How disgusting? A new study commissioned by Stake revealed “alarmingly high microbial levels” during MMA training with some samples “testing dirtier than toilet seats.” That’s based on laboratory swabs taken from athletes who participated in one hour of training, which included grappling and MMA striking drills.
Bacteria resembling Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus were also detected, along with traces of fecal bacteria and E. coli-type bacteria, drawn from sweaty mats and shared equipment. In addition, wearing MMA gloves contributed to yeast and mold growing under the nails, a “mini petri dish on each finger.”
“Our eyes are extremely sensitive organs protected only by thin eyelids, antimicrobial tear fluid and a delicate tear film,” said Reynold Mpofu, a Microbiologist at BioLabs. “Eye gouging is incredibly dangerous and can lead to blindness or even loss of the eye. Combining eye gouging with dirty fingers is a recipe for disaster. Even outside the UFC, we see this risk. During the recent Wales vs. South Africa rugby match, a player was ejected for eye gouging. These incidents show how vulnerable the eye is and why hygiene matters.”