The strawweight competitors began Saturday’s UFC Vegas 8 show with a bang. Martin opened the card by submitting Hannah Cifers in the second round following a first round in which Martin was nearly finished by strikes. In the next fight, Viana caught Emily Whitmire with an armbar submission in under two minutes.
However, it’s Martin and Viana that are potentially facing six-month medical suspensions. Martin requires an MRI and clearance from an orthopedic doctor to have her suspension lifted, while Viana will have and MRI done on her right thumb and an X-ray on her right foot before also awaiting clearance from an orthopedic doctor. In a worst case scenario, either woman could be out until February 2021.
Headliners Aleksandar Rakic and Anthony Smith avoided lengthy medical layoffs. Rakic won a three-round decision against Smith in a lopsided contest. Later, Smith told Sirius XM radio that there is an “occult fracture on my fibula head” that he didn’t expect to put him out of action for longer than six weeks.
Smith’s assessment is consistent with the UFC Vegas 8 medical suspensions, which were released by official records keeper mixedmartialarts.com.
One other fighter faces a potential six-month suspension, flyweight Ji Yeon Kim. On the second fight of the main card, Kim dropped a unanimous decision to Alexa Grasso and now requires clearance from an oral and maxillofacial doctor or ophthalmologist for a right orbital non-displaced fracture. The injury could shelve Kim until February 2021.
Here are the full medical suspensions from UFC Vegas 8:
Anthony Smith: Suspended until Oct. 14, no contact until Sept. 29
Neil Magny: Must have cut on right elbow cleared by doctor or no contest until Oct. 14, minimum suspension no contest until Sept. 11
Robbie Lawler: Suspended until Oct. 14 for nasal laceration, no contact until Sept. 29
Ji Yeon Kim: Requires clearance from oral and maxillofacial doctor or ophthalmologist for right orbital non-displaced fracture, or no contest until Feb. 26, 2021; minimum suspension, no contest until Oct. 14, no contact until Sept. 290
Ricardo Lamas: Suspended until Sept. 29, no contact until Sept. 20
Impa Kasanganay: Requires clearance from doctor for right eye laceration or no contest until Oct. 14; minimum suspension, no contest until Sept. 11
Maki Pitolo: Suspended until Oct. 14 for facial lacerations. No contact until Sept. 29
Alessio Di Chirico: Suspended until Oct. 14. No contact until Sept. 29
Christian Aguilera: Suspended until Oct. 14 for right eyebrow and nose lacerations. No contact until Sept. 29
Polyana Viana: Requires MRI on right thumb and X-ray of right foot, and clearance from orthopedic doctor or no contest until Feb. 26, 2021; minimum suspension, no contest until Sept. 29, no contact until Sept. 20
Emily Whitmire: Suspended, no contact until Sept. 29 for left elbow pain
Mallory Martin: Requires MRI of right knee and clearance from orthopedic doctor or no contest until Feb. 26, 2021; minimum suspension, no contest until Oct. 29 , no contact until Oct. 14
Hannah Cifers: Requires clearance from doctor for nose cut or no contest until Oct. 14; minimum suspension, no contest until Sept. 29, no contact until Sept. 20
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