Dana White/Twitter/UFCEuropeUFC welterweight Mike Perry suffered one of the worst broken noses in UFC history after going up against Vicente Luque.
The 27-year-old lost the match after a hard-fought split decision at UFC Fight Night 156 in Montevideo, Uruguay, last night (August 10) but he’s still the centre of attention in the aftermath as his nose was left looking horrifically warped.
Perry was hit in the face with a flying knee from ‘the Silent Assassin’ Vicente Luque and it’s all too easy to imagine the sickening crunch which would have sounded when his nose was knocked out of its natural position and squashed up towards the fighter’s right eye.
What a WAR! 👊
Vicente Luque and Mike Perry leaving it ALL in the Octagon at #UFCUruguay – how'd you score it? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/29qYMI92QX
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 11, 2019
The damage was evident as the two fighters fell to the mat and blood began gushing from Perry’s face but he demonstrated his determination and still went on to finish the fight.
After crushing his opponent’s nose Luque attempted a front choke but Perry managed to work himself free and take over top position shortly before the horn sounded to end the third and final round.
That …. may just be a broken nose. #UFCUruguay pic.twitter.com/ocHv2EP3mU
— UFC (@ufc) August 11, 2019
Though Perry gave his all, Luque went on to win the bout via a split decision of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
Close-ups of Perry’s gruesome injury quickly went viral online as UFC President Dana White and the official UFC account shared images of the fighter.
White needed nothing more than a shocked face emoji to express his feelings about the scene:
😳@PlatinumPerry pic.twitter.com/xIaNn901rp
— Dana White (@danawhite) August 11, 2019
Shocked fans shared concern and praise for the fighter after getting a good look at his poor nose, with one person writing:
Win or lose Perry is a fucking warrior and entertainer.
Another responded:
Whatever he gets paid … its [sic] not enough Dana.
Retired MMA fighter Kenny Florian wrote:
Easily worst nose break I’ve seen in a fight ever. Perry and Luque are tough as hell. Nuff said. #UFCUruguay
Win or lose perry is a fucking warrior and entertainer.
— Jeff held (@jewboy951) August 11, 2019
Whatever he gets paid … its not enough Dana
— John Pain (@JohnPainMMA) August 11, 2019
Easily worst nose break I’ve seen in a fight ever. Perry and Luque are tough as hell. Nuff said. #UFCUruguay
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) August 11, 2019
On ESPN’s post-show broadcast, UFC reporter Heidi Androl said Perry was sent to hospital for a CT scan as he was having trouble breathing after the fight. His hospitalisation was later confirmed by UFC executive Dave Shaw but a full update is pending.
Per Heidi Androl — Mike Perry went to the hospital for a CT scan after suffering a badly broken nose. He was apparently having some trouble breathing after the fight for obvious reasons. #UFCUruguay
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) August 11, 2019
Mike Perry is in the hospital to get his nose checked but no update yet, UFC executive Dave Shaw tells me.
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) August 11, 2019
Both Perry and Luque were rewarded putting on such a good – if painful – show as they won the evening’s Fight of the Night Award, earning each fighter an extra $50,000.
Hopefully the bonus cash will act as something of a consolation prize for Perry for having his face rearranged.
Ouch.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.