Headgear doesn't stop CTE though.
@WahsaurusRex
Comparing the event to UFC or boxing are way different. Some of it you've already mentioned. People on the street doing dumb stuff is just that but you're not finding two teenage mates going full tilt boxing each other unlike this event.
Boxing and UFC have been around long enough that people understand these are professionals. Runit is a bunch of Muppets running at each other, promoted by other Muppets who care only about their own wallet.
If original UFC was as popular as it is today, you would also see lots of kids dying, but they now have lots of rules and regulations.
I haven't looked yup research but I am sure there is correlation between very popular events/shows and children copying them i.e. wwe wrestling, power rangers, manu world champs. How many schools banned power rangers "play"?