TUF 18 Finale medical suspensions: Pena, Corassani among several with potentially lengthy terms
After taking an illegal knee to the face against Maximo Blanco, Akira Corassani will be on the shelf for as much as six months.
Corassani was shut down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a lengthy term – though the featherweight fighter can return earlier than that if his broken nose is cleared by a doctor. Even with the early clearance, though, Corassani will be shut down for two months.
MMAjunkie on Monday requested and received a list of the medical suspensions from this past Saturday’s TUF 18 Finale event, which took place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The NSAC oversaw the show and handed down medical suspensions to eight of the 20 fighters on the card.
In the main event, Gray Maynard was knocked out by Nate Diaz in the first round of their trilogy fight. Maynard was suspended until Jan. 30 with no contact until Jan. 15 for cuts on his forehead, as well as the TKO loss.
The co-main event saw the first women’s “Ultimate Fighter†crowned – but Julianna Pena might be waiting a while for her next fight. Pena stopped Jessica Rakoczy in the first round to become the first “TUF†women’s winner, but she’ll need to have her right thumb x-rayed and cleared by a doctor before she can fight again. Rakoczy was suspended until Jan. 15 after the TKO loss.
Two preliminary-card fighters were given potentially lengthy suspensions. Ryan Benoit, who won $100,000 in bonus money despite a submission loss to Joshua Sampo, could be out for six months unless his left hand is cleared by a doctor. And Drew Dober will need to have right orbital fractures cleared, or he will be out for six months, as well.
The complete list of TUF 18 Finale medical suspensions includes:
Gray Maynard: Suspended until 1/30/14 with no contact until 1/15/14 for left forehead laceration and TKO loss
Julianna Pena: Must have right thumb x-rayed and cleared by doctor before return
Jessica Rakoczy: Suspended until 1/15/14
Davey Grant: Suspended until 1/15/14 with no contact until 12/31/13
Peggy Morgan: Suspended until 1/15/14 with no contact until 12/31/13
Akira Corassani: Must have broken nose cleared by ENT or no contest until 5/30/14. Otherwise, suspended until 1/30/14 with no contact until 1/15/14.
Drew Dober: Must have right orbital fractures cleared by ENT or no contest until 5/30/14. Otherwise, suspended until 1/30/14 with no contact until 1/15/14.
Ryan Benoit: Must have left hand x-rayed and cleared by doctor or no contest until 5/30/14. Otherwise, suspended until 12/31/13 with no contact until 12/22/13.
