UFC/MMA News: Medical suspensions for UFC Belem released

What's the story?

The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) has released the list of injuries and medical suspensions sustained by the fighters that competed in the Belem card on February 3rd.

Priscila Cachoeira, who bore the brunt of a late stoppage at the hands of Valentina Shevchenko has been handed a 6-month suspension owing to a knee injury she suffered in the brutal encounter.

UFC Heavyweight Timothy Johnson will be out for 180 days with a potential head trauma.

In case you didn't know...

The UFC returned to Brazil for a stacked fight night offering on Saturday, February 3rd. The card was headlined by a Middleweight bout between the legendary Lyoto Machia and Eryk Anders.

In what turned out to be a controversial night filled with upsets, the former Middleweight Champion ended a 3-fight losing streak to beat the footballer-turned-mixed martial artist.

In the co-main event, Shevchenko made a triumphant debut at Flyweight when she clobbered the living daylights out of the helpless Pricila Cachoeira. Cachoeira was left to die in the fight that should have been stopped much earlier than it did. The aftermatch saw referee Mario Yamasaki come under major fire from all quarters after the fight.

Dana White criticised Yamasaki's amateur decision-making skills and cast doubts on his Octagon future.

The heart of the matter

The Brazilian 'Zombie Girl' leads the list of suspensions with a 6-month ban after her hellacious match against a rejuvenated Shevchenko.

The main eventers of the night, hometown hero Machida and the American Anders received 21 and 14-day bans respectively.

Below is the complete list as released by CABMMA:

Priscila Cachoeira: suspended 180 days with 180 days no contact or until cleared by orthopedist; if cleared, suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact

Timothy Johnson: suspended 180 days with 180 days no contact or until cleared by otolaryngologist; if cleared, suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact

Anthony Smith: suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact

Joseph Morales: suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact

Lyoto Machida: suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact

Eryk Anders: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Valentina Shevchenko: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Michel Prazeres: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Desmond Green: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Marcelo Golm: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Douglas Silva de Andrade: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Marlon Vera: suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact

Thiago Santos: suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact

Sergio Moraes: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Tim Means: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Alan Patrick: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Damir Hadzovic: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Polyana Viana: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Maia Stevenson: suspended 21 days with 14 days no contact

Iuri Alcantara: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

Joe Soto: suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact

Deiveson Alcantara: suspended 14 days with 7 days no contact

What's next?

UFC 221 is the next big event that would see Yoel Romero and Luke Rockhold battle it out for the interim Middleweight Championship. Mark Hunt will also return on the card when he faces the destructive Curtis Blades.

UFC 221 will be held in Perth, Australia on Saturday, February 10th.

Author's take

Medical suspensions are a necessity in the barbaric world of MMA and we wish all the fighters, Cachoeira and Johnson, in particular, a speedy recovery.

Note that most fighters return to action sooner after follow-up tests are conducted.For Cachoeira, we're sure she would want a better referee next time around. #YamasakiOut