Controversy Surrounding Transgender Fighter Alana McLaughlin's Victory In MMA
JAKARTA - The debate around transgender athletes is heating up again after Alana McLaughlin's impressive win on her MMA debut.
Prior to changing genders, McLaughlin was a soldier serving with American Special Forces. This certainly prompted some social media users and even fellow fighters to question McLaughlin's legitimacy to compete in the women's MMA sector.
The US fighter defeated Celine Provost by submission in just over three minutes in Miami last weekend.
After his victory, he wore a t-shirt with the message "end the trans genocide".
People keep asking me where they can get the End Trans Genocide shirt that @AlanaFeral and I wear. You can purchase this historic shirt through @drklghtclothing Just follow the link below! https://t.co/mXi05OKzn3 pic.twitter.com/DucmUHUh5s
— Fallon Fox (@FallonFox) September 14, 2021
Launching MARCA, Friday, September 17, before the fight, McLaughlin passed all the necessary medical tests, including hormone tests.
The 38-year-old used social media to defend himself from critics, who he felt were disrespectful to his opponent.
"Good morning, friends, supporters and more! I get many variations of the same malicious message calling me a cheater like I wasn't just beaten for a round and a half," chirped McLaughlin.
“All of you should show respect to Celine Provost and turn your attention elsewhere.
"He almost finished me more than once, and on the scorecard he definitely won that first round. This is the only post I'm going to make about this. Transphobes just made my block hand stronger."
Good morning, friends, supporters and others! I'm getting a lot of variations of the same nasty messages calling me a cheater like I didn't just get beat on for a round and a half. Y'all need to show Céline Provost some respect and take your concern trolling elsewhere. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/GFhk55YeJm
— Alana McLaughlin🏳️⚧️ (@AlanaFeral) September 11, 2021
Accompanying the message, he posted a selfie in which his face was battered, showing that it was a tight battle until he finally won.
Among the critics were UFC fighter Sean O'Malley and MMA podcaster Angel David Castro.
Alana McLaughlin transitioned 5 years ago, which means that “she” lived 33 years of her life as a man. Tonight, McLaughlin fought and beat a biological woman… what a shockThis is nonsense @combateglobal #combateglobal #mma #transmma pic.twitter.com/S25PuuUn4O
— Angel David Castro (@AngelD_Castro) September 11, 2021