‘Yikes’: MMA fighter suffers gruesome eye injury

MMA fans were feeling sick to the stomach after a fighter suffered a gruesome eye injury rarely seen in combat sports.

There were gruesome scenes in the Professional Fighters League on Saturday (AEDT) when a fight had to be stopped due to a sickening eye injury.

Mark Martin was taking on Dilano Taylor in their PFL Challengers Series 2 bout and took an absolute battering in the first round as Taylor connected several times with some heavy shots to Martin’s head.

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Martin put up a decent fight in the first round but the barrage of punches resulted in an injury that was far worse than the usual swelling around the face.

After the first round, the cage side physician entered the cage to assess Martin after noticing his left eye was bulging out its socket and his eyelid was drooping over.

While Martin seemed content to carry on, the doctor had seen enough and immediately called a stop to the fight, handing Taylor the victory via doctor’s stoppage.

The cageside doctor waves off the fight inbetween rounds. Dilano Taylor gets the W!#PFLonFuboTV LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 https://t.co/R67yD8VVFQ
🌍 https://t.co/StPf5kcxnWpic.twitter.com/eKZ6bmEoFS

— PFL (@PFLMMA) February 26, 2022

Martin was then taken to hospital to undergo further assessments, which confirmed he had broken his eye socket.

MMA Junkie’s Nolan King tweeted: “Just spoke with Mark Martin’s manager AJ Ariosa who tells me his client is still in the ER getting evaluated for potential surgery.

Mark Martin's eye popped out of its socket.

“He says the injury occurred when Martin blew his nose and the pressure pushed his eye out of its socket.

“Martin broke his orbital, but will avoid surgery. He is unable to fly due to pressure concerns, so will drive home from Orlando to Phoenix. Quite the roadtrip, I’ve got to imagine.”

MMA fans were stunned by the graphic injury and wished Martin a speedy recovery.

Yikes... hoping all is ok with Mark Martin after this fight #PFLonFuboTVpic.twitter.com/ky3V4Rc3d4

— fuboTV (@fuboTV) February 26, 2022

I hope that Mark Martin is able to make a swift and full recovery. That...that's not something you see very often in this sport. #PFLChallengerSeries#PFLonFuboTV

— Jay Pettry (@jaypettry) February 26, 2022

King said: “This sport, man. Prayers to Mark Martin his eye turns out alright.”

Originally published as ‘Yikes’: MMA fighter suffers gruesome eye injury