5 times UFC fights ended due to doctor stoppages

#2 Anthony Smith's infamous nerve-killer leg kick against Jimmy Crute at UFC 261

Jimmy Crute's inability to stand up led to a crazy doctor stoppage at UFC 261.

Anthony Smith and Jimmy Crute went head to head in a fight with one of the craziest doctor's stoppages ever.

The first round started with Smith landing a number of leg kicks on Crute that quickly started to take a toll. One of the kicks by 'Lionheart' landed so precisely and with such power on Crute's knee that it rendered the latter's leg useless for the rest of the fight.

Jimmy Crute fell right after absorbing the kick, and in survival mode, shot for a takedown. The round ended, and 'The Brute' rose to his feet, but walking back to his stool, kept rolling his ankle. It became clear that Anthony Smith's kick had damaged Crute's leg beyond recovery.

'The Brute' received a pep talk from his corner and prepared to go back for the second round. However, during an investigation by the cageside doctor, Crute couldn't walk properly. The fight was called off with a TKO win (doctor's stoppage) for Anthony Smith, who then walked over to console his displeased opponent.

After the fight was waved off, @lionheartasmith and @CruteJim embraced in the Octagon 🤝 Stream #UFC261 on ESPN+ ▶️ https://t.co/11j8ptNbRf pic.twitter.com/gmjOzwZR32

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 25, 2021

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#1 Conor McGregor's freak injury caused a doctor's stoppage at UFC 264

Conor McGregor went out on a stretcher after a doctor's stoppage at UFC 264.

Given his dominance inside the UFC octagon and top-of-the-game fitness, it would've been crazy to imagine Conor McGregor falling victim to a doctor's stoppage. However, UFC 264 shocked the world and fight fans, as the 'Notorious' suffered a freak injury at the end of round one.

With renewed bad blood that had gone temporarily missing at UFC 257, Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier went in for their trilogy bout at UFC 264. The fight opened with the 'Notorious' entering in with a barrage of fiery leg kicks on Poirier. 'The Diamond' warmed up quickly and started exchanging strikes while also checking some of McGregor's leg kicks.

The stand-up soon shifted to the mat with Dustin Poirier taking Conor McGregor down, neutralizing a guillotine and landing some ground-and-pound. The fighters got back up and started exchanging shots again. As the Irishman twisted his leg to get maximum power for a cross, the torque caused his ankle to break and fold, though.

Conor McGregor was adamant about the #UFC264 main event being declared a Doctor's Stoppage. pic.twitter.com/8HFOoXc68p

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 11, 2021

Conor McGregor fell down immediately, and as it was not clear what'd happened, Dustin Poirier came in to land more blows in the dying seconds of the round.

It soon became apparent, though, that the former UFC double champion had broken his ankle. The Irishman, while in debilitating pain, was repeatedly calling for a doctor's stoppage.

Conor McGregor was taken out on a stretcher after suffering a leg injury at #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/eQe9fa09YJ

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) July 11, 2021

While the fight was called off by referee Herb Dean at the end of round one, it was later declared a TKO win for Dustin Poirier via doctor's stoppage.