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Should Arlovski retire? Arlovski has been to the mountain top and has nothing left to prove in MMA. During his career, he has been knocked out in roughly a third of his fights (seven knockout losses in in 24 fights) and has lost three of his past four contests by way of highlight-reel KO. The answer to this question is painfully clear.
But since a doctor cannot force an athlete to retire (but can certainly suggest it), let me address this question from a slightly different and more appropriate perspective. Should Arlovski be medically cleared to fight again?
Absolutely not.
Since January 2009, Arlovski has suffered three documented major concussions (to Emelianenko, Brett Rogers and now Sergei Kharitonov). Many other minor concussions went unnoticed, and any fighter is going to take countless routine blows to the head during sparring and training.
Ongoing research suggests that repetitive blows to the head (including those that do not produce concussions or any symptoms at all) are cumulative in nature and can be injurious to the brain. This battered brain syndrome is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and is very serious.
A prudent doctor and athletic commission will have a very difficult time ignoring the cumulative brain trauma sustained throughout Arlovski's career and the growing mountain of evidence related to CTE.
But since a doctor cannot force an athlete to retire (but can certainly suggest it), let me address this question from a slightly different and more appropriate perspective. Should Arlovski be medically cleared to fight again?
Absolutely not.
Since January 2009, Arlovski has suffered three documented major concussions (to Emelianenko, Brett Rogers and now Sergei Kharitonov). Many other minor concussions went unnoticed, and any fighter is going to take countless routine blows to the head during sparring and training.
Ongoing research suggests that repetitive blows to the head (including those that do not produce concussions or any symptoms at all) are cumulative in nature and can be injurious to the brain. This battered brain syndrome is called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and is very serious.
A prudent doctor and athletic commission will have a very difficult time ignoring the cumulative brain trauma sustained throughout Arlovski's career and the growing mountain of evidence related to CTE.
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