Jan
Blachowicz may want a minimum six-month rest following his
light heavyweight title defense at UFC 259,
but opponent Israel
Adesanya could potentially join him in being sidelined that
long for different reasons.
“The Last Stylebender” must have clearance on left foot and left
ankle X-rays or he will be suspended until Sept. 3. At a minimum,
Adesanya is suspended until April 21 with no contact until April 6.
Blachowicz, meanwhile, is suspended until April 6 with no contact
until March 28.
A full list of medical suspensions from this past Saturday’s event
was released to mixedmartialarts.com.
UFC 259 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and saw Blachowicz
take a five-round verdict against Adesanya in the evening’s
headliner.
Meanwhile, Aljamain
Sterling, who claimed the vacant bantamweight title via
disqualification victory after absorbing an illegal knee from
Petr
Yan, is suspended until May 6 with no contact until April 21.
Yan emerged with a clean bill of health. A rematch is expected to
be booked between the two as soon as possible.
Three other fighters from UFC 259 are facing potential six-month
terms pending doctor clearance: Megan
Anderson (right elbow, needs nasal X-ray); Aleksandar
Rakic (right ankle) and Jordan
Espinosa (right hand).
UFC 259 Medical Suspensions:
Jan
Blachowicz: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until
03/28/21
Israel
Adesanya: must have left foot and ankle X-ray, if positive must
have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21;
minimum suspension no contest until 04/21/21, no contact until
04/06/21
Megan
Anderson: must have right elbow MRI, if positive must have
orthopedic doctor clearance and must have nasal X-ray, if positive
must have doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum
suspension no contest until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21
Aljamain
Sterling: suspended until 05/06/21, no contact until
04/21/21
Aleksandar
Rakic: must have right ankle X-ray, if positive must have
orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum
suspension no contest until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21
Thiago
Santos: suspended until 03/28/21, no contact until 03/21/21
Dominick
Cruz: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 –
face lacerations
Casey
Kenney: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until
03/28/21— tooth No. 9 chip
Kyler
Phillips: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 —
sutures above left eyebrow and right eyelid.
Yadong
Song: suspended until 03/28/21, no contact until 03/21/21
Joseph
Benavidez: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21
– cut under left eye
Rogerio
Bontorin: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until
04/06/21
Tim
Elliott: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 —
cut on top of head
Jordan
Espinosa: must have right hand X-ray, if positive must have
orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum
suspension no contest until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21
Kennedy
Nzechukwu: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21
— contusion right eye
Carlos
Ulberg: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21 —
sutures right orbital
Jake
Matthews: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until
03/28/21
Livinha
Souza: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21
Aalon
Cruz: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21
Mario
Bautista: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until
04/06/21