Glover Teixeira, Fabio Maldonado, Sergio Moraes, Chris Camozzi and Luiz Cane were all suspended for 180 days by the UFC following their performances this past Saturday at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. However, all five competitors may return to action sooner if they receive medical clearance.
As Brazil has no athletic commission to oversee fighter drug testing and medical suspensions, the UFC acted as its own regulatory body. Sherdog.com confirmed the suspensions on Thursday with Marc Ratner, UFC vice president of regulatory affairs.
The pay-per-view event was headlined by a light heavyweight confrontation between longtime middleweight king Anderson Silva and “Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 runner-up Stephan Bonnar. “The Spider” used a well-placed knee to the body to earn a first-round technical knockout over Bonnar, who was suspended for 45 days in defeat.
Also of note, main draw competitors Dave Herman and Erik Silva were both suspended 30 days following losses to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Jon Fitch, respectively. Undercard talents Diego Brandao and Joey Gambino also received month-long suspensions, while Sam Sicilia, Cristiano Marcello and Reza Madadi will be sidelined for 45 days.
UFC 153 Medical Suspensions
Stephan Bonnar: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Dave Herman: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
Glover Teixeira: Suspended 180 days but may be cleared early with negative x-ray of right hand and right elbow; regardless, suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
Fabio Maldonado: Suspended 180 days but may cleared early with neurological approval; regardless, suspended 60 days with no contest for 45 days
Erick Silva: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
Sam Sicilia: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Diego Brandao: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
Joey Gambino: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days
Sergio Moraes: Suspended 180 days but may be cleared early with negative MRI of right knee and doctor’s approval; regardless, suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Chris Camozzi: Suspended 180 days but may be cleared early with negative x-ray of nasal bone; regardless, suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Luiz Cane: Suspended 180 days but may be cleared early with approval of left orbital and nasal bone; regardless, suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Cristiano Marcello: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Reza Madadi: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
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