Minister for Sport Shane Ross has vowed to take on MMA, and the various elements within the sport which he finds "disturbing."
The TD told the Irish Daily Mail that plans are in the pipeline for the sport to be properly regulated in Ireland following the tragic death of Joao Carvalho at a 'Total Extreme Fighting 1' event in Dublin back in April.
He also believes that stricter regulation would ensure there would be an absence of 'savagery' from the sport in Ireland.
Minister Ross said:
It should be at the very least, strictly regulated. I find some of the scenes in it quite disturbing.
We are looking at the regulation and how it should be regulated in my department at the moment.
I think the rules should ensure that there is an absolute absence of brutality or savagery or anything like it. We are reviewing this, to find the best way of regulating it to ensure it is as safe as any other sport.
In December, a post-mortem exam showed that Joao Carvalho died from an acute subdural haemorrhage caused by suffering blunt force trauma to the head.
Eventmed, the company which oversaw medical duties at the event during which Carvalho lost his life, maintain that they correctly followed all of the post-fight medical protocols.
Following Carvalho's death, the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation called for the Irish government and Sport Ireland to officially recognise the sport.
