@Smallgoon
Would the people in this thread disgusted by the skull fracture, be just as disgusted if it was at the hands of a cis woman? I only ask because it seems a lot of you aren't aware of the lack of rules around MMA fighting. It is utterly horrific full stop. Female fighters have broken other female fighters arms during these fights, as this is allowed within the rules. The rules stipulate that until somebody "taps out" they are fair game.
Seems that the disgust is solely because a trans woman won the fight, rather than the fact that MMA is a vile contact sport which shouldn't exist full stop.
There are rules in MMA and it's untrue that someone has to tap out to avoid injury. If the ref sees someone is in a dangerous spot and unable to defend they stop the fight.
These decisions are often contentious and any ref having to take this kind of fight is also having to risk criticism if they make a decision that leads to serious injury.
I train with UFC athletes and fighters on the biggest European promotions (fights have been going ahead through the pandemic) and match ups are known ahead of time unless its an interclub, which aren't happening atm anyway. If the fact than Fallon is trans wasn't known then nobody was making an informed decision on accepting the fight - we'd base a decision by looking at the opponents area of expertise (are they a grappler or a striker, orthodox or southpaw stance etc) and their 'walkaround weight' (so whether they are always close to fight weight or much heavier). There are enough variables even between female fighters.
MMA is not boxing. You can be taken down, thrown like you see in wrestling, and your opponent can strike with knees and elbows whilst you're on the ground. There are rules around the types of strike that are legal according to whether you're on the ground or standing, whether your hands are down etc. Its not a complete free-for-all and I've seen more injuries from weightlifting and football than I have in MMA. I realise it looks bloody but it's a lifeline for the young people I train with.
Women struggle enough in these sports as it is, we put up with constant sexual banter and there are only 3 female fighters in my team, including me.
I weigh 45kg and spar against men who weight 80+kg but who cut weight down to low 70s. They can throw me around like a rag doll. After a weight cut (often not done with diet alone but also by flushing the body with litres of water a day, which works differently with male hormones).
They eat and hydrate after weighing in and sometimes come out to fight with an extra 5+kg added. This makes a huge difference, especially when combined with testosterone and the other male advantages.
Overall my sport is about respect, you may trash talk but after the fight you show respect to your opponent because you both understand what it takes to get there. Fallon is the antithesis of everything we do in MMA IMO, the way Fallon talks is hugely disrespectful to female athletes. All my coaches and team mates think it's disgusting this was allowed to happen.