Wolff’s law states that bones adapt to pressure by getting stronger. If you undergo the rigors of training to fight, much of the rest of your body does as well. Skin callouses, muscles increase in size, etc.
Not so the ear.
When the ear is sufficiently irritated, the overlaying skin can become separated from the cartilage, which is supplied with nutrients not by an internal vein, but from the outside through the skin. The cartilage then dies and fibrous tissue grows over it. The result resembles a cauliflower, and is subject to greater injury, from less impact than does a regular ear.
At UFC 180 Jessica Eye hit Leslie Smith in the ear, cutting it. A cut above the eye is serious, as once cut, skin tears easier, and can deepen, destroying nerves and leaving permanent issues. A cut to the ear is not generally an issue, but remember, once cut, human skin is more subject to deeper cuts. Further, if the ear is full of fluid, there is further pressure.
“When I connected and saw her ear blow up, that became my main target,” said Eye. “I was going to keep hitting it until they stopped the fight or it fell off.”
When Eye hit ear again, it exploded.
Ed Mulholland @muls96
When a right hand explodes an ear #UFC180 @UFC @espn @espnmag #MMA4ESPN Photo: @muls96 /ESPN #MexicoCity #JessicaEye
Then Smith turned around.
The fight was stopped with Eye declared the victor.
Later, like any normal person, as the doctors were checking on her backstage, Smith took an ear selfie.
Leslie Smith @LeslieSmith_GF
I took a picture of my ear.
Smith summed things up, via SQOR.
“I was pretty mad in the cage,” wrote Smith. “I saw some pictures afterward and I appreciate the doctors looking out for me. I guess. I should’ve adjusted to protect my ear before the doctors had to stop it. Thank you for all the support, thank you to my sponsors Kleinburg Private Wealth, Venum, Major’s Pharmacy, Vitality Bowls, and WODBOX. Thank you to my team and my coaches at El Niño Training Center for getting me ready. Thank you to all the fight fans. I’ll do better next time.”
Smith’s ear injury is not the worst in the history of mixed martial arts.
In 2012 Kenneth Crowder hit Shane Tyner with an elbow at Fight Lab 20, and part of the ear came off.
In 2010, Grabaka fighter Shigeyuki Uchiyama was comfortably ahead of Masaya “J-Taro” Takita when a double leg takedown drove both fighters through the ropes. Afterwards, there was blood on the top and bottom ropes, and a piece of ear on the canvas.
Late in 2010 one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history, Kazushi Sakuraba, fought Marius Zaromskis for the Dream welterweight championship.
Perhaps it is best to let Saku tell the story.
With his head bandaged, Saku grabbed the microphone, and spoke in rapid-fire Japanese.
“Sorry, but my ear kind of came off, dammit,” he explained. “Zaromskis is a great fighter. Thanks for coming out to support me, and I’ll continue to do my best. I think I’m still improving so I want to continue fighting.”
This is not a new phenomenon.
Damaged ears and fighting go back for as long as human beings have been fighting, which is forever.
The Hellenistic Greek bronze sculpture Boxer of Quirinal, also known as the Terme Boxer or Boxer at Rest, dates to around 330 B.C.
In 2013 Manhattan physician Dr. Jeffrrey Levine saw the statue at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when it was on loan from Rome’s Museo Nazionale, and revealed that it showed an ear being drained.
So don’t worry too much about Smith’s ear. The ear was sewn up backstage; a trip to the hospital wasn’t even necessary, She’s tough, and it will heal. If you want to worry, worry about some time in the future when no one even knows anyone who has cauliflower ear, as then the human race will have lost its past.
Plus, Mick Foley reached out.
Mick Foley @realmickfoley
Dear @LeslieSmith_GF – it gets better! DM me if you need support or advice.
How cool is that?
