Sherdog’s Top 10: Worst Cuts

Cain Velasquez brutalized “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC 146. | Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

10. Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva
UFC 146 “Dos Santos vs. Mir
May 26, 2012 | Las Vegas
Following a devastating loss to Junior dos Santos in his first title defense, and on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s debut effort for the Fox family of networks no less, Velasquez badly needed to get back on the horse with a statement win. Standing across the cage from the once and future king was Brazilian giant “Bigfoot” Silva, who had seen a three-fight winning streak end against Velasquez’s teammate, Daniel Cormier, in his last outing. Velasquez was the favorite, but most foresaw a relatively competitive fight.

Those predictions were dead wrong. Velasquez caught a leg kick, took Silva to the ground, passed to half guard and immediately unloaded a vicious stream of punches and elbows. One of those sharp blows opened a cut on the left side of Silva’s face that made Niagara Falls look like a minor trickle. Within seconds, the Octagon bore more resemblance to a crime scene from a particularly disturbing episode of “Dexter” than a venue for a relatively civilized sport; and the finish soon followed.

Even from 20 rows up, you could see the spray of blood without even having to look at the monitors. It was a horrifying testament to Velasquez’s resilience and a harbinger of the champion’s return to the top.

Number 9 » Insult to Injury