MMAVu

The former ESPY Award winner for Best Athlete with a Disability dropped his MMA debut to Brian Fry last night.

In a strange twist, Maynard did not wear gloves in the cage, because due to the humidity in the air, organizers had trouble securing them to his shortened limbs…therefore, he was not allowed to strike. The Georgia Athletic Commission had refused to license him because they thought he could not properly defend himself from strikes.

His opponent, Fry, kept his distance and peppered Maynard with jabs, clearly holding back on his power. Maynard rushed and rushed, but Fry was too elusive to take down. In the end, Fry won a unanimous decision. I really hope this fight satisfied Maynard’s dream of fighting MMA and he doesn’t try it again. This was really the best possible outcome in this situation. Credit to Fry, who was in a lose-lose situation for using restraint and most of all, his common sense during the fight.

Maynard, in an amateur wrestling bout

Congenital amputee Kyle Maynard will make his mixed martial arts debut tonight, against Bryan Fry (0-2) at “Auburn Fight Night” Maynard was born with no hands and deformed feet just below the knees.

You can just imagine the brouhaha that has been raging back and forth about this fight. Maynard was initially denight a license by the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission back in 2007, so the fight was moved to Alabama, which has no governing body to regulate MMA. Sort of like Tim Sylvia taking on Ray Mercer. No sanctions? No problem. We’ll just move the fight.

In any event, Maynard is an incredible athlete, winning multiple awards in amateur wrestling. Both guys made weight yesterday, and the fight will be carried live on Internet pay-per-view for $14.95.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t like it at all. Maynard has no reasonable way to defend himself. When blocking punches and kicks, one usually uses a forearm or two, which Maynard has none. He cannot punch, he cannot kick. He wasn’t granted a license for a reason, and this is just a lose-lose situation for everyone.