Rory MacDonald will need medical clearance before he can advance to face Neiman Gracie in the Bellator welterweight grand prix.
MacDonald is facing a potential 180-day medical suspension following his majority draw with Jon Fitch at Bellator 220 this past Saturday. The welterweight champion must be cleared for a potential right later epicondyle injury or he will be sidelined six months. He must also receive clearance for a potential 60-day sit due to a facial cut on his right side. Fitch, meanwhile, must be cleared for a scalp laceration or he will be suspended 60 days.
MacDonald questioned his drive to compete immediately following the grueling five-round bout with Fitch but later clarified those comments and said he expects to face Gracie at Bellator 222 on June 14 in New York.
The California State Athletic Commission released medical suspensions from the event, which took place at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. Four other fighters from Bellator 220 are facing possible 180-day suspensions pending medical clearance: Veta Arteaga (left knee), Adam Piccolotti (nasal and orbital fractures), Liam McGeary (fractured jaw) and Jordan Williams (fractured nose).
Everyone who competed on the card received at least a seven-day mandatory medical suspension.
Bellator 220 Medical Suspensions:
Rory MacDonald: Must be cleared by physician for potential right later epicondyle injury or suspended 180 days; must be cleared by physician due to facial cut on right side or suspended 60 days
Veta Arteaga: Must be cleared by physician for potential left knee injury or suspended 180 days; suspended 60 days no contact due to laceration on forehead
Adam Piccolotti: Must be cleared by physician for potential nasal and left orbital fractures or suspended 180 days; suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact
Liam McGeary: Must be cleared by physician for fractured jaw or suspended 180 days; suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to TKO
Jordan Williams: Must be cleared by physician and x-ray for potential fractured nose or suspended 180 days
Jon Fitch: Must be cleared by physician for scalp laceration or suspended 60 days
Bruno Casillas: Suspended 60 days due to lacerations on lower lip; suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to KO
Diego Herzog: Suspended 60 days due to lacerations over left eyelid and nose
Nathan Stolen: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to TKO
Travis Crain: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to TKO
Justin Tenedora: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to KO
Peter Ishiguro: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to KO
Justin Roswell: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to TKO
Tom Ponce de Leon: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to hard bout
Jamario Mulder: Suspended 45 days no contest, 30 days no contact due to hard bout