Anthony Pettis still can't seem to shake the only opponent separating him from superstardom: his own body.
Following a masterful defense of his lightweight title at UFC 181, Pettis may now be on the shelf for up to six months, pending the results of an X-ray exam on his left hand, which he apparently injured during the fight.
The news comes via the Nevada Athletic Commission, which released all UFC 181 injury suspensions on Monday. The suspensions were initially reported by MMAFighting.com.
If the X-ray results reveal a fracture or other major injury, Pettis could be out until June 2015.
Shortly after the news came out, Pettis took to Twitter in an attempt to allay concerns.
My hand is fine!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 9, 2014
Fans will just have to wait to see what the test reveals.
Pettis (18-2) defeated Gilbert Melendez by guillotine choke in the second round of the UFC 181 co-main event. It was the first time he had defended the title, which he won in August 2013 with a first-round armbar submission of Benson Henderson.
A knee injury, rehab and his coaching stint with Melendez on The Ultimate Fighter kept Pettis on the shelf for 16 months. His return was worth the wait, however, and provided further evidence that the 27-year-old Pettis is must-see TV for fight fans. His blend of aggression, dynamic knockouts and slick submissions is hard to match. The champion has now won five straight bouts, four of which earned him post-fight bonuses from the UFC.
That's why this news is probably pretty nerve-wracking for Pettis fans, not to mention Pettis himself. No one in the cage has been able to stop him, but injuries prevent him from achieving true runaway momentum.
Another knee injury in 2013 derailed a major fight between Pettis and featherweight belt holder Jose Aldo.
Lightweight Abel Trujillo and bantamweight Francisco Rivera also may miss major time, thanks to a broken nose and a left eye laceration, respectively.
Robbie Lawler, who won the UFC welterweight title Saturday night with a split-decision win over Johny Hendricks, did not appear on the suspension list. Hendricks received a minor suspension: He'll be barred from contact training until Dec. 28.
The full list of medical suspensions is as follows:
- Anthony Pettis: X-ray of left hand required. If the X-ray results are positive, Pettis requires a doctor's clearance or no contest until June 6.
- Abel Trujillo: Requires doctor's clearance or no contest until June 6 (fractured nose)
- Francisco Rivera: Requires ophthalmologist's clearance on left eye or no contest until June 6
- Johny Hendricks: Suspended until Jan. 6, no contact until Dec. 28 (tough fight)
- Eddie Gordon: Requires doctor's clearance prior to resuming contact training (concussion). Minimum suspension is no contest until March 7, no contact until Feb. 5
- Brendan Schaub: Suspended until Feb. 5, no contact until Jan. 21 (upper-lip laceration)
- Anthony Hamilton: Suspended until Jan. 21, no contact until Jan. 6 (right forehead laceration)
- Tony Ferguson: Suspended until Jan. 21, no contact until Jan. 6 (right forehead laceration)
- Raquel Pennington: Suspended until Jan. 21, no contact until Jan. 6 (forehead laceration)
- Todd Duffee: Suspended until Jan. 6, no contact until Dec. 28 (forehead laceration)
- Matt Hobar: Suspended until Jan. 6, no contact until Dec. 28 (left eye hematoma)
- Sergio Pettis: Suspended until Jan. 6, no contact until Dec. 28
- Clay Collard: Requires orthopedic clearance on left forearm or no contest until June 6
- Alex White: Suspended until Jan. 6, no contact until Dec. 28 (left upper-eyebrow laceration)
