Rory MacDonald got back in the good graces of UFC president Dana White on Saturday night, defeating Demian Maia in a contest that rewarded each fighter with an extra $50,000. Unfortunately for MacDonald he may not be able to capitalize on that Fight of the Night performance for some time. On Monday, MacDonald was handed a medical suspension that could last up to six months.
At the post-fight media scrum, White said of MacDonald, “I’ve been hard on Rory his last couple fights, but he looked great tonight, I was really happy with his performance.”
MacDonald, speaking at the post-fight press conference, said that an avocado slicing accident almost forced him to withdraw from Saturday’s fight. However, it was not that knife wound that has him on the shelf, it is an injured right ankle that must be x-rayed and signed off on by a doctor before he can return to the Octagon. His opponent, Maia got off relatively light, he was suspended until April 9.
MacDonald was not the only fighter handed a possible six-month suspension, joining him were Stephen Thompson, Robert Whitaker, Raphael Assuncao and Cody Gibson. Like MacDonald they all require x-rays and physician sign off before they can get back to fighting.
22 fighters competed on the February 22 fight card which was headlined by UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey defending her title against Sara McMann. Of those 22 fighters, 12 face some time off courtesy of the medical suspensions handed down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The full list of affected fighters appears below, courtesy MMAFighting.com12 fighters handed medical suspensions following UFC 170 fight card:
Rory MacDonald: Requires x-ray on right ankle and physician’s clearance, or no contest until 08/22/14; minimum suspension until 03/25/14, no contact until 03/16/14
Stephen Thompson: Requires x-ray on right hand and physician’s clearance, or no contest until 08/22/14; minimum suspension until 03/25/14, no contact until 03/16/14
Robert Whittaker: Requires physician’s clearance on left forearm, or no contest until 08/22/14; minimum suspension until 03/25/14, no contact until 03/16/14
Raphael Assuncao: Requires x-ray on left ribs and physician’s clearance, or no contest until 08/22/14; minimum suspension until 03/25/14, no contact until 03/16/14
Cody Gibson: Requires x-ray on right hand and orthopedic clearance, or no contest until 08/22/14
Patrick Cummins: Suspended until 04/09/14; no contact until 03/25/14
Demian Maia: Suspended until 04/09/14; no contact until 03/25/14
T.J. Waldburger: Suspended until 04/09/14; no contact until 03/25/14
Rafaello Oliveira: Suspended until 04/09/14; no contact until 03/25/14 due to contusion under right eye
Sara McMann: Suspended until 03/25/14; no contact until 03/16/14
Pedro Munhoz: Suspended until 03/25/14; no contact until 03/16/14
Aljamain Sterling: Requires follow-up MRI of head with gradient echo or susceptibility weighted imaging within one week post-fight, or before 03/01/14
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