5 most gruesome UFC injuries in 2024 featuring Robert Whittaker and Colby Covington

The UFC has provided fight fans with tremendous entertainment over the years, featuring some of the greatest MMA fighters doing battle for combat sports glory. Given the highly physical nature of the sport, it's rather unsurprising that the combatants often suffer injuries and overall wear and tear.

However, some injuries -- irrespective of whether they're sustained during a professional MMA bout, in training, or elsewhere -- are particularly horrific. At times, some mishaps become a matter of life and limb. As we approach the end of 2024, we look at some of the most gruesome injuries UFC fighters sustained this year.

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#5 Davey Grant and Dustin Jacoby

Davey Grant's most recent fight witnessed him defeat Ramon Taveras via unanimous decision in a bantamweight bout at the UFC Tampa card on Dec. 14, 2024. Taking to Instagram, Grant, who'd previously undergone a crucial neck surgery that could've ended his career, shed light on a few other injury issues he recently faced.

Posting multiple photographs of his injured toes, he explained that he'd broken his right foot's second toe six weeks before the Taveras matchup and his left foot's little toe three weeks out.

Grant thanked the professionals at his Syndicate MMA team and the UFC PI (Performance Institute) for helping him train safely with precautionary measures to protect the toes. He even underlined that the hurt little toe necessitated five stitches "so deep that the risk of losing it or infection were a definite possibility."

Check out the photos by swiping through Grant's Instagram post below (*Viewer's discretion is advised):

Elsewhere on the UFC Tampa card, Dustin Jacoby knocked out Vitor Petrino in their light heavyweight showdown. Incidentally, akin to Davey Grant, Jacoby too later indicated that he almost lost a digit heading into the event. Speaking to MMA Fighting, Jacoby recounted that his big toe almost got ripped off his right foot three weeks ahead of his fight.

Apparently, the striking savant contemplated withdrawing from the matchup. However, he then visited the doctor, who told him it was a dislocation and provided him with the requisite medical attention that helped him make it to the octagon. Recalling the gruesome scene when he discovered the injury, Jacoby explained that it was a blood-soaked scene with the injured part looking "like a door hinge."

Also, coincidentally, Grant's two toe injuries and Jacoby's toe injury all transpired during fight camp sparring sessions.

Watch Jacoby discuss his injury below:

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#4 Rafael dos Anjos' mid-fight knee injury

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos last competed in a welterweight bout against Geoff Neal. The fight transpired at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, 2024. It was to be an occasion of celebration for 'RDA,' as it marked his 40th birthday. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury during the fight and couldn't continue, thereby making Neal the victor via first-round TKO.

The veteran Brazilian-American fighter subsequently took to his Instagram Stories and provided the MMA community with an update on his condition. Dos Anjos indicated that he'd suffered an ACL injury, which would require surgery. His statement read as follows:

"My ACL is gone guys, going under the knife on the next couple of days. God's plans."

Needless to say, a gruesome knee injury -- that occurred during a high-level matchup nonetheless -- was as worrisome as it was gruesome. The ex-lightweight kingpin has consistently kept his supporters in the loop about his recovery and has vowed to return stronger than ever.

Thankfully, Rafael dos Anjos underwent surgery. In an Instagram post featuring himself back in November, presumably placed on a hospital bed, he asserted that the surgery was a "success."

Watch the injury sequence below:

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#3 Colby Covington's polarizing injury

Former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington has been viewed as a polarizing presence in the sport of MMA for several years. He's currently on a two-fight losing streak. His most recent octagon appearance ended in a third-round TKO loss against rising star Joaquin Buckley in the headlining match of UFC Tampa earlier this month.

The grueling fight saw Buckley largely get the better in the striking aspect. He even showcased tremendous grappling skills against 'Chaos,' who's long been counted among the division's best grapplers. Toward the end of round three, Referee Dan Miragliotta called for a pause in the action, and the octagon-side physician checked on a cut over the bloodied Covington's right eye.

The medical professional suggested the fight ought to be stopped, as Covington was at risk of losing his eyelid. As such, Miragliotta waved the fight off. UFC CEO and president Dana White later lambasted the stoppage, stating that though the fight was stopped in Florida, Covington would've been allowed to continue despite the cut if it were in Vegas.

Covington opined that he felt the tide was turning and he could've possibly beaten Buckley in the championship rounds. That said, 'Chaos' implied that he was seeing three/four images of his opponent, owing to blood from the cut hurting his vision. Many fans pointed out that the stoppage was justified, as fighter safety comes first and Covington's eye was protected by avoiding potentially permanent damage.

UFC commentator and octagon interviewer, MMA legend Michael Bisping, later discussed the same on his YouTube channel, highlighting how he had to sidestep a pool of blood inside the octagon after the Covington-Buckley matchup.

Watch Bisping discuss the topic below:

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#2 Irene Aldana's gruesome cut

Mexico's Irene Aldana faced Brazil's Norma Dumont at the UFC 306 (aka Riyadh Season Noche UFC) event in September 2024. Aldana ended up losing the fight via unanimous decision, and the biggest talking point to emerge from that matchup was a gruesome cut she suffered against Dumont.

The facial damage Aldana had sustained, mainly a cut across her face, which was dangerously close to her right eye, led many fans to express their concern about her well-being. Some even deemed it the worst cut ever, speculating about whether the gash had exposed her right to the bone.

Thankfully, with the help of Dr. Jesús Vázquez and his team, Aldana was well on the road to recovery in a matter of weeks. She also posted a compilation of photographs from the injury's healing process.

Check out Aldana's video, featuring a collage of photos from her recovery, below:

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#1 Robert Whittaker's much-discussed UFC 308 injury

Throughout the 2024 calendar year, the MMA community has seen some of the UFC's athletes deal with terrifying injuries -- be it the facial injuries Khalil Rountree suffered in his war against Alex Pereira, or the bone infection that led to Belal Muhammad's hospitalization.

Regardless, Robert Whittaker's injury in his fight against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 in October was perhaps the most discussed one from 2024. The ex-UFC middleweight champion was expected to be Chimaev's biggest test at 185 pounds. Well, 'Borz' dominantly secured a takedown early in round one and submitted Whittaker with a brutal face crank after a few grappling scrambles.

Photos of the inside of Whittaker's bloodied mouth subsequently made the rounds online. Reports emerged that 'The Reaper' had suffered a broken jaw. Whittaker later clarified that he'd long been dealing with some issues with his teeth, which were exacerbated by the pressure of Chimaev's submission hold that displaced his lower teeth.

Fortuitously, Whittaker later signaled that he was well on the road to recovery. The fan-favorite MMA fighter recently even teased a potential move to the light heavyweight division.

Watch the injury sequence below: