A gritty championship-length fight netted UFC lightweight Al Iaquinta a long medical suspension.
In an email to MMA Junkie, a spokesperson for the Ontario Office of the Athletics Commissioner, which regulated UFC on ESPN+ 9, indicated Iaquinta’s term is six months, or 180 days. Asked whether Iaquinta’s suspension meant he couldn’t be cleared sooner by a doctor, the rep stated, “I have confirmed this information with the commissioner.”
Iaquinta (14-5-1 MMA, 9-4 UFC) told MMA Junkie the commission was inaccurate.
“I can be cleared,” Iaquinta said in a text message, adding he “would have remembered that” if he’d been told the opposite.
Even though the Ontario Office of the Athletics Commissioner regulated this past Saturday’s event at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, questions were routed through the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. No details were given on the nature of Iaquinta’s suspension or any other fighters on the card. It would be highly unusual for an athletic commission to issue a long suspension without the possibility of early clearance from a doctor.
Iaquinta’s opponent, Donald Cerrone (36-11 MMA, 23-8 UFC), received a mandatory 14-day suspension following a unanimous-decision win.
Two other fighters received 60-day terms after their fights: Sergey Spivak following a TKO loss to Walt Harris and Sarah Moras after a TKO loss to Macy Chiasson.
Here’s the full list of medical suspensions from UFC on ESPN+ 9, per the commission:
- Donald Cerrone: suspended 14 days
- Al Iaquinta: suspended 180 days
- Derek Brunson: suspended 14 days
- Elias Theodorou: suspended 14 days
- Shane Burgos: suspended 14 days
- Cub Swanson: suspended 30 days and medical clearance
- Merab Dvalishvili: suspended 30 days
- Brad Katona: suspended 14 days
- Walt Harris: suspended 14 days
- Sergey Spivak: suspended 60 days and medical clearance
- Andrew Sanchez: suspended 30 days and medical clearance
- Marc-Andre Barriault: suspended 14 days
- Macy Chiasson: suspended 14 days
- Sarah Moras: suspended 60 days
- Vince Morales: suspended 30 days and medical clearance
- Aiemann Zahabi: suspended 14 days
- Nordine Taleb: suspended 14 days
- Kyle Prepolec: suspended 14 days
- Matt Sayles: suspended 14 days and medical clearance
- Arjan Bhullar: suspended 14 days
- Juan Adams: suspended 30 days and medical clearance
- Cole Smith: suspended 14 days
- Mitch Gagnon: suspended 14 days
For more on UFC on ESPN+ 9, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
