THE full extent of Tony Ferguson's gruesome eye gash has been revealed in close-up footage from his UFC 249 loss to Justin Gaethje.
Corner cam footage showing exactly what each fighter's trainer said to them between rounds has been released.
And the scenes at the end of round three as Ferguson – who went through a double weight cut for the bout – goes to sit on his stool show his bloodied and bruised face.
Funnily enough, it is with part of his face split open that one of Ferguson's corner says to him: "Looking beautiful, man."
Ferguson was rushed to hospital with a broken eye socket following his defeat to Gaethje on Saturday night.
El Cucuy, who entered the event on a 12-fight winning streak, was left a battered mess as he forfeited the chance to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Gaethje – whose coach told him to stop hitting Ferguson so hard – landed 143 significant strikes, 100 of those to the head, as he outfought Ferguson to win the interim lightweight crown.
The defeated star has now shown in a hospital selfie the damage to his broken orbital bone that has caused his left eye to almost completely swell shut.
He can also be seen covered in cuts and bruises, while his hospital gown is spattered in blood.
Despite that, Ferguson – branded an "a**hole" by Gaethje in the fight's aftermath – managed a small smile as he posed for a sweet snap with his wife Cristina to celebrate Mother's Day in the USA.
He wrote: "Love You Babygirl. Thanks For Taking Care Of Me #Happy Mother’s Day Toots."
Nurmagomedov was one of those to offer a message of support to 36-year-old Ferguson.
Khabib, who was due to be the one fighting Ferguson until the coronavirus pandemic forced last month’s clash at the Barclays Center to be called off, tweeted: "Whatever happened is in the past.
"Heads up Tony, I hope everything is good with you and your family.
"When your son grow up, he’ll be proud with you."
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