As fans of the fight game, we are always ready—at least in the back of our minds—for a moment in the fight that could make time stand still or make our jaws drop in shock, awe or revulsion (or perhaps all three).
When two men (or women) enter into a physical contest, often times the predictable is shockingly unpredictable; we fully accept that a limb could be snapped by a submission, but we don’t know what it is going to look like when it happens until it happens.
Sure, some of us are screaming “Break it!” at the top of our lungs, but most are arrested by the moment unfolding before our eyes. We are witnesses to the harsh taskmaster those fighters serve, wondering just how deep their commitment to the fight and personal honor really is.
These are highly trained men and women, and still there are times when a situation or circumstance—perhaps unseen until that very moment—brings a horrible possibility to our attention.
And during those times, we cringe.
So, in that spirit, here are 20 of some of (but not all) the most cringe worthy moments in MMA history, and a tip of the hat to those who shrugged it off and went back into training as soon as they could.
God bless each and every one of them.