Leslie Smith's Exploding Ear, UFC 180

[sensei8]

I didn't actually watch the fight live, but saw highlights afterwards. I have to say it's up there in my top 5 "eeeeww" moments in UFC. Jessica Eye threw a pretty sweet punch which caused the injury, or did she? From some angles it looks like she may have caught the ear with her thumb causing it to rip, it certainly wasn't deliberate if she did, but I have to say I was pretty disappointed with her comments after the fight "When I connected and saw her ear blow up, that became my main target.

 

"I was going to keep hitting it until they stopped the fight or it fell off" Now I get these guys keep fighting to the end but to purposely try and get somebody's ear off, to me is pretty despicable. Am I being overly sensitive? Possibly. But then again, she knows the fight was over then, why not keep going but target a different area until the fight was officially stopped? It's not like it's just a wee cut, it's a serious injury IMO, and to target it in such a way, well, it's pretty cold.

What's everybody's thoughts, do you agree with how Eye targeted the ear, or do you think she should've changed tactic till the fight was stopped?

Mo.

I don't have an issue with it. If it was that serious of an issue, then the other person should have stopped fighting and gave up, or the corner should have thrown in the towel. If I was in a fight, and I think I broke the other guy's rib, I'd keep going after that rib until the fight was over. Competitions like this are fought to be won. As long as its within the rule set, then fight to win. Perhaps it does sound like her tactics were pretty cold, but the individuals who can step into the ring like this to fight like this aren't necessarily like the rest of us.

When you put it that way, Brian, I can see your point.

[bushido_man96]

This kind of goes along with that fighter we discussed that tapped out at the beginning of a fight because he outclassed his opponent so badly.

Same thing here, where the fighter who looks to exploit a weakness is looked at as dishonorable or not doing things the right way. The way I look at is that the fighter that is injured or is outclassed has the onus on themselves to do what they need to do protect themselves from further injury.

Why be upset because this fighter admitted to exploiting a weakness in her opponent? Why not be upset at the other fighter for not being responsible enough for themselves to take themselves out of that position?

[sensei8]

This kind of goes along with that fighter we discussed that tapped out at the beginning of a fight because he outclassed his opponent so badly.

Same thing here, where the fighter who looks to exploit a weakness is looked at as dishonorable or not doing things the right way. The way I look at is that the fighter that is injured or is outclassed has the onus on themselves to do what they need to do protect themselves from further injury.

Why be upset because this fighter admitted to exploiting a weakness in her opponent? Why not be upset at the other fighter for not being responsible enough for themselves to take themselves out of that position?

Again, when you put it that way, Brain, I do see your point.

I don't see dishonor in exploiting a weakness!