UFC star’s eye completely closes as fans convinced sickening injury cost him victory in ‘fight of the year’

FIGHT fans were near astonished arsenic UFC prima Myktybek Orolbai suffered a gruesome oculus wounded during his decision to Mateusz Rebecki.

Poland's Rebecki, 32, claimed a determination triumph implicit 3 brutal rounds against Kyrgyzstan's Orolbai, 26, connected the undercard of UFC 308.

It was a bloodbath of a contention arsenic some men were near looking battered and bruised astatine the last bell.

But the astir shocking item was the authorities of Orolbai's close eye.

The MMA fighter, who present has a grounds of 13 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw, saw his oculus swell up and look to adjacent during the bout.

Despite the injury, referee Vitor Ribeiro allowed the clash to continue.

Orolbai bravely saw retired the 15 minutes earlier Rebecki had his manus raised.

Reacting to the injury, 1 instrumentality said: "That dude is tough."

Another replied: "This wounded outgo Orolbai the fight."

While a 3rd responded: "This dude built antithetic 🔥."

And a 4th said: "Fight of the twelvemonth for sure."

UFC 308's main lawsuit sees Ilia Topuria instrumentality connected Max Holloway successful a highly-anticipated featherweight clash.

Also connected the bill, taking spot successful Abu Dhabi, is Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev.