Injuries are actually so common among Ultimate Fighting Champion Championship (UFC) fighters as mixed martial arts (MMA) is indeed a violent sport. They are often having to battle through problems leading up to a bout and even cope with those sustained in the Octagon itself. Minor cuts and also lacerations are commonplace in any MMA fight.
There is no surprise, that there have been some truly nasty-looking injuries suffered in the UFC over the years. All the fighters take brutal punches to the jaw, feel their eye sockets buckle under the force of elbows, get their joints wrenched. All of the injuries are so excruciatingly painful to watch for all the viewers. These are their 5 worst injuries.
1) Rich Franklin’s Broken Forearm Against Chuck Liddell
So what if blocking your opponent’s roundhouse kick leads to a broken arm? Just knock him out with your good arm! That’s exactly what Rich Franklin did at UFC 115. Chuck Liddell being past his prime and having a weak chin by then is the only reason this isn’t ranked higher.
2) Tim Sylvia’s Snapped Elbow Against Frank Mir
While defending his heavyweight crown, Tim Sylvia got caught in an armbar that appeared to snap his arm. Instead of begging the referee to stop the fight, he insisted that he was okay and even high-fived fans to prove it. Fortunately, referee Herb Dean would have none of it. A hospital x-ray revealed breaks in four different locations. A few weeks later, Sylvia tried his hand at a dating show and casually joked about the injury.
3) Matt Hughes’ Kneed Groin Against Frank Trigg
Accidental knees to the groin are a common occurrence in UFC bouts. The referee gives the victim some time to recover and then business resumes as usual. It wasn’t such a walk in the park for Matt Hughes. First of all, the referee didn’t notice what had transpired. To make matters worse, his opponent tagged him with punches as he tried to signal the referee. He soon found himself on the floor and about to be choked out. In one of the greatest comebacks of mixed martial arts history, Hughes’ opponent found himself losing hold of his victim, being lifted up, carried across the Octagon, slammed on his back, and choked out.
4) Chuck Liddell’s Torn MCL Against Tito Ortiz
It has recently been reported that the UFC is “plagued with injuries.” Media analysts, reporters, and fans have questioned whether some of the minor injuries would truly warrant withdrawing from a fight. Liddell suffered a torn MCL prior to his second bout with Tito Ortiz. Nobody wouldhim a coward for withdrawing from an injury of this magnitude. Yet, he still chose to fight and knocked out Ortiz for the second time.
5) Shane Carwin’s Loss of Vision Against Junior Dos Santos
Following a lopsided defeat to Junior dos Santos, Shane Carwin revealed that he was nearly blind going into Round 3. Cuts had forced blood to continuously roll over his eyes. He faked being okay when the ringside doctor examined him. Carwin’s rationale, given via Twitter, was that “I knew I was in deep trouble, but I also knew that all I needed was one clean shot”. This is reminiscent of the “Thrilla in Manila.” Decades after the legendary bout, sports analysts and writers remain divided on what the outcome would have been if Joe Frazier had come out for the last round. Frazier was legally blind in his left eye from an old training accident, and his right eye was nearly swollen shut from Ali’s punches. His trainer, Eddie Futch, humanely chose to throw in the towel.
Sources: Bleacher Report.