Combat sports athlete Ermil Xhaferi experienced a dramatic physical reaction that serves as a cautionary tale for athletes competing with facial injuries.
During a recent high-profile contest, Xhaferi made what veteran competitors would recognize as a critical error – attempting to clear his nasal passage after sustaining facial trauma.
The incident, captured on video, shows the immediate and alarming consequence of this decision. “You can literally see, as he blows the nose, and he’s blowing it again, you can literally see the eye swell up like a balloon,” noted one commentator who witnessed the dramatic transformation.
Medical experts explain that this phenomenon occurs because blowing one’s nose after sustaining facial trauma can force air into the surrounding tissue, causing rapid and severe swelling.
This type of incident isn’t without precedent in professional sports. In a similar situation at UFC 238, Donald Cerrone experienced the same issue when he attempted to clear his nose between rounds.
“I just wanted to keep fighting. I was just asking, ‘Can you just push the air back down?'” Cerrone explained afterward. “You’re right, I shouldn’t have blown my nose. I’m a veteran, I’m old school, and I should’ve known that. But I did, and I humbly couldn’t finish the fight, and I apologize.”
The rapid swelling that occurs can completely shut an eye, as happened in Cerrone’s case, making it impossible for an athlete to safely continue competing.
Sports medicine physicians often warn athletes about this risk, but in the heat of competition, even experienced competitors can make this mistake.
For Xhaferi, the incident highlights the importance of proper injury management during competition and serves as a reminder of how split-second decisions can have significant consequences in athletic contests.
Training staff are typically equipped to deal with such injuries, but prevention remains the best approach – knowing not to blow one’s nose after sustaining facial impact is fundamental knowledge that all competitors should remember.
