Why UFC fighters put vaseline on their face before a fight

UFC fighters apply vaseline on their face before a fight and here's why.

Before UFC competitors enter the famed Octagon, they get checked by a commission official as well as the cutman.

The official will check for the fighter's protective cup, mouthguard and gloves before allowing them inside the cage.

As for the cutman, he will rub vaseline on the fighter's face - applying it on their cheek, eyebrows and nose.

Why do fighters have vaseline applied on their face before competition? Well, it's meant to prevent facial wounds, minimises swelling and forms a protective barrier over the skin.

Putting vaseline on the skin helps keep it soft and stretchy, instead of dried out, so it's less likely to tear when a fighter gets hit as vaseline helps to reduce friction.

Vaseline can also be applied to a wound that’s already there to try to prevent it from getting worse if it gets hit again.

You'll often see fighters get vaseline rubbed onto their face in between rounds.

Vaseline can play a crucial role in allowing a bout to continue if a fighter is dealing with a nasty cut.

Cutman applies vaseline on Derrick Lewis' face during his fight against Jailton Almeida. Image: Getty

However, the amount of vaseline a fighter puts on their face is monitored because too much of it will allow them to slip through submissions, which could be a huge advantage.

Rubbing vaseline on the body, though, is illegal.

It's the referee's discretion whether a fighter has too much vaseline on their face.

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