One of the most frequently asked questions I get from fans is, ‘What’s the biggest cut you’ve worked on?’ Between UFC, Pride, K-1 and boxing, I’ve worked my fair share of cuts. Some are bigger than others, some are deeper, some with weird angles (‘starburst cuts’ I call them because the slice goes in different directions) and some not so big, but heavy bleeders.

Anyone working the corner should expect the worst-case scenario – and prepare for it. A good cutman will have his gloves on and a swab loaded with adrenaline chloride 1:1000 (for blood-vessel constriction) the first minute of the first round. He must have easy access to his end-swell and ice pack, and wet towel to wipe and clean the cut. He must be prepared and ready to go into the Octagon as soon as the bell rings. 

The cutman should be the first one to enter the ring or cage and get to the fighter ASAP. We usually have 50–55 seconds to get to the fighter, clean the cut, apply the adrenaline chloride 1:1000, grease the eyebrows and cheeks, and finally cover the cut with a mixture of adrenaline and grease – I use Vaseline.

Those precious seconds have been career changers for many fighters: some with victory, others with defeat.

Jay Hieron goes down as having the smallest cut that was the biggest bleeder on my list of favorites. Jay took a knee from Jonathan Goulet right between the eyes and the cut was only about 1/2 inch (UFC Fight Night 2). Unfortunately, the knee cut into the artery and instantly started flowing like a faucet. By the time the bell rang, both fighters where drenched in Hieron’s blood. I met Jay in the middle of the Octagon and walked him to his stool while applying pressure. 

Marc Ratner, then Nevada’s athletic commissioner, asked me if the cut was OK. I said yes with a confident look. That same confident look changed as I covered the cut with the adrenaline/Vaseline mixture. Immediately, like a dam bursting, the blood squirted right through the mixture. The fight was finally stopped because both fighters were covered with blood and slippery. It was actually a relief, as I was becoming nauseated from smelling all the blood.

The Marvin Eastman’s UFC 43 cut is biggest so far. While in a Thai clinch, Vitor Belfort slammed his knee on Marvin’s forehead creating a cut that one fan accurately described as “a filleted shrimp.” I got to Marvin while the doctor worked on him. The gash was bad, but not bleeding much. I applied pressure and saw concern on Eastman’s face. I used some psychology. “This is the biggest f**king cut I’ve ever seen in my life,” I said jokingly. Once he laughed and responded. I knew he’d be OK.

Brock Lesnar received a long deep cut from Cain Velasquez at UFC 121. I have a good relationship with Brock and always told him I would always cover his back. Those words came true. The cut was so long and deep that when I applied the swab it disappeared into the cut. I pulled the swab out and closed the cut with my fingers while applying pressure and cleaning Brock up. He looked at me and whispered: “Stitch, take care of me.”

I knew what he meant and when I released my fingers from the cut, the cut opened up like a giant clam. I immediately covered it with my mixture to hide the effects of a nasty cut.

The knockout blow that Rich Franklin laid on Chuck Liddell (UFC 115) created a cut like I’d never seen. Chuck’s eyes were glassy and he bled from his mouth. I cleaned his mouth and saw Chuck had a clean slice from his top lip toward his nose. Out of respect for such a great warrior, I held a towel on his cut so that the cameras couldn’t see what I saw. I gave Chuck the towel and told him to keep pressure on it as he was escorted out of the octagon.

Stefan Struve is another favorite when it comes to cuts and taking care of a fighter. In a war with Christian Morecraft (UFC 117), Stefan, exhausted and bleeding, returned to the corner with a shredded lip. The doctor entered the octagon to evaluate. He took a long look at the shark-bitten lip, tissue hanging, and was ready to stop the fight. I saw that Stefan still wanted to fight. “If he has good plastic surgeon, he’ll be OK,” I told the doc. He bought it, I cleaned Stefan up, he went back to the battlefield and seconds later he scored a winning KO! 

Moments like these, win or lose, are what create a special bond with me and fighters. Vitor Belfort once said: “When Stitch enters the dressing room, even when I know he is working the other corner, there is a certain comfort he brings.” I couldn’t have said it better!