How it happens
Strikes to the face may open up a cut by tearing the skin. The four-ounce gloves used in MMA fights make this a common occurrence. Elbows are well known for their cutting potential, and this has sometimes been used as an argument for banning the use of elbows in MMA. Accidental headbutts are also a fairly common source of cuts. Because of the bone structure, cuts occur most commonly around the eyebrows, eye socket and nose. Some fighters are more prone to cuts than others.
When is it serious?
A fight will generally be stopped because of a cut if the blood threatens to impair the fighter’s vision, or if it is in a place where it is likely to cause serious long-term damage if it becomes any deeper. Cuts around the eyes, for example, can threaten important nerves.
Who has it happened to?
KJ Noons beat favorite Nick Diaz in EliteXC by referee stoppage after he opened a number of large gashes across Diaz’s face. Legendary heavyweight fighter Fedor Emelianenko was cut by Japanese Fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka with an illegal elbow in the Rings ‘King of Kings’ tournament. This resulted in a controversial stoppage and Emelianenko’s only loss in MMA.
Not all cuts are fight enders though, even when there is a lot of blood. BJ Penn vs Joe Stevenson and Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral vs David Heath are examples of particularly bloody fights that ended by submission.
Treatment
It is important for a fighter with a cut to get it properly stitched after a fight. This reduces the amount of scar tissue that forms. For the same reason, it is important to take enough time off training following a cut in order to allow it to heal properly. Some fighters like to treat healing cuts with vitamin E oil, claiming that it promotes healing and reduces scarring.
What long-term problems is it likely to cause?
Some fighters are known for being ‘bleeders’ who cut easily during a fight. Marcus Davis is one who has suffered from this during the course of his career. Scar tissue is less pliable and more easily torn than normal skin, and once a fighter has had scarring in an area he is more likely to be cut there again in the future.
Prevention
If a fighter has been cut many times and has a lot of scarring, there are more radical options he can take to save his career. Marcus Davis and Nick Diaz have both had surgery to ‘blunt’ the bones around the eye socket and remove scar tissue. The two fighters are reported to be pleased with the results.
How long can a fighter with this injury expect to be out for?
It depends on the depth and location of the cut. Stitches can be taken out between about five days and two weeks after the injury, though the healing process will continue for up to six months. It’s easy to return to training too soon, and have the cut reopen causing more damage. Athletic commissions in the US routinely hand out 60-day ‘no contact’ suspensions to fighters who sustain cuts, to allow time for them to heal properly and reduce the risk of future problems.
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