Obtaining clearance

More info

To check if you currently appear on The Register see here

There are 3 Safe MMA ‘marks’ currently being used: M1, M3 & M5 Any time frame given below means that period (for example ‘1 year’) prior to the date of competition

PROFESSIONAL COMPETITORS

AMATEUR COMPETITORS

IMPORTANT NOTES

The doctor’s review of your blood test results should be EITHER in your Annual Medical Examination form OR on the one page Blood Test Review form – you do not need both! (*see Medical Forms)

All scan reports must be accompanied by an English language translation AND an MRI/MRA Scan Review form completed by a radiologist (*see Medical Forms)

Blood test results and medical forms MUST be emailed in scanned PDF form to: records@safemma.org

Registration must be arranged and all correctly completed documentation received at least one week prior to competition

A £35 late admin fee (£20 for amateur competitors) may be applied where registration or correct and complete documentation have not been received at least one week prior to competition.

HOW TO GET CLEARED IN 5 EASY STEPS

1. Join
2. Annual medical form
3. Annual medical examination & blood test

Book an appointment with your GP or a Safe MMA doctor in your area (*please note, those doctors listed in the SafeMMA doctors directory have previously shown a willingness to examine MMA fighters at competitive rates – they do not work for SafeMMA, and you are advised to check the rate before confirming any appointment)

Take your Annual Medical Examination form (along with your blood test pack, if you have ordered one) to your appointment, as well as Photo ID

If you are a M3 or M5 competitor, you will also need to book your eye examination with an optometrist and your brain scans at an imaging centre.

Some clinics offer the full Safe MMA examination packages and are listed in the SafeMMA doctors directory
4. Returning your documents

Email a copy of your Medical Examination form as a PDF to: records@safemma.org

If you are using a SafeMMA blood test pack, post your sample back to the laboratory using the pre-paid/addressed envelope (*the lab form must be completed by the medical professional taking your bloods and returned with the sample, and a copy of the completed form must be emailed to: records@safemma.org)

If your are NOT using a SafeMMA blood test pack, email a copy of your laboratory results as a PDF to: records@safemma.org (*these must be accompanied by a doctor’s review EITHER in your Annual Medical Examination form OR on the one page Blood Test Review form)
5. Results

FAQs

How long will it take?

It can take a few weeks to get a medical appointment, particularly with GPs, and then for everything to get cleared.

The cut-off date for fighter registration and for correctly completed documentation to be received is one week before your fight date. Exceptions are made for late replacements.

If your correctly completed documentation or registration is received after the cut-off date you may be charged a £35 late admin fee.
Cost

SafeMMA continued Membership

Amateur: £25 one-off joining fee, followed by a monthly subscription of £5.50

Professional: £40 one-off joining fee, followed by a monthly subscription of £8.50

SafeMMA fixed terms of Registration

Amateur: £50 for 6 months; £90 for 12 months*

*Please note that fixed fees for amateurs are currently being halved upon request if correct and complete medical forms have been received at least 2 weeks prior to competition!

Professional: £75 for 6 months; £135 for 12 months

SafeMMA Blood Test pack: £65 (*£80 for non SafeMMA registered/registering fighters **£65/£80 cost includes return postage (within UK) to the laboratory and subsequent analysis, however it is your responsibility to find a qualified medical professional to take your bloods)

Late admin fee: £35 (£20 for amateur competitors)

Note that your GP/doctor will also charge for your annual medical examinations
SAFE MMA Membership includes

FREE pre and post-fight medicals on Safe MMA shows covered by promotions.
Unlimited email support service (not consultation) on key next steps to take with infections or injuries after event or report.

Priority referral, best possible rates and booking to Sports Injury / Neurology / Plastics / Orthopaedics / Rheumatology / Physiology / Endocrinology / Ophthalmology experts and imaging centres within NHS or privately.

Unlimited email based reporting service to competitor’s Promotions to confirm ‘green light’ status for fights.
Confidentiality

Your personal and medical information is confidential.

In registering with SafeMMA you consent to your personal & medical information being shared for the purposes of SafeMMA compliance only with any member of the SafeMMA team and/or member Promotion.

The public database only lists fighters that are both registered and medically clear, along with any medical suspension periods. When a competitor’s membership expires, or if he/she is not cleared to fight, his/her name simply disappears from the list.

Data protection: The Centre for Health and Human Performance, which houses SafeMMA, is not only data protection registered but CQC Certified for the way in which its medical records are processed and stored. CHHP has also developed proprietary militarily grade encryption as security for all clinical data with two stage authentication for access.
What if their is an issue with my blood test results?

Your GP or a SafeMMA doctor will explain what the implications are if any of the test results or physical exam do not come back as expected as they may have an impact on you or your professional career.

Your GP or a SafeMMA doctor will inform you of your results in a private consultation or other communication.

SafeMMA will store your results on a secure, private health record database and not communicate any details of results to anyone without your express written permission.