GRAPHIC - UFC’s Worst Injuries

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS isn't a sport for the faint-hearted, with fighters prone to suffering horrific cuts, broken limbss and concussions inside the cage.

Down the years, fighters competing in the Ultimate Fight Championship have sustained some of the most gruesome injuries broadcast on television.

Anderson Silva broke his shin in a fight with Chris Weidman
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Anderson Silva broke his shin in a fight with Chris WeidmanCredit: UFC
So SunSport thought it'd only be right to recap some of the worst injuries in the promotion's history.

Corey Hill vs. Dale Hartt at UFC Fight Night 16
The late Corey Hill was the first fighter to break their leg inside the octagon.

Moments after the start of the second round of his clash with Dale Hartt, Hill had a hard leg kick checked by his opponent.

His shin shattered upon impact, although the break was worsened when he tried to stand on the injured leg.

Hill collapsed and shuffled on the canvas in a bid to avoid follow-up shots.

The ref didn't initially see the break but eventually stopped the bout after UFC commentator Joe Rogan repeatedly screamed of 'stop the fight'.

The bout was Hill's last in the UFC, although he did successfully return to action two years later at Raging Wolf 6.

Hill fought a further 11 times, racking up four victories and suffering seven defeats.

He tragically passed away in May 2015 after suffering a collapsed lung and a heart attack.

Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen at UFC 159
Former pound-for-pound king, Jon Jones also suffered one of the most horrific injuries in UFC history - although he didn't even know it at the time.

At UFC 129, Jones scored a first-round TKO victory over Chael Sonnen to retain his light-heavyweight title.

But in the process, Bones dislocated his big toe.

At UFC 195, Jon Jones dislocated his big toe in his fight with Chael Sonnen
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At UFC 195, Jon Jones dislocated his big toe in his fight with Chael SonnenCredit: UFC
Somehow, Jones fought through the injury and even gave a post-fight interview as his toe was being tended to.

Rogan said: “You are a true champion for even attempting to make this work, while you deal with one of the nastiest foot injuries I’ve ever seen."

Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman at UFC 168
Future Hall-of-Famer Anderson Silva suffered the same fate as the late Hill in his eagerly-anticipated rematch with Chris Weidman at UFC 168.

The Brazilian's dream of becoming a two-time middleweight champion was shattered in the second round of their Las Vegas showdown when Weidman perfectly checked an inside leg kick.

In the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman at UFC 168, Silva throws a kick at Weidman, but it is blocked and as a result his shin breaks
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In the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman at UFC 168, Silva throws a kick at Weidman, but it is blocked and as a result his shin breaksCredit: UFC

Silva's left shin wrapped around the Serra-Longo MMA standout's leg and was like jelly when he tried to put weight on it.

Despite the horrific nature of the break, Silva returned to the cage a mere 11 months later.

The MMA legend has competed ten times since that fateful night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, eight times inside the cage and twice in the boxing ring.

Leslie Smith vs. Jessica Eye at UFC 180
In November 2014, Leslie Smith took on Jessica Eye in a bantamweight division fight in Mexico City.

Leslie Smith's left ear exploded during her bout with Jessica Eye at UFC 180
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Leslie Smith's left ear exploded during her bout with Jessica Eye at UFC 180Credit: UFC
The contest was a competitive affair until the second round.

Eye landed a nasty right hook on Smith’s left ear, causing it to explode with blood pouring on to the octagon floor.

The images of Smith’s open ear was stomach cringing. As a result, referee Herb Dean put an end to the fight.

Smith would step away from the octagon for more than a year following the injury, returning in March 2016.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Zhang Weili at UFC 248
In March 2020, Joanna Jedrzejczyk suffered one of the nastiest head swellings the sport had seen.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk suffered one of the nastiest head swellings in her fight against Zhang Weili at UFC 248
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Joanna Jedrzejczyk suffered one of the nastiest head swellings in her fight against Zhang Weili at UFC 248Credit: UFC
Facing Zhang Weili, the bout at UFC 248 went the distance with both fighters inflicting an insane amount of damage on one another.

In the fourth round, Jedrzejczyk’s forehead swelled up due to a hematoma injury following a flurry of punches.

Jedrzejczyk was badly hurt after her defeat to Weili Zhang at UFC 248
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Jedrzejczyk was badly hurt after her defeat to Weili Zhang at UFC 248

Following the injury, Jedrzejczyk returned to Poland to have plastic surgery and has since made a full recovery.

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