WATCH: UFC middleweight shows off nasty ear injury

Injuries are a common part of the sport of mixed martial arts and are often the cause of fighters pulling out of huge UFC bouts. However, you rarely see one as nasty as what Joaquin Buckley endured behind his ear.

Whether it's during sparring, various high-intensity workouts ahead of matchups, or the contest itself, MMA fighters are never too far away from sustaining an injury. It's uncommon for those inside the cage to compete at 100%, but viewers have witnessed some of the most sickening injuries happen inside the octagon.

In a post shared on social media, Joaquin Buckley can be found sporting a stomach-turning gash behind his ear, which looks to be just a few millimeters short of completely tearing a hole through to the other side.

While joking around with his usual playful persona, the knockout artist was quite clearly in some distress and shocked both the woman in the video and the cameraman when revealing the wound.

'New Mansa' has had an extensive 21-fight career in the sport, but he will always be remembered for one stunning moment under the UFC banner that will be replayed in highlights forever.

In his second bout inside the octagon, Buckley was matched up against Impa Kasanganay. After getting his foot caught by his opponent, the middleweight spun around and delivered a spinning back kick finish, the first of its kind seen in the UFC. The finish won 2020's Knockout of the Year.

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Joaquin Buckley's UFC record

After impressing in Bellator, LFA, and the independent circuit, the promising Joaquin Buckley was given a chance in the UFC, but his start to life in the company was not great.

The 185-pounder was matched against fan favorite Kevin Holland in a bout that saw him endure a one-sided beatdown. The loss was his first stoppage defeat in four years, but he didn't let it set him back.

Buckley would then win five of his next six outings, with knockout victories over Jordan Wright, Antonio Arroyo, Albert Duraev, and the aforementioned Impa Kasanganay.

His good form inside the cage led to back-to-back tough outings against Nassourdine Imamov and Chris Curtis. He came up short in both fights and is now looking for a way to return to the winner's circle after being knocked out by 'The Action Man' in his most recent bout.