Most gruesome UFC injuries ever from Jedrzejczyk’s swollen head to Silva’s leg break and Ferguson’s smashed eye socket

UFC is one of the most brutal sports on the planet.

And both Anthony Smith and Gabriel Benitez learned that the hard way on Wednesday as they were rushed to hospital following horrific injuries in the cage.

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First, veteran Benitez suffered a gruesome "bullet hole" gash on his leg during his defeat to Omar Morales that left his shin bone exposed through slashed skin.

Then in the main event, Smith suffered a broken eye-socket and had two teeth knocked out during his one-sided beating against Glover Teixeira.

But the two won't be the first and probably won't be the last to suffer in the sport.

Here SunSport explores the most gruesome injuries in UFC history.

Look away now...

TONY FERGUSON'S EYE

Tony Ferguson's face was so smashed to pieces during his interim lightweight championship fight that Justin Gaethje's trainer told his man to stop punching him so hard as he was 'trying to kill him.'

And in pictures posted online, fans can see the extent of the damage to El Cucuy's broken orbital bone that caused his left eye to almost completely swell shut.

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JON JONES' TOE

Jon Jones is one of the best fighters of all time but his journey to the top came at a cost.

During his 2013 TKO victory over Chael Sonnen, the then 25-year-old smashed his opponent in the first round but dislocated his big toe in the process.

And the result made for gruesome viewing after the fight.

ALISTAIR OVEREEM'S LIP

Jairzinho Rozenstruik nearly split Alistair Overeem's entire face open at the end of last year when a vicious right-hand in the last moments of the fight handed Rozenstruik the win.

Overeem had to have plastic surgery on on the lip to sort out the brutal wound.

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ANDERSON SILVA'S LEG

This is perhaps one of the most well known UFC injuries.

Brazilian Silva was defending his middleweight title in 2013 when he threw a trademark kick at Chris Weidman.

But the kick was so well blocked, not only did Weidman avoid damage, he also folded his opponents shin in half in one of the most stomach churning incidents ever seen in the sport.

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LESLIE SMITH'S EAR

Smith nearly had her ear ripped off by Jessica Eye during their 2014 bout.

Eye had already swollen Smith's lughole with a right hand earlier in the bout and the cauliflower ear exploded with blood soon after when Eye landed another straight right.

Unsurprisingly, the ref quickly put a stop to proceedings.

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JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK'S HEAD

Jedrzejczyk was left barely recognisable after her sensational fight with Weili Zhang at UFC 248.

Zhang was defending her strawweight crown against former champion Jedrzejczyk and the pair left it all in the cage in what has been dubbed the greatest female fight in UFC history.

She suffered a huge haematoma - a large bruise under the skin, when blood causes a major swelling which often needs to be drained surgically.

Jedrzejczyk lost by narrow split-decision in the instant classic.

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ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA'S SHOULDER

This one is not for the feint-hearted.

Nogueira landed a few solid shots on Frank Mir earlier in this fight and thought he had him beaten.

But after a grapple on the floor, Mir got his opponent in a kimura lock and not until his arm broke and his shoulder popped out of its socket did Nogueria tap out.

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