Mixed Martial Arts can be dangerous, with UFC no different as fighters battle it out in the steel cage known as the Octagon.

Although effectively a brawl, UFC is regulated brilliantly and is much safer than what it would have been many years ago. However, injuries still occur, incurring large medical bills.

Joshua Green of Diaspora Insurance has compiled a list of the top five medically expensive fights from 2021, but who comes out on top in the unfortunate list?

5. UFC 259 – Jan Blachowicz vs Israel Adesanya – $60,000 (£43,949)

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 12: Israel Adesanya of Nigeria celebrates after defending his middleweight championship against Robert Whittaker of Australia during UFC 271 at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

It was a huge night in the career of Israel Adesanya who ultimately fell short to his Polish opponent. The card was stacked with injuries though, racking up quite a bill.

Some of the injuries included fighter suffering a chipped tooth, as well as numerous x-rays and MRI scans which quickly add up, they’re not cheap!

Casey Kenny’s chipped tooth ended up costing $5,000 (£3,685) whilst Megan Anderson cost the UFC $5,500 (£4,054) for an MRI on her elbow and a nose x-ray after being dominated by Amanda Nunes.

4. UFC 258 - Kamaru Usman vs Gilbert Burns - $64,500 (£47,245)

Kamaru Usman is the current UFC welterweight champion

This was a truly costly night for the UFC with multiple broken bones and MRI scans, cementing this card as one of the most costly ones of the year.

Both Dhiego Lima and Chris Gutierrez suffered horrific nose breaks, both costing around $8,000 in medical bills.

Anthony Hernandez also left the Octagon with a broken bone, fracturing his right hand in his win over Rodolfo Vieira. It set them back a staggering $10,000 (£7,369) in medical bills.

3. UFC 266 – Alexander Volkanovski vs Brian Ortega $69,500 (£50,900)

Brian Ortega (L) fends off an attack from Alex Volkanovski (R)

UFC 266 comes in at just third on this list despite having the largest PPV injury list of the year. Although a plethora of injuries occurred on the night, none were as huge as what happened in the top two nights on the list.

The biggest was the right orbital blowout fracture suffered by Brian Ortega as he took on Alexander Volkanovski. The surgical correction set the UFC back $15,000 (£10,987).

A string of concussions saw a whopping $26,000 (£19,044) forked out in medical bills. Martin Sano’s broken thumb cost $7,000 (£5,127) too, taking the total up close to $70,000 on the night.

2. UFC 264 – Poirier vs McGregor 3 - $82,000 (£60,000)

Conor McGregor is expected to return to the UFC Octagon later this summer

Conor McGregor’s trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier was the biggest fight of the year, but it ended in disaster. Notorious broke his leg in the fight, with surgery costing upwards of $50,000 (£36,400). McGergor hasn’t featured since, but his return is imminent as he has finally been back in training.

Not for the first time in this list, a broken nose needing surgery makes an appearance. Yana Kunitskaya’s injury set the UFC back $8,000 (£5,859).

1. UFC 261 - Usman vs Masvidal 2 - $114,000 (£83,500)

Jorge Masvidal believes Conor McGregor is deliberately trying to avoid a fight with him

Similarly to McGregor’s injury, Chris Weidman suffered a similar injury, breaking his tibia and fibula in his right leg 17 seconds into the fight. The surgery cost the same as McGregor’s at $50,000 (£36,400).

On the same night, Jimmy Crute suffered damage to his perennial nerve in his left knee, setting the UFC back a staggering $36,000 (£24,000) to fix it. Taking into account the concussion injuries and MRI scans, the medical bill at UFC 261 racked up rapidly.