Combat sports fans have been left feeling uneasy after watching the Run Nation Championship (RNC).
Co-founded by UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa, RNC is the latest organisation from New Zealand and Australia to transform the ‘run it straight’ game into a competitive promotion.
The controversial sport sees men across various weight classes run full pelt at each other with the sole aim of scoring a big hit knockdown.
Run it Straight Official and RUNIT Championship League are other promotions in the region with a similar format.
RUNIT adopts a two-round runner vs defender system (three for championship bouts), with two collisions per round.
The promotion states in its official rules that both athletes must stick to a straight line until the point of contact, tackle below the shoulders and enter contact with ball in hand if running.
There is a 30-second recovery period allowed between collisions and sudden death is used to decide a draw on judges’ scorecards.
Despite the sport being heavily criticised after a teenager died from head injuries suffered playing a non-competitive game with friends in New Zealand, the hard-hitting leagues seem to be ever-evolving.
Around 5,000 people packed into Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion to watch RNC’s latest event and footage from the show has caused quite the stir.
UFC stars react to Tai Tuivasa’s Run Nation Championship
