Fright of the Night III: Ranking October’s scariest combat sport injuries (again!)

(WARNING: Graphic photos and movies all through this text)

Completely satisfied Halloween, all people!

Welcome to the third instalment of Fright of the Night time, the sequence I created to focus on the worst of the worst accidents in fight sports activities through the month of October. As normal, I rank these accidents from unhealthy to worst and supply photos and movies which can be positive to elicit quite a lot of reactions. Awe? Dread? Disgust? All of those are legitimate, contemplating how a lot I’ve — and proceed to — push your boundaries with this sequence. And whether or not you’re keen on or hate it, I’m simply glad you’re right here (once more)!

Now earlier than we get began, I wished to remind you that accidents that didn’t occur in competitors are excluded. For instance, T.J. Dillashaw and his shoulder that was dislocated ‘a good 20 times’ throughout his camp for Aljamain Sterling at UFC 280 are out. Sure, he suffered an harm through the battle, nevertheless it was extra like he exacerbated a pre-existing one, so he doesn’t meet the standards.

Prepared. Set. Get gross!

No. 5: Aaron Pico’s dislocated shoulder at Bellator 286

Are you able to think about going right into a battle and getting injured throughout the first 30 seconds of it? That’s exactly what occurred to Aaron Pico.

Preventing Jeremy Kennedy at Bellator 286, Pico threw a hook and dislocated his shoulder, which was evidenced by his now protruding humerus. He tried (and failed) to pop his shoulder into place, so he handed the buck to his nook when the primary spherical was over. Jackson-Wink MMA coach Brandon Gibson started pushing and pulling on his shoulder as if he was an excited child within the 90s enjoying with the newly launched Bop It! on Christmas morning. In line with Brian Sutterer — the physician on YouTube recognized for his harm explanations — Gibson had the precise concept however the improper strategy. As a substitute of going the sudden, violent route, Sutterer defined that ‘sluggish, very deliberate, very intentional actions’ would’ve been higher. As a result of Pico and Co. went the opposite means, it was no shock to see the battle waved off.

In his first post-fight feedback, Pico admitted that it was a good suggestion to cease him from persevering with, particularly after he discovered he wanted shoulder surgical procedure and could be sidelined for the subsequent couple of months.

We almost had an identical state of affairs over at WGP K1 in Brazil, the place Lucas Peixoto dislocated his shoulder (video right here, courtesy of Neo Vale Tudo on Twitter), however earlier than his coach may go to city on it like Gibson, the ringside physicians stepped in and stored him from doing extra harm. Thank goodness!

Photograph by Hans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Day by day Information by way of Getty Pictures

No. 4: Cherneka Johnson’s brow at Haney vs. Kambosos Jr. 2

‘It looked like she got hit with an axe.’

That was one of many feedback about Cherneka Johnson and the ugly gash she suffered in her battle in opposition to Susie Ramadan at Haney vs. Kambosos Jr. 2. And actually? I can’t consider a greater description.

An unintentional conflict of heads within the second spherical opened a minimize above the left eye of Johnson, who started bleeding profusely. And as we all know, that is among the worst locations to get a minimize as a result of the blood trickles down into the attention, impairing the fighter’s imaginative and prescient. When she returned to her nook, we acquired to see what it appeared like with out the blood, and it was unhealthy. Like probably fight-ending unhealthy. And it didn’t assist that by the point she was about to exit for the third spherical, Johnson was nonetheless gushing and attempting to shake off the blood going into her eye. The ringside doctor appeared as if he was able to put an finish to issues proper then and there, however he didn’t!

Johnson continued, and fought with a crimson masks for the remaining rounds. Regardless of the impairment, she gained by unanimous determination and defended the IBF tremendous bantamweight world title.

Photograph by WILLIAM WEST/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

No. 3: Richard Palencia’s leg at Bellator 286

Richard Palencia needed to wait almost a 12 months for his Bellator debut. Sadly for him, the debut went as badly as you’ll be able to think about.

Opening the preliminary portion of Bellator 286, Palencia shared the cage with Cee Jay Hamilton. There was a little bit of delay, because the fee waited for the paramedics to take their place by the cage. And because it seems, they have been wanted. Initially of the second spherical, Palencia threw a leg kick that linked with Hamilton’s shin. Judging by his fast grimace, Palencia knew one thing was improper and that one thing was a damaged leg. When he stepped again, Palencia’s leg zigged when it ought to’ve zagged, and he collapsed to the canvas in ache. A surprised Hamilton pointed it out to the referee earlier than he rushed in and stopped the battle.

Palencia was taken out of the cage on a stretcher. It was later revealed that he suffered a damaged tibia and fibula, which may hold him out of motion for a 12 months or so.

No. 2: George Kambosos Jr.’s head at Haney vs. Kambosos Jr. 2

You learn accurately. There have been two ugly gashes at Haney vs. Kambosos Jr. 2 attributable to unintentional clashes of heads! So why was this one worse than Cherneka Johnson? As a result of George Kambosos Jr. had a bit of pores and skin hanging off the aspect of his head. Eww.

Haney and Kambosos Jr. collided through the eighth spherical of their rematch, leaving the champion with a minimize above his eye and the challenger with a gash on the aspect of his head. Each males have been opened up and bled, nevertheless it was clear Kambosos Jr. acquired the worst of the affect primarily based on the now-dangling flap.

Kambosos Jr. fought on for 4 extra rounds, doing a few of his greatest work close to the tip of the battle. However was it sufficient to reclaim the undisputed light-weight titles? No, it wasn’t. The one factor ‘Ferocious’ left the ring with was a gnarly reminder of one other 12 rounds in opposition to Haney.

No. 1: John Lineker’s eye at ONE on Prime Video 3

We have now a double whammy right here with John Lineker.

Forward of his first protection of the ONE bantamweight championship in opposition to Fabricio Andrade, Lineker missed weight and was subsequently stripped. Dropping your title on the scales definitely hurts, however that was not the one painful factor Lineker needed to endure at ONE on Prime Video 3.

Although most are unwilling to face and commerce with a person with the battle moniker ‘Arms of Stone,’ Andrade was recreation. The Brazilian stung Lineker repeatedly with jabs and straights, which led to a severely swollen proper eye. Surprisingly sufficient, the attention wasn’t what stopped the battle.

Within the third spherical, Andrade damage Lineker with a knee to the physique, briefly folding the previous champion. Nonetheless, when he adopted up with one other knee, it was slightly decrease than meant and hit the groin. Not solely did Lineker writhe round in excruciating ache for a number of minutes, however he additionally dry heaved to the purpose of needing a bucket to gather any potential vomit. Oh, and his protecting cup? Fully shattered. That was, indisputably, one of many worst groin strikes we’ve seen in MMA, proper up there with Aorigele.

Screenshot of broadcast replay on YouTube.