Max Griffin explains why his mother was far from happy with his UFC on ESPN+ 40 win

Picking up a big win in the octagon is always a moment to celebrate for the fighter’s friends, family and teammates, but one person in that group wasn’t at all happy with Max Griffin’s TKO victory over Ramiz Brahimaj at UFC on ESPN+ 40 – his mother.

Griffin (16-8 MMA, 4-6 UFC), whose fighting moniker, rather appropriately, is “Pain,” almost tore Brahimaj’s left ear clean off his head as he connected first with a big punch, then with a nasty close-range elbow that left Brahimaj’s ear hanging off.

It meant referee Mark Smith immediately waved off the bout, with Griffin earning the TKO win. But while the Sacramento, California native was happy to snap a two-fight skid and pick up a stoppage win, Griffin revealed to MMA Junkie Radio that his mother wasn’t so impressed with the nature of her son’s win.

“Yeah, my mom was mad!” Griffin grinned. “For hurting somebody! I was like, ‘Mom! It happens!’ and she was like, ‘Well, it’s not something to be proud of. You’ve dished out the most gruesome injury in UFC history!’ They said it was worse than the Leslie Smith ear and that other guy that fought Kimbo (James Thompson), so that must be the worst ear, worst appendage injury, in MMA history, or close.”

Griffin’s mother was repulsed by the graphic scene that followed the conclusion of her son’s fight, and Griffin admitted that even he was taken aback by the sheer amount of damage he inflicted on Brahimaj’s ear. Once he realized the extent of the damage, he knew the fight was over.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I saw a little bit, (then) hit him with the elbow. (The team) were calling out for the elbow. Actually, they told me to disengage and they said to throw that elbow, and I waited to get that overhook and, wham!” he recalled. “When I looked, I saw that ear from about an inch away and was like, ‘Oh my god! It’s over!’ Then Mark Smith was there right at the same time. I knew it was over. What I’d seen, oh yeah! That fight’s over! I didn’t want to hit him again and make it any worse. I jumped on the cage (and) I had his freakin’ blood all over my face. I looked at the pictures and I had his blood in my teeth. It was crazy, bro!”

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