Amputee's martial arts fight in Ala. stirs controversy

Kyle Maynard, who was born without elbows, hands, knees or whole feet, was a standout wrestler in high school and college. But his plan to fight in a mixed martial arts contest this Saturday in Auburn, Ala., has stirred controversy, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.

The debate, the newspaper says, is whether Maynard is "a legitimate contender or the too-trusting victim of a rogue promoter." Some critics also worry that he could be seriously injured.

The 135-pound Maynard was denied an MMA license in 2007 in his home state of Georgia. Alabama doesn't regulate the sport.

Maynard, an accomplished wrestler and motivational speaker, tells the paper that he thinks he has earned the right to compete:

"There have been a ton of sinister things said about me and about this fight, and I don't understand that. I don't know why I wouldn't be given a shot to show what I can do. I've trained with some of the best in the sport for this. I can protect myself -- it's hard to explain how, but if people come and watch, they'll see. This has gotten blown way up and I really don't think there would be so much talk if people just came and watched me fight."

The Advertiser quotes David Oblas, the fight promoter, as saying he not only believes Kyle won't be injured, "I believe he'll win."

For more on Kyle and video of him wrestling, go to one of the newest USA Today blogs, Fighting Stances, about Mixed Martial Arts.

(Photo by Todd Plitt, USA TODAY)
http://blogs.usatoday.com/.a/6a00d83451b46269e20115704ef942970b-200wi

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/04/amputees-martial-arts-match-in-ala-stirs-controversy.html


I'm guessing many of you have seen this guy on the late night news show circuit. Kind of an interesting situation.

I've read about his situation. It's inspiring to have someone who was chosen to LITERALLY be born with basically nothing, try and do something with their life. It's really sad to. You wonder why God decides to let rapists and crack dealers live healthy lives, while people are born like this and standup citizens are victimized by the second.

i can understand why he wants to compete, but it puts his opponent in a no win situation.

There is no way he can protect himself from strikes. He may be ok on the ground but anything else.....he's in trouble.

i can say that he has a potential.. you could not do submission on the guy..
im just worrying about blocking punches and kicks..

well if its his dream i say go for it..

lol. I'm sorry but I had to laugh. Just the thought that he really believes he could make something of himself as a fighter. Only way he wins anything is if his opponent is overcome by pity and quits or refuses to fight.

This guy is inspiration thats all i got to say!
I think he was in Oprah few years ago!

Who will be crazy enough to fight him?

I know this guy was successful in grappling tournaments but i could never hit someone amputee, i believe in God. If you have the nerve to kick him in the head, i would tell you are a piece of ****. But at the same time, he wants to be treated like any other fighter. Unfortunately that's impossible. Like StillUnknown said , it's a no win situation to fight him. If you win, people will say you are a coward and a son of *****. That could kill your career and there's no way the UFC signs a guy who was paid to beat up an amputee.
If you lose people are gonna mock you and say you suck cause you lose to someone who couldn't throw a punch or a kick.

I definitely support the guy, cause he has balls and is very deserving. If for some crazy reason he fights in MMA, i wish he wins.
I'm afraid that his fight becomes a freak show. Some rednecks who watch MMA may make fun of him. I hope it won't be the case.

KO via Soccer Kick

dude lost his fight by unanimous decision if anyone cares

http://www.sherdog.com/thumbnail_crop.php?image=http://www.cdn.sherdog.com/_images/pictures/20090425105536__MG_9685_copy.JPG&width_size=600

Honestly, past all the "Wow, how brave!" sympathy story bull****, part of this makes me really angry, because the whole thing this guy is banking on is that everyone will pity him too much to seriously fight him.

Honestly, past all the "Wow, how brave!" sympathy story bull****, part of this makes me really angry, because the whole thing this guy is banking on is that everyone will pity him too much to seriously fight him.
I don't buy that, the guy wrestled in college. He could be doing it for the publicity, but I get the impression that he's just trying to test himself like any other athlete.

Maynard stifled in debut, drops decision in Auburn Fight Night main event (http://mmajunkie.com/news/14694/maynard-stifled-in-mma-debut-drops-unanimous-decision-at-auburn-fight-night.mma)

Despite all the hype, all the questions, all the concerns of safety and regulations heading into the professional MMA debut of congenital amputee Kyle Maynard, the final product failed to answer many questions other than, "What happens if Maynard can't take his opponent down?"

The inspirational former high school wrestler and ESPY award winner for Best Athlete with a Disability may be forced to recognize his limitations in MMA following a unanimous-decision loss in the main event of Saturday's Auburn Fight Night in Auburn, Ala.

The card was held at the Auburn Covered Arena and was broadcast live on an internet pay-per-view broadcast.

Described by event commentators as having a "tin roof, barn next to us, a little hay and no poop on the floor," the venue had a dirt floor, a square cage and a hammer and a metal pipe serving as the official bell.

But when congenital amputee Kyle Maynard made his way to the cage, the focus went from the shortcomings of the facility to the challenges of the main event fighter.

Although not part of the original plan, Maynard did not wear gloves to the cage. Commentators blamed humidity as a potential culprit, citing a difficulty in securing the gloves to Maynard's appendages. As such, Maynard was ruled unable to throw strikes with his genetically shortened arms.

Maynard was carried in on the back of his cornerman to a loud ovation from the gathered crowd, but it was the last positive moment for the Georgia resident.

While the crowd in attendance was obviously disappointed at the course of action, Maynard's opponent, Bryan Fry, stuck to an effective gameplan. Refusing to go to the floor with Maynard, Fry played matador to his opponent's charging bull – backing away from Maynard's repeated takedown rushes while peppering his face with jabs.

Maynard's face showed obvious frustration at the end of the opening round, and Fry refused to back down from the strategy.

Maynard frantically picked up the pace in spots, but he simply could not close the distance on his opponent and work the fight to the mat. Maynard's inability to strike had little impact on the outcome, and the debuting fighter dropped a unanimous decision.

The two combatants hugged briefly following the announcement, and Fry – understandably competing in a no-win situation – offered a show of support before exiting the cage to a chorus of boos.

Maynard, who will certainly need to go back to the drawing board should he choose to continue an unsanctioned MMA career, held on to his trademark class when addressing the crowd following the contest.

"Thank you guys for coming out and supporting this," Maynard said. "This was one of my biggest dreams, and I fell short tonight."

Video Fight (http://www.mmaphilippines.net/forum/index.php?topic=173.0)