UFC
The Most Brutal MMA Injuries Of All Time
Brutal MMA injuries. Photo via Instagram
You’re bound to see some gruesome injuries when the world’s best MMA fighters face off inside the cage.
During the past decades we’ve witnessed some of the nastiest, bloodiest and scariest things in the history of sport, including broken legs and deformed faces.
Let’s take a look at six of the most brutal MMA injuries of all time!
6. Matt Mitrione’s golf ball eye
Matt ”Meathead” Mitrione. Photo via YouTube
When Travis Browne finally finished Matt ”Meathead” Mitrione via a third-round TKO, Mitrione’s eye was one of the most visually disturbing things we’ve ever seen in the octagon.
After two vicious pokes and an accurate punch, the American looked like he had a golf ball glued to his right eye.
The swelling was caused by a broken orbital bone and Mitrione claimed that draining the eyelid was a ”not awesome” experience.
5. Conor McGregor’s broken leg
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sport
There is a good reason that UFC superstar Conor McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since July 2021.
The grueling injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy bout at UFC 264 was one of the worst we ever seen in the sport.
McGregor snapped his shin in half by the end of the first round of their fight as he took a step back. Painful to watch indeed!
4. Chris Weidman snaps leg in Florida
Photo: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports
Facing Uriah Hall in a rematch of their 2010 bout, the first kick Chris Weidman threw brutally broke his leg more or less in half – just 15 seconds into the fight.
Hall was visually bothered by the injury that reminded a lot about the injury that Anderson Silva suffered against Weidman, more than seven years earlier.
This is definitely not for the weak hearted!
3. Anderson Silva’s broken leg
Anderson Silva’s immediate rematch with rival Chris Weidman ended in an even more shocking fashion than the unexpected knockout in July 2013.
This time Weidman didn’t hesitate to deal with ”Spider’s” brutal leg kicks. By the end of the second round, the American checked a heavy kick and Silva’s leg just wrapped around Weidman’s shin like it was made out of rubber.
MMA fans all over the world were shocked by the gruesome injury that has become somewhat of a classic in combat sports.
2. Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s swollen head
Brutal MMA injuries. Photo via Instagram (@joannajedrzejczyk)
The best fight of 2020, and widely regarded as the best female MMA fight ever, was the extremely violent and entertaining clash between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248.
With Zhang’s power versus Jedrzejczyk’s precision, the fight was bound to be a banger, but turned out to be a helluva lot more. Brutal and violent – yes – but never a brawl.
Both strawweights took their time to really beat the living hell out of each other with perfect combinations and clean punches. After 25 minutes of action Jedrzejczyk‘s swollen head to a point where she was simply unrecognisable.
1. Cyborg Santos’ bashed head
The second Michael ”Venom” Page bashed Evangelista Santos head in with a flying knee, the Brazilian’s career was over.
A four hour operation saved Santos life but as a consequence of the severe injury, he retired from professional MMA a couple of months later.
Check out the brutal injury below if you dare!
Read more: Boxing Guide: Every World Heavyweight Champion between 1885-2024