Alright, let’s talk about something I kinda kept track of for a while – the whole situation with Rory MacDonald’s nose. It wasn’t like I set out to study it, you know, but you watch enough fights, you start noticing things. Especially with a guy like Rory, who was in so many wars.
I first really clocked it, like properly noticed how bad it was getting, probably around the time of his second fight with Robbie Lawler. Man, that fight was brutal. And his nose just got smashed. I remember watching and just thinking, ouch, that looks seriously messed up. Before that, yeah, he’d taken shots, everyone does, but that fight seemed like a turning point for his nose, at least from what I could see watching on screen.
Following the Damage Trail
So after that Lawler fight, I kinda found myself paying more attention to it in his later bouts. It became one of those things you look for, almost. Not in a mean way, more like, damn, how’s he even breathing?
- Watching Footage: I went back sometimes, looked at older fights, then newer ones. You could see the difference. It started looking flatter, wider maybe.
- Fight Night Focus: During his Bellator run, every time he got hit with a solid jab or cross, I’d be watching his nose. Seemed like it just couldn’t take much more punishment.
- The Look: It just got permanently rearranged, you know? That’s the fighter life, I guess. Some guys get cauliflower ear, Rory got that nose.
I remember commentators talking about it too, how it might affect his breathing. I can only imagine. Fighting takes incredible cardio, and if your main air intake valve is busted up? That’s tough. Seriously tough.
What It Showed Me
Keeping tabs on stuff like this, just watching over the years, really drives home what these fighters put on the line. It’s not just about the wins and losses.
It’s about the physical toll. We see the knockouts, the submissions, but stuff like Rory’s nose is a permanent reminder of the battles. It’s not something that just heals up perfectly most times. It’s scar tissue, broken bones layered on top of each other.
Honestly, seeing stuff like that made me appreciate the sheer grit involved even more. You gotta be a different breed to keep walking out there knowing parts of you are just permanently damaged from the job. Made me wince quite a few times, just watching him take shots there.
So yeah, that was my informal little ‘practice’ of tracking Rory MacDonald’s nose situation. Just an observation over years of watching the sport. Really tells a story without saying a word, you know?
