UFC star Jamie Mullarkey suffers gruesome swollen ear that looks ready to explode open and broken jaw in brutal loss to Brad Riddell

UFC debutant Brad Riddell earned a £40,500 bonus after leaving his opponent with a broken jaw and an ear so swollen it looked like it was about to burst.

New Zealander Riddell took on Aussie Jamie Mullarkey at UFC 243 in Melbourne – and absolutely battered him.

You would have thought the 28-year-old Kiwi was a veteran of 50 UFC fights such was the devastating ferocity he unleashed on Mullarkey on his home turf.

In fact, it was Riddell’s first experience of UFC although he has a 7-1 winning record in MMA.

One Twitter fan called it: “Round three of Mullarkey vs Riddell at #UFC243 is without question a contender for ‘Round of the Year@

“Enjoy five minutes of beautiful madness!”

And Frankie Walsh joked: “Using your face to block punches is a questionable technique but I’m all for it.”

But others were scathing in their assessment of why Mullarkey’s corner did not throw in the towel.

Thug Wookie said: “There’s tough and there’s taking unnecessary beating which a human body and brain doesn’t appreciate.”

Geoff Herrington posted: “Wow! 2 warriors right there giving their heart and soul to the cause.”

The three-round battle was on the preliminary card, but because of the sheer scale of violence from both fighters, it quickly became a global super bout.

Using your face to block punches is a questionable technique but I’m all for it

Round three – surely already winning round of the year – saw the brutality reach astonishing extremes as both fighters slugged it out with heavy blow after heavy blow.

Mullarkey’s ear blew up so much he began to resemble an alien.

But he also picked up a £40,500 bonus on what broadcaster BT Sport called the fight of the night.

Riddell was also caught badly and left cut and bloody as both fighters landed one vicious blow after another.

The Kiwi’s power was so incredible that he actually punched his Aussie foe’s mouthguard straight out of his mouth.

But Mullarkey was never going to get counted out – and attempted to choke Riddell midway through the final round.

As his nose leaked blood, with his jaw clearly shattered, his face was a bloody mess.

But he refused to give in and tried everything to stop his rival.

Blows rained down on him but again and again he got up off the canvas.

The crowd roared at the end to pay tribute to two bloody and brave warriors as both men left nothing in the Octagon.