Adesanya is facing a potential six-month medical suspension following his five-round main event battle with UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 259 on Saturday at UFC APEX in Las Vegas. Blachowicz won a unanimous decision to successfully defend his title.
UFC 259 was overseen by the Nevada Athletic Commission. A list of medical suspensions has been provided by official Association of Boxing Commissions’ record keeper mixedmartialarts.com.
Adesanya requires an X-ray of his left foot and ankle. If positive, Adesanya will have to be cleared by an orthopedic doctor or be unable to compete until Sept. 3. At minimum, he is suspended until April 21.
Three other fighters could potentially be out for six months: Megan Anderson (right elbow, nose), Aleksandar Rakic (right ankle), and Jordan Espinosa (right hand).
Blachowicz received a minimum one-month suspension, while victorious featherweight champion Amanda Nunes does not appear on the medical suspension list.
As for the controversial bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan that saw Sterling claim a UFC title via disqualification following an illegal knee from Yan, neither fighter is facing a lengthy suspension. Sterling will be sidelined until May 6.
See the full list of UFC 259 medical suspensions below:
Jan Blachowicz: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28
Israel Adesanya: Must receive clearance from orthopedic doctor on positive result from X-ray on left foot and/or ankle or no contest until Sept. 3; minimum suspension no contest until April 21, no contact until April 6
Megan Anderson: Must receive clearance from orthopedic doctor on positive result from MRI on right elbow, also requires nasal X-ray and clearance from doctor or no contest until Sept. 3; minimum suspension no contest until April 21, no contact until April 6
Aljamain Sterling: Suspended until May 6, no contact until April 21
Aleksandar Rakic: Must receive clearance from orthopedic doctor on positive result from X-ray on right ankle or no contest until Sept. 3; minimum suspension no contest until April 6, no contact until March 28
Thiago Santos: Suspended until March 28, no contact until March 21
Dominick Cruz: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28 (face lacerations)
Casey Kenney: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28 (chipped tooth)
Kyler Phillips: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28 (sutures above left eyebrow and right eyelid)
Song Yadong: Suspended until March 28, no contact until March 21
Joseph Benavidez: Suspended until April 21, no contact until April 6 (cut under left eye)
Rogerio Bontorin: Suspended until April 21, no contact until April 6
Tim Elliott: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28 (cut on top of head)
Jordan Espinosa: Must receive clearance from orthopedic doctor on positive result from X-ray on right hand or no contest until Sept. 3; minimum suspension no contest until April 6, no contact until March 28
Kennedy Nzechukwu: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28 (right eye contusion)
Carlos Ulberg: Suspended until April 21, no contact until April 6 (right orbital sutures)
Jake Matthews: Suspended until April 6, no contact until March 28
Livinha Souza: Suspended until April 21, no contact until April 6
Aalon Cruz: Suspended until April 21, no contact until April 6
Mario Bautista: Suspended until April 21, no contact until April 6
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