The Nevada State Athletic Commission today announced that they’ve suspended The Ultimate Fighter Live contestant Jeremy Larsen after he sustained a nasty laceration on his head during last Friday’s elimination round on FX.
Larsen defeated Jeff Smith by unanimous decision to earn a spot in the house.
The NSAC suspended Larsen until April 9, with no contact until March 31. Luckily for Larsen, he can be cleared by doctors as soon as this Friday.
Under the old show format, Larsen may have been in danger of being forced off the show due to the injury. But the new live format expands the time that fighters have between fights, allowing them more time to heal from injuries such as the one Larsen suffered.
Steven Marrocco, the excellent reporter from MMAjunkie.com, talked to NSAC commissioner Keith Kizer about Larsen’s injury:
“He can’t fight this week,” Kizer said. “We’re hoping he won’t fight until April, but if they need him before then, our doctor will have to take a look at his scalp and see if it’s been healing. It will definitely be OK by the 9th of April. If it heals quickly, we can let him fight earlier. If not, they’ll have to have him in the last [fight of the next round].”
It sounds like Larsen will be OK and won’t have to leave the show. The first round of the TUF Live tournament will play out over the course of seven or eight weeks, leaving Larsen plenty of time to heal.
But UFC President Dana White indicated on Twitter today that all may not be well in the Ultimate Fighter house:
“Just landed in Vegas from TUF Brazil and something bad has already happened on TUF here so on my way to the training center.”
Rumors are circulating that another cast member may be on his way out of the house. We’ll get more information in the coming days or on Friday night’s episode of the show.
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