http://www.fightersonlymag.com/conte...censing-issues
No sooner has women’s MMA made it into the UFC than another boundary-pushing issue rears its head: transgender fighters.
A Sports Illustrated report this week highlights the curious case of Fallon Fox, a male-to-female transgender fighter who has gone 2-0 as a female, winning her second professional bout by way of 39-second knockout last Saturday.
It is nearly seven years since Fox underwent gender reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy. Fox’s next fight was to take place in April but now that she has revealed her transgender identity, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is reviewing her license.
Fox allegedly told Florida that she was already licensed by the California State Athletic Commission, when in fact her application is also under review there. And her CSAC application failed to disclose that she had undergone gender realignment surgery.
Her first professional fight took place on land owned by a native American tribe and thus was exempt from athletic commission oversight, as were her three amateur fights (all of which were won by way of first-round submission).
Fox now finds herself in limbo while Florida and California assess her application for a fighter license. But now that her transgender history is revealed, she can be sure that she will find it hard to secure opponents. Male musculature is generally stronger than the female equivalent and this is something potential opponents will be wary of, especially with this latest first-round KO.
What are your thoughts on the subject of transgender fighters, particularly in the field of male-to-females?
No sooner has women’s MMA made it into the UFC than another boundary-pushing issue rears its head: transgender fighters.
A Sports Illustrated report this week highlights the curious case of Fallon Fox, a male-to-female transgender fighter who has gone 2-0 as a female, winning her second professional bout by way of 39-second knockout last Saturday.
It is nearly seven years since Fox underwent gender reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy. Fox’s next fight was to take place in April but now that she has revealed her transgender identity, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is reviewing her license.
Fox allegedly told Florida that she was already licensed by the California State Athletic Commission, when in fact her application is also under review there. And her CSAC application failed to disclose that she had undergone gender realignment surgery.
Her first professional fight took place on land owned by a native American tribe and thus was exempt from athletic commission oversight, as were her three amateur fights (all of which were won by way of first-round submission).
Fox now finds herself in limbo while Florida and California assess her application for a fighter license. But now that her transgender history is revealed, she can be sure that she will find it hard to secure opponents. Male musculature is generally stronger than the female equivalent and this is something potential opponents will be wary of, especially with this latest first-round KO.
What are your thoughts on the subject of transgender fighters, particularly in the field of male-to-females?