For all the Cauliflower Ear love we spew on Ear of the Fighter, we need to make a public service announcement:
If your nasty ears are freshly bruised and swollen, you gotta take care of that shit, son. Drain it and pack it, put your headgear on, and get back on the mat.
If you can’t baby your ear nuggets and have the fight of your life coming up, prepare for internet infamy.
Here are 5 of the worst ear explosions ever caught on film.
The Original
God, how did this even happen. In early 2008 fledgling MMA promotion Elite XC hustled a network television deal on CBS. Elite XC was for the most part, short on legit talent, so they hung their hat on the only thing they had: Street brawler and YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice. Kimbo’s opponent, career soup can James Thompson showed up to the fight with a swollen cauliflower ear, which swelled like a blood filled balloon as the fight entered the 3rd round. What do blood filled balloons do when they’re repeatedly clubbed by a street brawler’s haymakers?
They pop. The carnage begins a 1:10
The Legend
“The Gracie Hunter” Kazushi Sakuraba is an absolute God of MMA who has taken(and given) a brutal amount of punishment over the years; unfortunately, his body has endured a heavy price as a result. At Dynamite!! 2010 against Marius Zaromskis, Saku’s legendary cauliflower ears screamed, “no mas!”
The damage happens around 1:10, and escalates from there.
The Worst
This one is hard to watch. This one is from Fight Lab 20 in 2012. Eventual winner Kenneth Crowder drops a nasty elbow down on Shane Tyner’s calcified right ear and…user discretion is advised.
Put down your Lucky Charms and bump to 15:48 if you dare.
Girls can play, too
Ear of the Fighter has profiled this one before, but it deserves a spot on the list. At UFC 180 flyweight Leslie Smith earned her spot in Valhalla by channeling her inner Lagertha after opponent Jessica Eye snapped a hard right into Leslie’s cauliflowered ear. The ear ruptured and resulted in a doctor’s stoppage, but Leslie Smith achieved final victory for protesting the doctor’s decision and winning over fight fans everywhere.
Copycat Earsplosion
Just a week after the earsplosion at UFC 180, fight fans at Atlas Fighting Championship 4 in Biloxi, Mississippi were treated to yet another auricular massacre. This one definitely earns points for splash factor. Are we seeing a trend here, folks?
Now share this with all your family members and friends who think your ears are ugly, and leave me a comment below.
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