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MMA

26th Jan 2019

Shattered nose causes fighters to slip on blood in gruesome title fight

They definitely know they were in a fight

Darragh Murphy

This would have caused some problems for the UFC during their Fox days

Long-time UFC commentator Joe Rogan has previously revealed how employees used to spraypaint over bloodstains on the canvas during Fox cards because the organisation wanted to minimise the gore that’s sometimes on display in the Octagon.

Who knows whether a similar policy will be in place now that the UFC has shifted to ESPN but one thing’s for sure, there was no such strategy in place at Fight Night 9: Lethbridge on Friday night.

The main event between Chris Curtis and Matt Dwyer descended into a bloodbath in the championship rounds after Curtis brutalised his opponent’s nose.

The injury came in round four of the middleweight title fight and with Dwyer’s face painted crimson, blood became a significant factor.

The mat, which looked a lot looser than the kind that we’re accustomed to seeing in the UFC and Bellator, turned into something of a slip-and-slide at stages as Dwyer failed to get his footing while pursuing a takedown.

The pools of blood were commented on in the corner before the final round and credit to Dwyer as he fought on gamely but Curtis’ output proved too much and he came away with the majority decision win.

It may only be a matter of time before we see Curtis in the UFC as Dana White is already familiar with the ‘The Action Man’, who was inexplicably snubbed for a contract despite his hook kick knockout victory over Sean Lally on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series last summer.