Whereas the time period “freak damage” won’t be applicable to make use of when discussing a sport that’s inherently harmful, 14 UFC predominant occasions have led to unexpected accidents – damaged legs, separated shoulders, eye pokes, and so forth. – that don’t usually come within the sequence of MMA fight.

Scroll beneath to see a chronology of UFC predominant occasions that led to that nature.

Observe: Accidents sustained on a TKO resulting from strikes or tapout resulting from a submission are usually not included, nor are retirements on the stool resulting from prolonged combat injury or exhaustion. Laceration-based stoppages additionally are usually not included since they arrive as an intentional results of the opposition’s assault.

1

UFC 90: Patrick Cote suffers knee damage vs. Anderson Silva

CHICAGO- OCTOBER 25: Anderson Silva (L) wrestles with Patrick Cote within the Middleweight Title Bout at UFC’s Final Struggle Evening at Allstate Enviornment on October 25, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photograph by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Photographs)

Date: Oct. 25, 2008
Location: Chicago
Consequence: Anderson Silva def. Patrick Cote through TKO (damage) – Spherical 3, 0:39
Damage: All was going effectively for Patrick Cote in opposition to one of many future all-time greats till it wasn’t. One of many higher performances anybody has placed on in opposition to Anderson Silva ended with Cote holding his knee, down on the canvas resulting from a torn ACL.

2

UFC 163: Chan Sung Jung dislocates shoulder vs. Jose Aldo

Aug 3, 2013; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Jose Aldo (pink gloves) fights Chan Sung Jung (blue gloves) throughout UFC 163 at HSBC Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports activities

Date: Aug. 3, 2013
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Consequence: Jose Aldo def. Chan Sung Jung through TKO (strikes) – Spherical 4, 2:00
Damage: Shoulder dislocations occur in MMA, however none maybe in an even bigger second than Chan Sung Jung’s long-awaited first UFC title combat. Halfway by Spherical 4, Jung’s shoulder got here out of its socket after a punch try. Whereas the TKO win for Jose Aldo was dominated to have come from follow-up strikes, the shoulder dislocation was the rationale for Jung’s preliminary retreat – he tried to lodge it again into place – and subsequent cover-up. The damage was critical sufficient that Jung wanted surgical procedure. He tore it once more in 2021.

3

UFC 168: Anderson Silva breaks leg vs. Chris Weidman

Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva, UFC 168

Date: Dec. 28, 2013
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Chris Weidman def. Anderson Silva through TKO (damage) – Spherical 2, 1:16
Damage: In one of the grotesque and high-profile accidents in MMA historical past, Anderson Silva snapped his leg. A results of nice defensive method from Chris Weidman, a leg kick from “The Spider” backfired in horrific style. Silva’s leg shattered; he broke his tibia and fibula.

4

UFC Struggle Evening 74: Charles Oliveira suffers neck damage vs. Max Holloway

Date: Aug. 23, 2015
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Consequence: Max Holloway def. Charles Oliveira through TKO (damage) – Spherical 1, 1:39
Damage: In one of many more odd sequences in UFC historical past, Charles Oliveira grabbed his neck and went down in opposition to Max Holloway. As he rose to his ft in opposition to the cage, Oliveira grabbed his throat, seemingly untouched. Preliminary studies acknowledged Oliveira suffered an esophageal tear. Nevertheless, he lately revealed it was a reccurring neck damage that left his physique tingling.

5

UFC Struggle Evening 120: Anthony Pettis suffers rib damage vs. Dustin Poirier

Nov 11, 2017; Virginia, VA, USA; Anthony Pettis (blue gloves) leaves the combat in opposition to Dustin Poirier (pink gloves) throughout UFC Struggle Evening on the Ted Fixed Convocation Middle. Necessary Credit score: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports activities

Date: Nov. 11, 2017
Location: Norfolk, Va.
Consequence: Dustin Poirier def. Anthony Pettis through TKO (damage) – Spherical 3, 2:08
Damage: There are tight physique triangles after which there’s the one Dustin Poirier had Anthony Pettis in throughout their five-round light-weight predominant occasion showdown. With Poirier on his again, Pettis tried to show into his opponent. Nevertheless, Poirier slid into mount and within the course of, broke certainly one of Pettis’ ribs.

6

UFC Struggle Evening 159: Jeremy Stephens suffers eye damage vs. Yair Rodriguez

Sep 21, 2019; Mexico Metropolis, MEX; Jeremy Stephens (blue gloves) reacts after being poked within the eye by Yair Rodriguez (pink gloves) throughout UFC Struggle Evening at Mexico Metropolis Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports activities

Date: Sept. 21, 2019
Location: Mexico Metropolis
Consequence: No contest – Spherical 1, 0:15
Damage: In one of many extra memorable predominant occasion failures in UFC historical past (for all of the improper causes), Yair Rodriguez poked Jeremy Stephens within the eye 15 seconds into their predominant occasion conflict. Unable to see, Stephens couldn’t proceed. The bout was referred to as off. Mexican followers pelted the cage and Stephens with meals and drinks – which even induced UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald to cover below his desk. The matchup was rebooked for one month later in Boston. Rodriguez defeated Stephens by unanimous choice.

7

UFC Struggle Evening 178: Tyron Woodley suffers rib damage vs. Colby Covington

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 19: Tyron Woodley (R) reacts after struggling a rib damage in opposition to Colby Covington of their welterweight bout throughout the UFC Struggle Evening occasion at UFC APEX on September 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Date: Sept. 19, 2020
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Colby Covington def. Tyron Woodley through TKO (damage) – Spherical 5, 1:19
Damage: A dominant four-round displaying from Colby Covington was topped off by a fifth-round Tyron Woodley damage. What seemed like a standard takedown try induced Woodley to scream out in ache – and referee Dan Miragliotta to intervene. An X-ray later confirmed Woodley broke a rib.

8

UFC Struggle Evening 187: Belal Muhammad suffers eye damage vs. Leon Edwards

Date: March 13, 2021
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: No contest (unintentional foul) – Spherical 2, 0:18
Damage: An unlucky eye damage halted the most important combat of Belal Muhammad’s profession prematurely. Within the early levels of Spherical 2, Leon Edwards by chance poked Muhammad’s proper eye. The foul resulted in seen injury and the combat to be referred to as. Muhammad has since referred to as for a rematch, however has but to obtain it.

9

UFC 264: Conor McGregor breaks leg vs. Dustin Poirier

Jul 10, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor holds his leg after struggling an damage in opposition to Dustin Poirier throughout UFC 264 at T-Cell Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports activities

Date: July 10, 2021
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Dustin Poirier def. Conor McGregor through TKO (damage) – Spherical 1, 5:00
Damage: Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier – the rubber match. Who would’ve guessed it could finish in essentially the most high-profile leg break since Anderson Silva in opposition to Chris Weidman? However in MMA, count on the sudden. Late in Spherical 1, McGregor stepped again and his leg caved below him. In between rounds, McGregor was deemed unable to proceed – and for good purpose. He suffered a damaged tibia and fibula. Adamant on the stool the combat be stopped resulting from physician stoppage/damage fairly than “retirement,” McGregor bought his want.

10

UFC on ESPN 36: Aleksandar Rakic suffers knee damage vs. Jan Blachowicz

Date: Might 14, 2022
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Jan Blachowicz def. Aleksandar Rakic through TKO (damage) – Spherical 3, 1:11
Damage: It wasn’t out of the realm of chance Aleksandar Rakic might’ve earned a title shot if he beat Jan Blachowicz. As an alternative, the damage bug bit. In an early Spherical 3 change, Rakic’s knee buckled. He crumpled to the canvas and the combat was over. Later, exams confirmed he sustained a torn ACL.

11

UFC on ABC 3: Brian Ortega suffers shoulder damage vs. Yair Rodriguez

Jul 16, 2022; Elmont, New York, USA; Brian Ortega (pink gloves) reacts to combat in opposition to Yair Rodriguez (blue gloves) throughout UFC Struggle Evening at UBS Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports activities

Date: July 16, 2022
Location: Elmont, N.Y.
Consequence: Yair Rodriguez def. Brian Ortega through TKO (damage) – Spherical 1, 4:11
Damage: Everybody was seemingly hyped for Yair Rodriguez vs. Brian Ortega – a matinee predominant occasion on ABC. That’s why there was an audible murmer of disappointment on Lengthy Island when the combat ended earlier than it actually even bought began. Whereas his submission protection succeeded initially, Ortega injured himself as he pulled out of a Rodriguez armbar try. He was rendered unable to proceed.

12

UFC Struggle Evening 208: Tom Aspinall suffers knee damage vs. Curtis Blaydes

Jul 23, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Tom Aspinall (blue gloves) falls to the bottom whereas combating Curtis Blaydes throughout UFC Struggle Evening at O2 Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports activities

Date: July 23, 2022
Location: London
Consequence: Curtis Blaydes def. Tom Aspinall through TKO (damage) – Spherical 1, 0:15
Damage: It might’ve been Tom Aspinall’s contendership coming-out social gathering. As an alternative, it was a 15-second nightmare for the Brit. Aspinall threw a kick at Curtis Blaydes, stepped again, and his knee gave out. It was throughout identical to that.

13

UFC Struggle Evening 213: Calvin Kattar knee damage vs. Arnold Allen

Date: Oct. 29, 2022
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Arnold Allen def. Calvin Kattar through TKO (damage) – Spherical 2, 0:08
Damage: Arnold Allen vs. Calvin Kattar had combat followers all types of jacked up. However when it got here time to combat, it led to disagreeable, disappointing style. After Kattar injured his knee on a flying knee try late in Spherical 1, he was cleared to exit for Spherical 2. Nevertheless, after one lead leg kick from Allen, the knee of his different leg buckled as soon as once more – and that was that.

14

UFC Struggle Evening 229: Rafael Fiziev leg damage vs. Mateusz Gamrot

Date: Sept. 23, 2023
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael Fiziev through TKO (damage) – Spherical 2, 2:03
Damage: Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot was shaping as much as be a hardcore fan’s dream till a leg damage to the previous ended the combat anticlimactically. Whereas viewers have been nonetheless handled to seven minutes of a back-and-forth battle, questions remained after Fiziev planted his proper foot awkwardly after a kick. He crumpled to the canvas in ache and the combat was over.

15

UFC on ESPN 58: Alex Perez leg damage vs. Tatsuro Taira

Date: June 15, 2024
Location: Las Vegas
Consequence: Tatsuro Taira def. Alex Perez through TKO (knee damage) – Spherical 2, 2:59
Damage: Tatsuro Taira confirmed flashes of brilliance in his first octagon headliner in opposition to Alex Perez, even when it didn’t finish in essentially the most satisfying method. The end got here after a sequence during which Perez harm his knee whereas attempting to fend off an uncommon takedown try with Taira on his again attempting to take his opponent to the mat. Perez screamed in ache and tapped out after he collapsed, and the combat was over.