Courageous UFC star Jamie Varner fights on with two broken bones in his foot

UFC FIGHTER Jamie Varner should have thrown in the towel. But he was too proud for that, continuing to fight on when he clearly couldn’t.

UFC FIGHTER Jamie Varner should have thrown in the towel.

But he was too proud for that, continuing to fight on when he clearly couldn’t.

Varner broke two bones in his foot and tore ligaments in the first minute of his lightweight bout against James Krause but refused to give in.

Two fractured bones and torn ligaments! I have to see a specialist next week. Thanks for the support!

— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) May 25, 2014

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Two fractured bones and torn ligaments! I have to see a specialist next week. Thanks for the support!— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) May 25, 2014

Varner, knowing it was his only chance to win, tried valiantly to produce a knockout blow with wild haymakers as his foot collapsed beneath him over and over again.

Eventually, after the horn sounded to end the first frame, the 29-year-old American admitted he couldn’t continue and the fight was waved off.

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“He’s such a tough guy and a great competitor and I’m sorry it ended like it did,” Krause said.

“It was the very first kick I threw. I felt it hit on his shin.”

UFC president Dana White praised Varner, saying he was “all heart”.

“Usually guys quit,” White said after the event at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

Jamie Varner reacts to doctor stepping on his injured foot at #UFC173 pic.twitter.com/x6HdJbbDHw

— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) May 25, 2014

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: Jamie Varner reacts to doctor stepping on his injured foot at #UFC173 pic.twitter.com/x6HdJbbDHw— John Pollock (@iamjohnpollock) May 25, 2014

“Guys will tap out and say, ‘I broke my ankle. I’m laid out.’ But there was no quit in that kid.

“If that was my guy, I would have thrown the towel in, in a second.

“Jamie Varner sucked it up. He had a broken leg, which had to be unbelievably painful, and he just – I can’t say enough about the kid.”

While no one will question Varner’s toughness, it was clear why he did not want to give in. It remains to be seen whether the veteran will get another shot in the Octagon after suffering his fourth loss in his past five bouts.