Has Anyone Ever Been Killed in the UFC?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship gained popularity in the combat sports world in the mid 2000's for its brutal fights and finishes. Yet, despite the sports brutality, across its thirty-year history, nobody has ever been killed inside the octagon, or due to an injury caused inside the octagon.

While the UFC is considered more gruelling than boxing for example, it is scientifically much safer due to the strikes having less of an impact, which decreases the chances of getting a concussion. Additionally, rather than allowing a fighter to beat the count of ten and then eat more follow-up shots like in boxing, MMA referees are able to jump in and stop the fight as soon as a hugely concussive strike is landed, thus saving the fighter from being knocked unconscious by ground-and-pound. 

Although the UFC, as well as other top MMA promotions, have never seen a fatality, in the low-level organisations where less money is spent on the medical side of things, there have unfortunately been deaths. This is because they are less regulated than companies like UFC, Bellator, PFL, for example.

Worst Injuries in UFC History 

Image Credits: UFC.com 

Despite never having seen a death inside the UFC cage, there's been several gruesome injuries throughout its history which were all career-threatening. These are some of the worst injuries in UFC history.

6. Jon Jones’ Toe Injury vs Chael Sonnen (UFC 159)

Jon Jones//Getty Images

Jon Jones dispatched Chael Sonnen with ease at UFC 159 to defend his light-heavyweight title via a first round stoppage. Even though the fight lasted a few minutes, that was still enough time for Jones to severely injure his big toe, which became apparent during the immediate post-fight interview inside the octagon.

With Joe Rogan on the mic interviewing “Bones” in the octagon after another successful defence of his 205-pounds title, Jones began to feel pain in his foot. And has he looked down, Jones discovered he completely dislocated his toe with his bone poking out from the skin, and the cameraman made those watching feel uneasy when the camera panned down to the injury.

5. Conor McGregor's Leg Break vs Dustin Poirier (UFC 264)

Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor//Getty Images

Conor McGregor's grudge match against Dustin Poirier couldn't have ended in a worse kind of way. “The Notorious” began to absorb damage as Poirier piled the pressure on the Irishman, and after McGregor threw a kick that was seemingly checked, a few moments later he stood back on his leg and it completely collapsed from underneath him. 

McGregor's lower leg was broken, which led him to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher, and he's not fought since.

4. Matt Mitrione's Eye Injury vs Travis Browne (UFC Fight Night 81)

This fight would turn out to be one of the most gruesome fights in recent UFC memory as Matt Mitrione's eye swelled completely shut, leaving a giant balloon over his eye. 

The injury itself was caused because Travis Browne landed repeated eye pokes, as well as legal strikes, on that specific eye, thus causing the huge swelling. Eye injuries are taken extremely seriously, but luckily after a months, Mitrione's eye had healed up and it didn't require surgery.

3. Alistair Overeem's Lip vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik (UFC 245)

Image for Alistair Overeem//Getty Images

Alistair Overeem's lip injury at UFC 245 was certainly not one for the faint hearted. Jairzinho Rozenstruik's excellent striking accuracy caused the MMA veteran's lip to completely split wide open to the point where his upper lip was hanging in two different parts. 

2. Corey Hill's Leg Break vs Dale Hartt (UFC Fight Night 16)

Corey Hill's leg break against Dale Hartt was caused when Hill threw a powerful leg kick which was checked by Hartt, and the impact of shin on shin caused Hill's lower leg to completely shatter in half. 

Unfortunately for Hill, although he made a recovery and a return to MMA, his UFC career was effectively over.