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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 10, 2006 There are ... rules? One popular misconception about cage fighting is that it seeks to recreate the anything-goes bloodbaths that took place in Roman coliseums 2,000 years ago. Believe it or not, there are rules and they are strictly enforced. So before you set out to meet your fate in the octagon, take a minute to review what you can't do. Head butt. Pull on small joints (i.e. fingers and toes). Bite. Gouge eyes or "fish hook" (i.e. stick a finger in the other guy's mouth and pull). Strike the groin, spine or throat. Pull hair. Kick opponent on the ground. Grab ropes/cage for any reason (three times is disqualification). Stomp the head. Strike the opponent's head on the ground with elbow. The question of safety inevitably comes up when discussing cage fighting. It's understandable considering how awful the violence looks when seen up close — blood is spilled, bones are sometimes broken, consciousness is lost, etc. However, there has only been one death attributed to mixed martial arts. A 31-year-old American man fighting in the Ukraine suffered a fatal brain injury, according to The Associated Press. Compare that with the 62 deaths attributed to boxing since 2000 and mixed martial arts seems relatively harmless. More cage fighting deaths could follow as more and more people take to the octagon. Advertisement Chael Sonnen, of Portland, who worked with the Oregon Boxing and Wrestling Commission to get cage fighting state sanctioning, said an ambulance or hospital has to be within six miles of the arena during a match. Coach Jake Porras said he has a doctor and an EMT at every fight at the Expo and all fighters are given a pre- and post-fight exam. "So far we've only had one serious injury," he said. "And that was a broken hand." The most serious injury in Oregon occurred in John Day, when a first-time fighter broke his neck earlier this year. He is expected to make a full recovery, according to a story in The Register-Guard in Eugene. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com