Derek Anderson’s disastrous bout against Michael ‘Venom’ Page this past Friday has only become more inglorious with time. The man who once pulled out a shocking upset of Patricky Freire in his 2013 debut with the ViacomCBS promotion (a win he later backed up in a 2015 rematch) has had notable trouble finding his way to the cage in more recent years.
Anderson has fought just six times since 2015, hampered by his own injury issues, as well as those of his opponent, and the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, following his loss at Bellator 258, it appears the ‘Barbaric’ fighter out of North County MMA and Fitness will be spending some more time on the sidelines.
In part, that’ll be because of the badly broken nose he suffered in the first round of his fight with MVP, one that forced the doctor to stop the contest between rounds. But, as MMA Junkie reports, it’ll also be because Anderson has been slapped with a 120 day suspension by the Mohegan Sun Tribe Department of Athletic Safety and Regulation. That sanction appears to be a direct result of a post Anderson made on social media, in which he let slip that he’d been battling kidney failure in the weeks leading up to his fight—something he apparently didn’t disclose in his medical paperwork for the bout.
“Love to be back ASAP but went to the hospital 4 times as I was having kidney failure my whole camp and could hardly train, I wanted to make this fight happen,” Anderson wrote, following his loss, adding that he also suffered a broken hand early in the fight.
Speaking to Junkie, head of the Mohegan commission Mike Mazzulli explained exactly why they had decided to implement the suspension.
“When you falsify a pre-fight medical form when they ask you about your health, that’s a concern of mine,” Mazzulli said. “We’re worried about the fighters’ safety. That’s my biggest problem. I’m not going to take it lightly. It’s not OK.”
According to Junkie’s report, Anderson will now need to have a renal MRI, a consultation with a nephrologist, a renal ultrasound, blood testing, and a Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK test) before he’s reinstated by the commission to compete in mixed martial arts. Apparently the commission will also require Anderson to be monitored by a physician for four consecutive weeks during his next weight cut.
When Anderson does return to competition again, it sounds like he’ll be hunting for a potential rematch with MVP, telling the welterweight action talent that he was “powering up” for a big second round before the fight was stopped.
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