![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/990861e5c791de7f421ad8d49b759435.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nA NSW parliamentary inquiry has heard that controversial emerging combat sports, notorious for head-injury risks, are prepared to accept regulation, despite some medical experts calling for them to be blacklisted entirely.<\/p>\n
NSW Sport Minister Steve Kamper referred activities like collision running, bare-knuckle boxing, and competitive slapping to a committee to investigate if they should be brought further under the control of the state’s Combat Sport Authority (CSA).<\/p>\n
On Friday, CSA chair Darren Kane told a hearing that the sports should be subject to stronger controls.<\/p>\n
“These sports are dangerous, there’s no way of hiding behind that \u2026 but rugby league’s dangerous, and cricket’s dangerous, thoroughbred racing is dangerous,” he said.<\/p>\n
“There’s a very good reason why an ambulance follows every race around the inside of a racetrack, to make sure that they’re on hand if a jockey falls off.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Darren Kane says the sports should be subject to stronger controls. (Supplied: NSW parliament)<\/p>\n
Under heavy scrutiny at the hearing was collision running \u2014 where two athletes run at each other and collide.<\/p>\n
Neurologist Rowena Mobbs urged the committee to ban the sports being investigated, due to risks of brain injury like concussion, especially in collision running.<\/p>\n
“I cannot see that it’s a fundamental activity of a human to run at a brick wall, let alone a brick wall coming at you,” Dr Mobbs said.<\/p>\n
“I just can’t see any sense in that.”<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/03a7f83d732599d53eb0cc5603748362.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Rowena Mobbs told the inquiry that the sports carry the risk of traumatic brain injury. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)<\/p>\n
Organisers from the Run Nation Championship (RNC), a prominent collision running event, did not participate in the inquiry, nor did power slap organisers.<\/p>\n
Mr Kane noted in his evidence that RNC had been working collaboratively with the CSA for an upcoming planned event in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Boxing offshoot<\/p>\n
The organisers of two fight groups gave evidence at the hearing \u2014 GTG Fight Club and Bare Knuckle Australia (BKA).<\/p>\n
BKA spokesman Michael McConnell said there was reluctance in the community around regulation, but that it would be necessary to continue growing the sport.<\/p>\n
“We can do this safely, and everyone can be looked after in the best way possible,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I think having these regulations is essential for this sport to not just survive but thrive and transcend and elevate to the next level.”![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/92fa921ac940c8118fecc201cb9ae128.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Michael McConnell hopes that any regulations are developed fairly and collaboratively. (ABC News: Daniel Irvine)<\/p>\n
BKA said their bouts included vetted fighters, who were matched up by weight class and had their abilities assessed through gloved-up test fights.<\/p>\n
The fighters were then paired up and fought without traditional boxing gloves.<\/p>\n
BKA co-founder Randall Rayment said he was hesitant about regulation and wanted governments to “back off”.<\/p>\n
But he said he wanted the government to understand the positive outlet that bare-knuckle-style boxing could be for men who wanted a controlled environment to express themselves.<\/p>\n
Harm minimisation<\/p>\n
Organisers of the sports being examined have claimed the presence of medical staff at events was a harm-prevention strategy.<\/p>\n
But in her evidence, Dr Mobbs refuted that argument.<\/p>\n
“I state that no doctor on the sideline will be able to modify the risk of traumatic brain injury in either collision sports or power slap,” she said.<\/p>\n
![\"three](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/962a7bb7c5447bec17f46db1d6a29d79.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n