What Happened to Mark Martin? MMA Fighter Who’s Eye Popped Out During a Fight

In a shocking incident, PFL fighter Mark Martin’s eye popped out of his eye socket last year. While there have been many horrific leg snaps and other injuries in the sport, Martin’s eye popping out is one of the nastiest damages so far.

His left eye swelled up and bulged out of his head in a grotesque fashion. The injury put a halt to his career, and he hasn’t been seen in the cage ever since. But why did his eye pop out in February 2022?

Did Mark Martin retire after the horrific eye injury?

In 2022, Mark Martin made his Professional Fighting League (PFL) debut against Dilano Taylor at Universal Studios in Orlando. The winner of their bout would have gone ahead to compete in the league format of the promotion.

During the first round of their co-main event bout, Taylor broke Martin’s orbital bone after landing a couple of hard shots. This broke the latter’s orbital bone and as he tried to blow his nose, his left eye popped out of its socket. The bout was immediately stopped by the cage-side doctor, snapping Martin’s six-fight win streak.

The injured fighter was rushed immediately to the hospital but did not require any surgery, the fighter’s manager revealed. ‘Showtime’ spoke to TMZ Sports last year about his recovery and plans. “I mean, I’m definitely not ready to get back into the cage now. If everything heals 100%, I’ll definitely go back,” Martin said. “It’s not something where I will retire unless I can’t see. If I can’t see right, then it’s time to hang it up.”

The 30-year-old has not fought, nor had any fights announced since the injury. However, his social media indicates that he has not retired since he continues to train. But his injury surely is a part of several other brutal damages seen in MMA.

Some of the most horrific MMA injuries, including McGregor and Silva

Jairzinho Rozenstruik split Alistair Overeem’s upper lip in two, leaving an inch-long vertical gash at UFC on ESPN 7 in 2019.

Further, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s arm was broken clean into two by Frank Mir Kimura at their UFC 140 in 2011. Similarly, UFC legend Anderson Silva snapped his shin at UFC 168 after Chris Weidman checked a kick from ‘The Spider’. This was back in 2013. The lower half of the Brazilian’s shin bent upwards at a grotesque, unnatural angle, causing the former middleweight champion to crash to the ground in pain.

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A very similar injury happened to Conor McGregor at UFC 264 in July 2021, where ‘The Notorious’ left leg snapped while facing Dustin Poirier. The Irishman hasn’t been in the octagon since that fight. As per reports, he will return in 2024.

Do you think Mark Martin will make a comeback? Should he try his luck again in the cage after having suffered this injury? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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