THE UFC TREATMENT ROOM – HERE ARE THE OCTAGON’S WORST INJURIES AND HOW THE ATHLETES RECOVERED

Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with organisations such as the UFC, One Championship, and Bellator leading the way for athletes looking to make it to the top.

Incorporating a wide range of combat sporting skills, current MMA organisations boast expert practitioners in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Karate and Muay Thai. With all of these threats to navigate on your way to getting your hand raised, injuries are part and parcel of an MMA athletes career.

888Sport have taken a look at some of the most infamous injuries sustained in the Octagon, and which injuries are common practice.

Conor McGregor – In his 2013 bout against the now UFC legend, Max Holloway, Conor McGregor tore his ACL on his way to a unanimous points victory. Notorious returned to the Octagon in just eleven months, before rising to stardom.

Dustin Poirier – Following his unsuccessful undisputed UFC title bid against Khabib Nurmagamedov, Dustin Poirier underwent surgery to repair a chronic hip injury. Since then, The Diamond is 2-0, most recently stopping Conor McGregor in the 2nd round of their 2nd fight.

Anderson Silva – Challenging for the Middleweight Championship of the World in 2013, Anderson Silva threw a leg kick, which was checked by the Champion, Chris Weidman. The result was horrible, with Silva breaking his left fibula and tibia, ending the fight via TKO. Previous to this fight, Silva boasted a record of 33-5. Following this injury, Silva went 1-5 (1NC).

Chris Weidman – In an incredible twist of fate, Weidman, who checked the leg kick resulting in Silva’s injury, was on the receiving end earlier in 2021. Uriah Hall’s checked the very first strike in the fight, which saw Weidman shatter his tibia. Weidman is in a battle to save his career, after initial fears of possible leg amputation.

Belal Muhammad – One recognizable feature in MMA, is the gloves worn by the fighters. With the fingertips exposed, fighters have to contend with eye-pokes. Illegal in the sport, eye pokes are often an accidental consequence of the glove design. Belal Muhammad fought welterweight challenger, Leon Edwards in March, and the fight being called off in Round 2, due to an accidental eye poke from Edwards, which left Muhammad unable to continue. However, he luckily suffered no permanent eye damage, and won his return fight at UFC 263.

Mike Bisping – Unlike Muhammad, UFC Hall of Famer, Michael Bisping didn’t escape the Octagon without permanent eye damage, following his fight with Victor Belfort. Bisping suffered a detached retina after a KO defeat, via head kick from Belfort. Bisping was able to continue his career despite the injury, capturing UFC gold on the way, but his vision never returned in his right eye, and since his retirement, he now wears a glass eye.