UFC Fighter Punished by Athletic Commission for Leaving Cage Prematurely

The New York State Athletic Commission is already one of the most hated in the country with MMA fans, and they don’t seem all that interested in changing that.
According to reports (including ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto), on-again-off-again UFC featherwei…

The New York State Athletic Commission is already one of the most hated in the country with MMA fans, and they don’t seem all that interested in changing that.

According to reports (including ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto), on-again-off-again UFC featherweight Charles Oliveira has been suspended 60 days by the NYSAC. The reason? Exiting the cage before the official decision was announced for his fight at UFC 210 on Saturday.

After forcing his foe, former Bellator champion Will Brooks, to submit to a rear-naked choke in the first round, the Brazilian hopped over the fence to hug and celebrate with his cornermen. While jumping on top of the cage following a win is almost a UFC tradition at this point, Oliveira leaving the competition area over the top of the cage is a punishable offense.

This isn’t the first time the NYSAC has raised eyebrows with post-event discipline. Yoel Romero was in the same position last year following a celebration outside the cage after his win over Chris Weidman at UFC 205. Additionally, many were taken aback last year when the commission suspended Kelvin Gastelum for not appearing at the weigh-ins for a fight he had previously withdrawn from.

The sanction, given its relatively short length, likely isn’t a serious hit for Oliveira as he doesn’t fight with unusual frequency and indicated that he wants to return to the featherweight division after UFC 210, which could take some time. Still, this is another kerfuffle following an incredibly controversial card in New York that had already irked fans and the UFC alike.

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