Last night (Dec. 28, 2013) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, the UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2" main event ended in brutal fashion. No, there wasn't a one punch knockout or a late stoppage. No, it ended because former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Anderson Silva's leg snapped in half (highlights here).
Sorry for the hyperbole. It didn't snap entirely in half, that would be impossible. Silva attempted a low leg kick but wasn't expecting for Chris Weidman to counter with a check knee. Though checking kicks with your knee rarely results in snapping an opponent's leg, it can happen.
Silva wasn't the first fighter to suffer such a gruesome injury in the Octagon. Corey Hill, a veteran from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), had his tibia snapped in two when his shin met the shin of Dale Hart. Silva's injury has also happened in other sports.
Most famously is probably Joe Theismann, the quarterback for the Washington Redskins, who had his football career ended when New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor sacked him during a Monday Night Football telecast. Taylor's knee drove down onto Theismann's leg, fracturing his tibia and fibula in the process.
Feeling really bad for Anderson Silva today.
— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) December 29, 2013
Though Theismann underwent surgery, the compound fracture in his fibula resulted in insufficient bone growth which caused his right leg to be shorter than the left leg.
Theismann's case may be the most well known, but it wasn't the only one. In professional wrestling, Sid Eudy -- better known as "Sycho" Sid or Sid "Vicious" -- suffered a similar injury at 2001's WCW Sin pay-per-view (PPV).
As the story goes, Eudy was told by WCW management that he should try and broaden his move set by considering an aerial attack. Eudy lept off the second rope to attempt a big boot and landed awkwardly, snapping both his tibia and fibula.
He underwent surgery in which a 17-inch rod was placed in his leg. Though he returned to wrestling on a part-time basis, Eudy has claimed he wakes up in pain almost daily.
Welcome to my world Silva
— Sid Eudy (@TheSidVicious) December 29, 2013
Eudy and Theismann have been in Silva's situation before and know that if this injury isn't career ending, it's definitely the type that will have long-term affects on "the Spider's" overall health. Here's hoping that the emergency surgery was a success and that Silva won't have to walk with a cane or limp in the future.
For full UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2" fight coverage and results, check out our story stream right here.