10 Most Horrifying MMA Injuries Of All Time

7. Shinya Aoki Destroys Hirota's Arm

One of the best light/welterweight fighters to never compete for the UFC, dynamic submission artist Shinya Aoki has turned the sport's biggest promotion down several times, citing his loyalty to Singapore's ONE FC on the last occasion. A shame, as he's a sublime fighter, and it would've been exciting to see him regularly tested against the best in the world, but trouble would've likely followed the Japanese star.

Aoki has been accused of poor sportsmanship several times throughout his career, with one of the most notable examples coming in December 2009. He fought Mizuto Hirota at Fields Dynamite!! The Power Of Courage. Making short work of an outclassed opponent, he soon dragged Hirota to the ground and trapped him in a seemingly inescapable hammerlock, but sensed he wasn't going to tap.

What was Shinya's response? To deliberately break the arm, but there were afters. Aoki hopped to his feet, flipped a middle finger up at the downed fighter and the crowd.

'Tobikan Judan' would later reveal that several fighting promoters had paid him to deliberately break opponents' bones throughout his career. Draw your own conclusions.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.