UFC 181 Medical Suspensions: Anthony Pettis Facing 6-Month Layoff for Injured Left Hand

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Anthony Pettis made a triumphant return from a 15-month hiatus at UFC 181 in Las Vegas on Saturday. Now, the lightweight champion could be looking at another six months on the shelf.

The Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday released its list of medical suspensions from UFC 181. Among them was Pettis, who must have his left hand X-rayed and cleared by a doctor following his successful title defense against Gilbert Melendez in the show’s co-main event. Depending on the outcome of the X-ray, Pettis could be sidelined until June 6.

Johny Hendricks, who lost his UFC welterweight belt to Robbie Lawler in the card’s headliner, was suspended until Jan. 6 for what the NAC termed a “tough fight.”

Lightweight Abel Trujillo, bantamweight Francisco Rivera and featherweight Clay Collard could also be out until June 6 unless cleared sooner by their respective doctors. Trujillo suffered a fractured nose in his loss to Tony Ferguson, while Rivera sustained an abrasion to his left eye after receiving an eye poke from Urijah Faber. Collard, who took a unanimous decision over Alex White in the show’s opener, must have his left forearm cleared by an orthopedic doctor.

Eddie Gordon, who was brutally knocked out by a Josh Samman head kick in their middleweight tilt, was suspended until March 7 and must have “post-concussive clearance from a neurologist or sports medicine doctor” before resuming contact training.

UFC 181 Medical Suspensions

Johny Hendricks: Suspended until Jan. 6 with no contact until Dec. 28.

Anthony Pettis: Must have left hand X-rayed; if positive, then needs clearance by a doctor or no contest until June 6.

Brendan Schaub: Suspended until Feb. 5 with no contact until Jan. 21 for upper lip laceration.

Todd Duffee: Suspended until Jan. 6 with no contact until Dec. 28 for forehead laceration.

Anthony Hamilton: Suspended until Jan. 21 with no contact until Jan. 6 for forehead laceration.

Tony Ferguson: Suspended until Jan. 21 with no contact until Jan. 6 for forehead laceration.

Abel Trujillo: Must have fractured nose cleared by doctor or no contest until June 6.

Francisco Rivera: Must have left eye abrasion cleared by an ophthalmologist or no contest until June 6.

Eddie Gordon: Must have a post-concussive clearance from a neurologist or sports medicine doctor prior to starting contact training. Minimum suspension until March 7 with no contact until Feb. 5.

Raquel Pennington: Suspended until Jan. 21 with no contact until Dec. 28 for forehead laceration.

Sergio Pettis: Suspended until Jan. 6 with no contact until Dec. 28.

Matt Hobar: Suspended until Jan. 6 with no contact until Dec. 28 for left eye hematoma.

Clay Collard: Must have left forearm cleared by an orthopedic doctor or no contest until June 6. Minimum suspension until Jan. 6 with no contact until Dec. 28.

Alex White: Suspended until Jan. 6 with no contact until Dec. 28 for left eyebrow laceration.