Most mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters can end their post-fight medical suspensions with a note from their respective physicians, clesring them of whatever bumps and bruises (or worse) were incurred on fight night.
Most, but not all.
A rare exception to that rule is Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight Hector Lombard, who was utterly destroyed by Dan Henderson at the UFC 199 pay-per-view (PPV) event last Saturday night (June 4, 2016) in Los Angeles, California.
Watch the replay here.
That means “Showeather” will be riding the pine for the next six months, which he probably needs considering he was also beaten to a bloody pulp back in March. The 38-year-old Cuban will not be eligible to return to action until December.
He may not be alone.
Here’s the complete list of UFC 199 medical suspensions and injuries from California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), by way of MMA Fighting:
Luke Rockhold: 45-day suspension, 30 without contact after being knocked out (no exception).
Ricardo Lamas: 60-day suspension or cleared by physician due to laceration of left tibial. 45-day suspension, 40 without contact for hard bout (no exception).
Hector Lombard: 180-day suspension for prolong recovery from knockout (no exception). 45-day suspension, 30 without contact after being knocked out (no exception).
Dan Henderson: 45-day suspension, 30 without contact for hard bout (no exception).
Bobby Green: 45-day suspension, 30 without contact due to TKO (no exception).
Clay Guida: 45-day suspension, 30 without contact after being knocked out (no exception).
James Vick: 45-day suspension, 30 without contact after being knocked out (no exception).
Jessica Penne: 45-day suspension, 30 without contact due to TKO (no exception).
Sean Strickland: 180-day suspension or cleared by physician due to possible fracture of both hands.
Jonathan Wilson: 180-day suspension or cleared by physician due to inability to stand. 60-day suspension or cleared by physician due to laceration of left eye. 45-day suspension, 30 without contact due to TKO (no exception).
Kevin Casey: 180-day suspension or cleared by physician due to low blood sugar. 60-day suspension or cleared by physician due to laceration of left eye. 45-day suspension, 30 without contact due to hard bout (no exception).
Dong Hyun Kim: 180-day suspension or cleared by physician due to possible broken nose. 60-day suspension or cleared by physician due to laceration of right eye. 45-day suspension, 30 without contact after being knocked out (no exception).
Polo Reyes: 180-day suspension or cleared by physician due to possible fracture of both hands and right elbow. 45-day suspension, 30 without contact due to hard bout (no exception).
All fighters competing at UFC 199 received mandatory seven-day rest periods.
Just a quick reminder: Fighters (not named Lombard) often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases. In addition, not all injuries are recorded during the post-fight examination and often times surface in follow-up tests.
For a complete wrap up of all the UFC 199 weekend festivities click here.