Usman, Covington, and Volkanovski among several UFC 245 fighters facing lengthy suspensions

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Usman, Covington, and Volkanovski among several UFC 245 fighters facing lengthy suspensions

Half of the fighters from the UFC 245 championship tripleheader are facing lengthy medical suspensions, including Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Alexander Volkanovski.

With two of the title fights going the distance and the third going deep into the fifth round, it’s no surprise that there would be several precautionary suspensions for those fighters. All of the fighters in the championship bouts were handed at least minimal suspensions, but two of the champions could be sidelined for as long as six months.

Welterweight champion Usman fought a hard stand-up battle with Covington before finally scoring a TKO stoppage at the 4:10 mark of the final frame. 

Usman didn’t look any worse for the wear after the bout, but could be out for six months because of potential damage to his left thumb.

Covington, however, suffered a much more serious injury. Bloodied and bruised, Covington was found to have suffered a non-displaced midline mandibular fracture (aka broken jaw), which netted him a lengthy suspension.

Volkanovski fought a five-round war with Max Holloway, getting the better of him on the scorecards, to take the UFC featherweight championship from the man many consider to be the greatest featherweight of all time. Doctors suspect damage to his right hand, however, so Volkanovski must get cleared before he can even begin to think of a rematch or defending the belt against anyone else.

In all, seven fighters could be out until June of 2020, after the Nevada State Athletic Commission released the UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington medical suspensions on Monday. 

UFC 245 took place on Saturday, Dec. 14, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.


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UFC 245: Usman vs. Covington Medical Suspensions

  • Kamaru Usman — Must have left thumb x-ray, if positive he must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until June 12, 2020. Minimum suspension until Jan. 14 with no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Colby Covington — Must have non-displaced midline mandibular fracture cleared by oral and maxillofacial surgeon or no contest until June 12, 2020. Minimum suspension until Feb. 13, no contact until Jan. 29.
  • Alexander Volkanovski — Must have right hand x-ray, if positive must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until June 12, 2020. Minimum suspension Jan. 29, no contact until Jan. 14.
  • Max Holloway — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5 due to leg pain.
  • Amanda Nunes — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Germaine de Randamie — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Marlon Moraes — Suspended until Jan. 29, no contact until Jan. 14 due to cut on left eyelid.
  • Jose Aldo — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Petr Yan — Must have right foot x-ray, if positive he must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until June 12, 2020. Minimum suspension until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Urijah Faber ­— Suspended until Feb. 13, no contact until Jan. 29.
  • Geoff Neal — Must have left ribs x-ray, if positive he must have doctor clearance or no contest until June 12, 2020. Minimum suspension until Jan. 14 with no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Mike Perry — Must have nasal x-ray, if positive he must have doctor clearance or no contest until June 12. Minimum suspension until Feb. 13, no contact until Jan. 29.
  • Ketlen Vieira — Suspended until Feb. 13, no contact until Jan. 29.
  • Omari Akhmedov — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Ian Heinisch — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Matt Brown — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5. because of cut on left eyebrow.
  • Ben Saunders — Suspended until Feb. 13, no contact until Jan. 29.
  • Daniel Teymur ­— Suspended until Jan. 29, no contact until Jan. 14.
  • Brandon Moreno — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Kai Kara-France — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Jessica Eye — Suspended until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5 because of cut on left cheek.
  • Viviane Araujo — Must have x-ray or MRI of right hand and x-ray of right foot and left tibia, if positive she must have orthopedic doctor clearance or suspended until June 12, 2020. Minimum suspension until Jan. 14, no contact until Jan. 5.
  • Oskar Piechota — Suspended until Feb. 13, no contact until Jan. 29.

Usman, Covington, and Volkanovski among several UFC 245 fighters facing lengthy suspensions