Report: Four UFC 120 Fighters Suspended Six Months

All 20 UFC 120 combatants have received medical suspensions, and the UFC has told four of its fighters to rest for up to 180 days.

Mike Pyle, Travis Browne, Cheick Kongo and Rob Broughton could all potentially be on the shelf for six months after their appearance at London's O2 Arena on Oct. 16.

In the United States, local athletic commissions perform the duty of doling out medical suspensions. However, since no such body exists in England, the UFC acts as its own overseer, and suspensions are headed by former Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Marc Ratner. The UFC also outsources the duty of drug testing the competitors to an independent company. This, again, in the stead of a state athletic commission. Fighter salaries are not announced by the UFC.

The veteran Pyle sustained an injury to his right thumb and wrist. He may be cleared by X-ray prior to the 180-day mark, but he must regardless spend at least 30 days on the shelf with no contact for that period.

The terms of Browne's suspension are identical to Pyle's, save for the fact that it was an injury to Browne's left hand that will cause him to miss at least 30 days and up to 180 days pending an X-ray.

Kongo, Browne's UFC 120 opponent, sustained a right hand injury and must sit out at least 21 days, even if cleared by X-ray.

Broughton, a competitor on the undercard, has been suspended for possible shoulder and chest injuries and must clear both an X-ray and an MRI to return early. Regardless, he must convalesce for at least 45 days with no contact for 30 days.

The main event of UFC 120 featured a middleweight tilt between crowd favorite Michael Bisping and Japanese judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama. Bisping outboxed “Sexyama” in a back-and-forth three round affair that saw both fighters eat heavy shots. “The Count” was awarded a unanimous decision. He has also been suspended for 30 days with no contact for 21 days. Akiyama, who was repeatedly tagged by Bisping's straight right hand, must sit out 45 days with no contact for 30 days. Both suspensions are for precautionary reasons.

All other UFC 120 suspensions (for precautionary reasons):

Michael Bisping: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
Yoshihiro Akiyama: Suspended 45 days; no contact for 30 days
Dan Hardy: Suspended 20 days; no contact for 21 days
Carlos Condit: Suspended 14 days; no contact for 14 days
John Hathaway: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
James Wilks: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
Claude Patrick: Suspended 14 days; no contact for 14 days
Cyrille Diabate: Suspended 45 days; no contact for 30 days
Alexander Gustafsson: Suspended 14 days; no contact for 14 days
Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz: Suspended 45 days; no contact for 30 days
Paul Sass: Suspended 14 days; no contact for 14 days
Mark Holst: Suspended 14 days; no contact for 14 days
Spencer Fisher: Suspended 14 days; no contact for 14 days
Kurt Warburton: Suspended 30 days; no contact for 21 days
James McSweeney: Suspended 45 days; no contact for 30 days
Fabio Maldonado: Suspended 30 days, no contact for 21 days