Gruesome Photo of the Day: Yes, These Bruises Are From Fighting

(Yes, he’s comfortable with that. He, is enlightened.)

That messed-up sumbitch you see above is Mike Barreras, who had the utter misfortune of facing 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion Bubba Jenkins during the prelims of Bellator 97 last night. The fight ended by TKO early in round 2, but looking at Barreras afterwards, you’d think he’d been gang-stomped for hours. I can’t even tell where the eyeball ends and the swollen mess begins. Poor b*****d probably doesn’t even know that his hat isn’t on straight.

The loss dropped Barreras’s MMA record to 5-6. His previous career highlights include losing a decision to Isaac Vallie-Flagg, and being falsely accused of raping a 16-year-old. Yeesh. Things will turn around, Mike. We just know they will.

About Bubba Jenkins

Bubba Jenkins, the 2011 NCAA Division I wrestling champion for Arizona State, had made the jump to MMA only months before this fight at Bellator 97 in July 2013. His wrestling pedigree made him one of Bellator’s most promising prospects.

Jenkins went on to a long career at featherweight in Bellator and later the PFL, where he became a regular contender. The damage shown here is a reminder of the punishment that elite wrestlers can dish out with ground-and-pound.