Given the intensity of mixed martial arts (MMA), the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has seen some horrific injuries throughout the years. Here are some of the worst UFC injuries that fighters have endured within the cage.
Anderson Silva’s Leg Break (2013)
Anderson Silva against Chris Weidman (UFC 168)
Injury: Silva’s leg snapped in half during a rematch with Weidman when Weidman checked a low kick he delivered. On contact, his tibia and fibula fractured, resulting in one of the most horrific injuries in UFC history.
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Conor McGregor’s Legbreak (2021)
Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier (UFC 264)
Injury: McGregor’s leg gave out in the first round as he took an awkward backward stride, resulting in a tibia fracture. The battle was instantly ended, and he was whisked away to surgery.
Corey Hill’s Leg Break (2008)
Corey Hill vs. Dale Hartt (UFC Fight Night 16).
Injury: Similar to Silva’s injury, Hill threw a kick that Hartt checked, resulting in a horrific leg break. His shin twisted terribly, sidelining him for over two years.
Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia (Arm Break, 2004)
Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia (UFC 48)
Mir trapped Sylvia in an armbar and fractured her arm, despite Sylvia’s best efforts to defend herself. The bout was halted by the referee, despite Sylvia’s first protests, since she did not realize the seriousness of the injuries.
Alistair Overeem’s Lip Split (2019)
Alistair Overeem vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (UFC on ESPN7)
Overeem suffered a nasty lip injury after Rozenstruik unleashed a huge blow in the fight’s dying seconds. Overeem’s top lip was completely split open, necessitating several sutures.
Matt Mitrione’s Eye Injury (2016)
Matt Mitrione vs. Travis Browne (UFC Fight Night 81)
Injury: Browne accidentally stabbed Mitrione in the eye many times throughout the bout, causing the eye to swell horribly. By the end of the bout, his eye appeared to be nearly closed.
Jon Jones’s Toe Injury (2013)
Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen (UFC 159).
Jones won the battle, but during his triumph, he dislocated and shattered his toe horribly. The damage was not discovered until after the battle when his toe had nearly separated.
Rory McDonald’s Nose Injury (2015)
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald (UFC 189)
Injury: MacDonald had a severely damaged nose as a result of Lawler’s continuous strikes. His nose was smashed, and the trauma rendered him unable to proceed into the fifth round.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s Arm Break (2011)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir (UFC 140)
Injury: Nogueira refused to tap despite getting trapped in a kimura by Frank Mir, resulting in a severe arm fracture. This injury was both unpleasant to behold and career-changing for Nogueira.
In 2013, Michael Bisping sustained a detached retina due to a head kick during a bout with Vitor Belfort. This incident had a long-term impact on Bisping’s vision, and he had to endure many surgeries before retiring with major eye damage. These injuries underscore the significant dangers that UFC athletes take every time they enter the octagon.
