Fans gather around the octagon and ring, expecting to see a lot of blood and action.
Broken noses are part and parcel of the sport we have all come to know and love.
The question today is, how often do boxers or MMA fighters break their noses?
You might wonder if fighters break their noses on purpose as part of their conditioning to ensure that the hits during the fight are not as sore as they appear.
Read on to find the answers to these questions.
Do MMA Fighters And Boxers Break Their Noses On Purpose So That Punches Don’t Hurt Them As Much?
You can tell a fighter has a fractured nose when their nose develops a deformity in the middle where the cartilage lies.
This causes a lot of bleeding, swelling, and pain during the fight.
There is an urban legend that MMA fighters and boxers break their noses on purpose to try to reduce the pain when they are hit during a fight.
This is not the case!
Breaking your nose can be extremely dangerous.
A broken nose can lead to:
- Breathing problems
- Facial deformities
- Septal Hematoma which is blood clots that collect between your nostrils
- Deviated Septum
If you break your nose on purpose and then break it in the ring, it will lead to more pain than if you broke it in the octagon during your fight.
How Do You Prevent A Broken Nose In MMA/Boxing?
Research shows that 10.4% of injuries in Mixed Martial Arts are nose injuries.
There are three main tips to help prevent your nose from breaking.
- Vaseline
Before a fighter gets into the ring or octagon, you can apply a small amount of Vaseline to the skin around your nose.
Some fighters also place a small amount of Vaseline on the inside of their nose. The trick with the Vaseline allows your opponents’ gloves to slip off the skin rather than stick to the skin.
By slipping off the skin, you reduce the risk of breaking your nose.
- Protect Your Face
When training, a fighter is taught to protect their face permanently.
Your face has a lot of nerves and blood vessels.
When hit, your face will swell up quicker and bleed more profusely.
The swelling and blood can cause you to become distracted when fighting.
Keep your hands up and protect your face as much as you can.
- Massage
Massaging your nose before you train or fight can help increase blood circulation in your nose.
This will ensure that your nose is more flexible.
Flexibility reduces the chances of you breaking your nose.
This technique will make your nose bleed more profusely when strikes land on your nose but can help reduce the risk of a break.
