‘UFC 197’ Medical Suspensions Released — Both Jon Jones And Ovince Saint Preux Out For Six Months

On Saturday, April 23, Jon Jones made his long-awaited return to MMA action when he fought Ovince Saint Preux in the main event at UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux. It was a fight many were originally looking forward to because it originally paired “Bones” against the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Cormier. Unfortunately for “DC,” he suffered an injury which took him out of his rematch against Jones. Though many MMA fans were disappointed, they still tuned into the pay-per-view just to see if Jones could still hold his own. After five rounds, it was evident that Jon Jones could keep up with his division but not enough to dethrone Daniel Cormier, according to what UFC President Dana White thinks.

Now that UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux has concluded, MMA fans are wondering which fighters will still be able to compete and which fighters will be sidelined. They no longer have to wait, as the medical suspension list for UFC 197 has recently been released. From the looks of it, both Jon Jones and Ovince Saint Preux may be out for six months.

A total of 15 fighters received medical suspensions after their respective bouts at UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux. On top of that list were the main event contenders, Jon Jones and Ovince Saint Preux. According to MMA Fighting, both Jones and Saint Preux received the maximum medical suspension of 180 days for their injuries. For Jones, he needs an X-ray for his left foot and clearance from an orthopedic doctor. As for Saint Preux, he has a broken left ulna and needs clearance from an orthopedic doctor too. However, Saint Preux has the added condition of his minimum suspension to be 45 days along with no contest for 30 days.

Demetrious Johnson also came out on top successfully defending his UFC Flyweight Championship against Henry Cejudo. With his current win, “Mighty Mouse” is now tied in successful championship defenses with fellow main event fighter at UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux, Jon Jones. Cejudo, on the other hand, will also be shelved with a medical suspension after eating a knee followed by ground and pound in the first round. “The Messenger” is suspended for 45 days with no contest for 30 days.

As for the other 12 fighters, they are listed below under Jon Jones, Ovince Saint Preux, and Henry Cejudo, as reported by MMA Junkie. Including Jones and Saint Preux, almost half of them may be out for 180 days.

• Jon Jones: Needs left foot X-ray and clearance from an orthopedic doctor or suspended for 180 days.
• Ovince Saint Preux: Needs clearance of broken left ulna by an orthopedic doctor or suspended for 180 days. Minimum suspension of 45 days with no contest for 30 days.
• Henry Cejudo: Suspended for 45 days with no contest for 30 days.
• Anthony Pettis: Suspended 30 days with no contest for 21 days for right eyebrow laceration.
• Robert Whittaker: Needs right hand X-ray. If broken, clearance from an orthopedic doctor or suspended for 180 days. Minimum suspension of 30 days with no contest for 21 days.
• Rafael Natal: Needs nasal fracture cleared by doctor or suspended for 180 days. Minimum suspension of 45 days with no contest for 30 days.
• Andre Fili: Needs clearance for left inferior orbital wall fracture by oral maxillofacial surgeon or ophthalmologist or suspended for 180 days. Minimum suspension of 45 days with no contest for 30 days.
• Sergio Pettis: Needs right hand x-ray. If broken, clearance from an orthopedic doctor or suspended for 180 days.
• Chris Kelades: Suspended 30 days with no contest for 31 days for facial abrasions.
• Daniel Roberts: Needs clearance of left foot by an orthopedic doctor or suspended for 180 days. Minimum suspension of 45 days with no contest for 30 days.
• Dominique Steele: Needs yearly eye examination to follow possibility of glaucoma. No suspension but due on March 22, 2017.
• Juliana Lima: Suspended 30 days with no contest for 21 days.
• Glaico Franca: Needs ophthalmological exam and needs nasal fracture cleared by doctor or suspended 180 days. Minimum suspension of 60 days with no contest for 45 days.
• Walt Harris: Needs right hand X-ray. If broken, clearance from an orthopedic doctor or suspended 180 days. Minimum suspension 30 days with no contest for 21 days.
• Cody East: Needs nasal fracture cleared by ear, nose, and throat doctor or suspended 180 days. Minimum suspension 45 days with no contest for 30 days.

It should be noted that MMA fighters very rarely use all the days of their medical suspension assigned to them. They will do their best to fulfill all the medical requirements necessary to be allowed to return to MMA action.

[Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images]