An amateur fighter's head was split open in a freak accident after 17 seconds of an MMA match

• Amateur fighter Hunter Boone suffered a horrible injury as he was almost scalped Saturday.
• Boone clattered into the fence of the cage and the gate, and ended up with a near 8-inch gash.
• See graphic images of the injury below but be warned, they are disturbing.

Amateur fighter Hunter Boone's head was split open in a freak accident after 17 seconds of an MMA match Saturday at the Martial Combat 3 event at the FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Graphic photos that Boone posted on his Instagram depict the extent of the damage caused, as a near eight-inch gash on his skull is so deep a large flap of loose flesh can be peeled back to expose the deep wound.

It looks like he's been scalped.

Injuries like these are uncommon, and though MMA Junkie reports that the promotion is unsure of the cause, Boone claimed on social media that it may have been because of "improper padding/inspections."

Boone fought Jordan Brown at the event, but the bout was over shortly after beginning when he collided into either the fence or the cage's gate and suffered the massive laceration, reports MMA Junkie and MyMMANews.

Jason Greer is the head coach at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Altus and was cornering Boone.

"A few seconds after the bell rung, Hunter and his opponent spun into the cage," Greer said in a statement on Facebook.

"His opponent had a collar tie and as they hit the fence. Hunter's head slammed into the gate, resulting in Hunter suffering a 20-centimeter gash across the front of his hairline.

"It knocked him unconscious immediately, but he had regained consciousness before he hit the ground."

Greer said that, despite the "fight-ending blow" and injury, Boone continued to try and fight, regardless.

The coach did not know what had happened at first. Then the referee stopped the bout and called for the doctor. It was only when he rushed into the cage that he could see "how devastating the injury was."

Boone posted photos on his Instagram, which we are publishing here.

Warning: GRAPHIC (Scroll right to see the images):

Boone told us he remains concussed

Boone told Insider on Tuesday that he's "doing okay" and "taking it one day at a time."

However, he said the injury continues to have lasting effects.

"I'm still pretty out of it and concussed. I'll get with everyone when I can, man."

Greer called his fighter a "savage."

The coach said: "I love you, brother. I'm so proud of how you handled yourself. I know you'll be back to training and making a positive difference in everyone at the gym soon! Your family is behind you, brother."