UFC 259 Medical Suspensions: Israel Adesanya Faces Potential 6-Month Layoff

Jan Blachowicz may want a minimum six-month rest following his light heavyweight title defense at UFC 259, but opponent Israel Adesanya could potentially join him in being sidelined that long for different reasons.

“The Last Stylebender” must have clearance on left foot and left ankle X-rays or he will be suspended until Sept. 3. At a minimum, Adesanya is suspended until April 21 with no contact until April 6. Blachowicz, meanwhile, is suspended until April 6 with no contact until March 28.

A full list of medical suspensions from this past Saturday’s event was released to mixedmartialarts.com. UFC 259 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and saw Blachowicz take a five-round verdict against Adesanya in the evening’s headliner.

Meanwhile, Aljamain Sterling, who claimed the vacant bantamweight title via disqualification victory after absorbing an illegal knee from Petr Yan, is suspended until May 6 with no contact until April 21. Yan emerged with a clean bill of health. A rematch is expected to be booked between the two as soon as possible.

Three other fighters from UFC 259 are facing potential six-month terms pending doctor clearance: Megan Anderson (right elbow, needs nasal X-ray); Aleksandar Rakic (right ankle) and Jordan Espinosa (right hand).

UFC 259 Medical Suspensions:

Jan Blachowicz: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21

Israel Adesanya: must have left foot and ankle X-ray, if positive must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum suspension no contest until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21

Megan Anderson: must have right elbow MRI, if positive must have orthopedic doctor clearance and must have nasal X-ray, if positive must have doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum suspension no contest until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21

Aljamain Sterling: suspended until 05/06/21, no contact until 04/21/21

Aleksandar Rakic: must have right ankle X-ray, if positive must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum suspension no contest until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21

Thiago Santos: suspended until 03/28/21, no contact until 03/21/21

Dominick Cruz: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 – face lacerations

Casey Kenney: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21— tooth No. 9 chip

Kyler Phillips: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 — sutures above left eyebrow and right eyelid.

Yadong Song: suspended until 03/28/21, no contact until 03/21/21

Joseph Benavidez: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21 – cut under left eye

Rogerio Bontorin: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21

Tim Elliott: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 — cut on top of head

Jordan Espinosa: must have right hand X-ray, if positive must have orthopedic doctor clearance or no contest until 09/03/21; minimum suspension no contest until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21

Kennedy Nzechukwu: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21 — contusion right eye

Carlos Ulberg: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21 — sutures right orbital

Jake Matthews: suspended until 04/06/21, no contact until 03/28/21

Livinha Souza: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21

Aalon Cruz: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21

Mario Bautista: suspended until 04/21/21, no contact until 04/06/21