The UFC White House card produced seven knockouts in seven fights, and that means a lot of the athletes who competed this past Sunday night are looking at potentially lengthy layoffs as a result.
On Thursday, California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster shared the medical suspensions from the UFC White House card with MMA Fighting after he served as one of the regulators for the event for the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports.
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Both main event fighters, Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria, were handed six-month suspensions after they engaged in one of the most epic battles in recent history. Gaethje ultimately walked away victorious after he battered Topuria with punches, closing both of his eyes and blasting him with a knee to the body that led to his corner stopping the fight between the fourth and fifth rounds.
As a result, Topuria was handed a 180-day suspension, or he has to be cleared by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon to compete any earlier. He was also handed a mandatory 60-day suspension with no exceptions.
Meanwhile, Gaethje may have won, but he also received the same 180-day suspension, or he has to be cleared by a physician for a potential right wrist injury, as well as a left knee MRI for the damage absorbed during the fight.
In the co-main event, Alex Pereira suffered a second-round knockout loss to Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut, and he’s also looking at a 180-day suspension as a result. To compete any earlier, Pereira has to receive a physician’s clearance from a maxillofacial CT scan.
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Pereira was handed a mandatory 45-day suspension due to his knockout loss.
Here’s the full list of medical suspensions handed down from the UFC White House card:
Justin Gaethje: 180-day suspension unless cleared for right wrist injury, MRI on left knee. 45-day mandatory suspension.
Ilia Topuria: 180-day suspension unless cleared by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. 60-day mandatory suspension for knockout.
Alex Pereira: 180-day suspension unless cleared by maxillofacial CT scan. 45-day mandatory suspension for knockout.
Ciryl Gane: 8-day mandatory suspension to rest
Sean O’Malley: 8-day mandatory suspension to rest
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Aiemann Zahabi: 180-day suspension unless cleared by maxillofacial CT scan. 45-day mandatory suspension for knockout.
Josh Hokit: 8-day mandatory suspension to rest
Derrick Lewis: 45-day mandatory suspension to rest after knockout
Mauricio Ruffy: 8-day mandatory suspension to rest
Michael Chandler: 45-day mandatory suspension for knockout
Bo Nickal: 4-day mandatory suspension to rest
Kyle Daukaus: 45-day mandatory suspension for knockout
Diego Lopes: 30-day suspension unless cleared for left eye by physician
Steve Garcia: 180-day suspension unless cleared for left hand injury with x-ray. 60-day mandatory suspension for knockout
