Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos fractures skull in brutal MMA fight
Date: July 18 2016
Jamie Marcuson
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
When Michael Page knocked Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos to the canvas in Bellator 158, social media was abuzz. Not for the knockout, but rather Page's Pokemon-inspired celebration.
But for fight fans watching, it was clear something serious had occurred.
Very rarely in MMA will a fighter fall over clutching their face, and the referee immediately stop the fight. Cyborg was not knocked out, but rather looked to be in incredible pain.
When the Pokemon story subsided, the extent of Cyborg's injuries became clear.
Page had fractured Cyborg's skull with a brutal knee that veteran referee John McCarthy said "sounded like a baseball being hit out of the park".
Cyborg's ex-wife, Cristiane Justino, posted a photo to Instagram of Cyborg with a distinct dent in his forehead as he recovers in hospital in London.
"Fight fans please say a prayer for my ex-husband Cyborg Santos. Many of you watched him fight on Spike TV this weekend when he suffered this injury while fighting in London," she wrote.
"Cyborg is still in the hospital in the UK, and they are not sure when he will be able to fly again. He has not had surgery yet and their [sic] is worry the brain can continue to swell causing more damage."
Jimmy Smith, commentator for Bellator, said one of the fight doctors, who used to work in emergency in a hospital, described the injury as reminiscent of a serious car crash, while Joe Rogan called it "the worst MMA injury I've ever seen".
A cut man who had worked as an EMT saw Cyborg after and told me he had only seen an injury like that in a severe car crash
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) July 17, 2016
Cyborg told MMA Fighting that he is recovering and will look to return to the octagon soon.
"I'm under observation now, and will have surgery in the United States," he said. "I had a serious injury, but Bellator is giving me all the support I need.
"I'll be back soon."
The brutal blow can be seen below. Warning: graphic footage.