UFC 258 Medical Analytics and Autopsy

Fighters who fought either left broken physically, mentally, emotionally, or just left it all in the octagon. Let’s see how many apples they’ll need to keep the UFC doctor away as the medical autopsy for UFC 258 is broken down.

The information below was made possible by MMA Junkie, who obtained the full list of suspensions from The Underground, the Association of Boxing Commissions’ official record keeper.

UFC 258 Medical Suspensions

Kamaru Usman (C) Def. Gilbert Burns via Third-Round TKO (0:34)

• Kamaru Usman (C): Needs X-ray of the right foot and clearance by the doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
• Gilbert Burns: Needs right eyebrow and left orbital lacerations cleared by the doctor; otherwise suspended 45 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days.

Usman, the champ indeed, got dinged up in the fight, but he ended up dishing the most damage to a physically & emotionally beaten-up Burns. Everyone felt for the title challenger, whose face showed the impeccable impression of damage done by the Nigerian Nightmare’s picture-perfect jabs.

However, Usman might be indefinitely out 180 days if he doesn’t get the x-ray clearance from a doctor on his right foot. Burns needed work on his right eyebrow and left orbital, which leaves him out 45 days max, a minimum of 30 days.

Burns seems eager to wash the stench of defeat, so we wouldn’t be shocked to hear a fight announcement soon against a top contender like Stephen “Wonderboy Thompson” or Khamzat Chimaev, with Leon Edwards moving on. Usman might face Jorge Masvidal or face the winner of a Masvidal/Colby Covington fight if they were to coach The Ultimate Fighter. Sparks are flying in the welterweight division, and things will only get hotter.

Alexa Grasso Def. Maycee Barber via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)

• Maycee Barber: Needs MRI of right shoulder, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.
• Alexa Grasso: Needs X-ray and MRI of the right knee, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.

It hurts to say, but Barber’s plan to be the youngest champ has come to a halt. This loss brings her back to the drawing board as she attempts to find a new pathway to the title. This path might include stocking up her record with some experience fights and trying to be the BEST UFC women’s champion.

Barber’s right shoulder needs to be x-rayed and cleared by the doctor. She’s in the same boat as Usman, where if she isn’t cleared, she’s suspended 180 days. But if things are normal, she’s only out for 30 days.

Grasso joins Usman & Barber in if she doesn’t get her right knee cleared, she’s out for 6 months. And just like Barber, Grasso is cleared in 30 days if all is a-ok.

Kelvin Gastelum Def. Ian Heinisch via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

• Kelvin Gastelum: No suspension.
• Ian Heinisch: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact.

Heinisch’s attempt to claim the ranks of elite welterweight contenders fell short in his bid against Gastelum. Heinisch didn’t seem to find the right answers or counters to Kelvin’s offensive. Kelvin came in, initiated his gameplan, took Ian’s best shots, and dominated the majority of the fight.

Gastelum advances unscathed and is cleared to continue training and fighting as soon as he wants. Heinisch will be medically out for 30 days before being cleared.

Ricky Simon Def. Brian Kelleher via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)

• Ricky Simon: No suspension. 
• Brian Kelleher: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact.

Simon established himself with this short-notice victory over hardcore veteran Brian “Boom” Kelleher. The cherry on top is that he comes out with no major/minor injuries and uses this momentum to boost up the ranks. “Boom” will look to heal up for 45 days before restarting the climb for top-contenders.

Julian Marquez Def. Maki Pitolo via Submission (Anaconda Choke) (R3, 4:17)

• Maki Pitolo: Suspended 45 days with 30 days no contact. 
• Julian Marquez: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact. 

Probably one of the best fights of the night. Before we go further, Julian Marquez is the luckiest and most idiotically heart-breaking MMA fighters out there right now.

Not only does he provide the comeback of the night, but he also called out Miley Cyrus for Valentine’s Day, AND SHE ACCEPTED! With the condition that he shaves her initials in his chest hair. The man was on top of the world. Any sane man would comply and accept. But Julian Marquez messed up his chances and he will spend 30 days medically suspended and lonely without Miley Cyrus by his side to make him feel better.

Pitolo, on the other hand, will take this sore defeat along with the majority of viewers that agreed he was winning the fight going into the third. He took a lot of punishment in the third round and will spend 45 days suspended before being fully cleared.

*(Honorable Mention)* Anthony Hernandez Def. Rodolfo Vieira via Submission (Guillotine Choke) (R2, 1:53)

• Rodolfo Vieira: Suspended 60 days with 45 days no contact.
• Anthony Hernandez: Needs X-ray of the right hand, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 21 days with 14 days no contact. 

Talk about the most ironic upset in MMA. Rodolfo Vieira, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black-belt world champion who claimed countless gold medals in world competition, tapped out to no stripe, blue-belt MMA fighter Anthony Hernandez. The BJJ community was in shock as they saw one of their top elites admit defeat on a worldwide platform to a lower-ranked practitioner.

This is a direct hit at the pride and ego of a professional martial artist like Vieira, who will have a lot to re-evaluate after his best weapon was ruthlessly used against him. It was like Pac-Man eating Toru Iwatani, the creator of Pac-Man in the movie Pixel. Hernandez will bask in the clout he gets from beating a world champion martial artist. After clearing his 21-day suspension, which will become 180 days if his right-hand X-Ray is not cleared, Hernandez will undoubtedly challenge a note-worthy name in the shark tank that is the middleweight division.

The Rest of the UFC 258 Medical Suspensions

Belal Muhammad Def. Dhiego Lima via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)

• Belal Muhammad: No suspension. 
• Dhiego Lima: Needs X-ray of the nose, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 45 days with 30 days no contact. 

Polyana Viana Def. Mallory Martin via Submission (Armbar) (R1, 3:18)

• Polyana Viana: No suspension. 
• Mallory Martin: Needs MRI of right elbow and clearance by the doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.

Chris Gutierrez Def. Andre Ewell via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27) 

• Andre Ewell: No suspension. 
• Chris Gutierrez: Needs X-ray of the nose, doctor clearance, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact. 

Gabriel Green Def. Philip Rowe via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

• Gabriel Green: Suspended 30 days with 21 days no contact due to left eye laceration.
• Philip Rowe: Needs X-ray of the left knee and clearance by the doctor, otherwise suspended 180 days; the minimum suspension is 30 days with 21 days no contact.

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