carden said Alex's family had "done everything right - everything a loving family would do. They encouraged him to get involved in a range of sports and activities and supported him when it became clear that he had a talent for kickboxing". But he said "they and Alex were failed by a lack of safeguarding, responsibility and regulation".He told MPs: "Every single day, children up and down the country take part in activities like Alex did. They lace up gloves, put on headgear and step into training halls and rings, with no minimum standards in place to ensure their safety." He said parents like the Eastwoods would be oblivious to some of the risks of unsanctioned and unregulated said: "The coroner's report on the case of Alexander Eastwood highlighted specific issues around clubs and competitions that are not affiliated with a national governing body. We are now looking into that as a matter of urgency." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
South China Morning Post
09-07-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
‘I couldn't play football, I preferred kicking rivals than ball'
Johanna Persson has always had a competitive streak – it just didn't always serve her well. 'I wasn't so good at football,' she said with a laugh. 'I was more into kicking my opponents than kicking the ball.' A few red cards later, the Swede finally found a better outlet for her aggression. On Saturday, the 30-year-old will challenge Allycia Hellen Rodrigues for the ONE atomweight Muay Thai world title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 33 at Bangkok's legendary Lumpinee Stadium. It will be her promotional debut and the biggest night of her career. Play 'Of course she's the best,' Persson said of Rodrigues. 'She's defended the belt four times.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nakisa Bidarian in studio, Joshua Van, Frank and Bella Mir, Butterbean and more
Ariel Helwani is BACK ... IN ... YOUR ... LIFE! Join "The Ariel Helwani Show" as Ariel and the Boys In The Back set the table for a monster weekend in combat sports at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/6 p.m. UK time live on Uncrowned and YouTube. Monday's rundown can be seen below. Advertisement 1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang react to the latest news — and our own Petesy Carroll joins us in-studio! 2 p.m. ET: Boxing legend Butterbean checks as our first guest of the week. 2:30 p.m. ET: Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and his daughter, Bella Mir, join the program following Bella's big win at UFC BJJ 1. 3:15 p.m. ET: No. 1-ranked UFC flyweight contender Joshua Van returns to talk his meteoric rise and preview his upcoming title shot against Alexandre Pantoja. 3:45 p.m. ET: Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian stops by in-studio ahead of Friday's blockbuster Netflix trilogy fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Advertisement Catch all new episodes of "The Ariel Helwani Show" live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on Uncrowned and The Ariel Helwani Show's YouTube page. To listen to every episode, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.
