Brandon Moreno achieved a lifelong (well, career-long) goal of claiming gold in the UFC’s flyweight division when he dethroned Deiveson Figueiredo during last weekend’s UFC 263 card in Glendale, Arizona but depending on his medical status it could be some time before he see his first defence.
Moreno became the first UFC fighter born in Mexico to win a championship in his outstanding performance against Figueiredo, submitting the now-former champ in the second round with a tight rear-naked choke but per information released by the Arizona Boxing & Mixed Martial Arts Commission he will require a foot injury sustained in the bout to be cleared by an orthopedic doctor if he wants to return to action before 180 days.
Elsewhere from the card, Jamahal Hill, who suffered a dislocated elbow in his loss to Paul Craig faces a similar wait of 180 days as does Terrence McKinney who injured his knee while celebrating his seven-second knockout of Matt Frevola — the quickest ever KO in the UFC lightweight division.
Nate Diaz has also been handed a 45 day suspension for facial laceration he received in his loss to Leon Edwards.
See below for the full list of medical suspensions from UFC 263:
Israel Adesanya: Seven day suspension
Marvin Vettori: Suspended 30 days for hard bout
Brandon Moreno: Needs clearance from orthopedic doctor for right foot or suspended for 180 days, no contact for 30 days
Leon Edwards: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Nate Diaz: Suspended 45 days for multiple lacerations
Belal Muhammad: Suspended 30 days for multiple lacerations
Demian Maia: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Paul Craig: Suspended seven days
Jamahal Hill: Must get clearance from orthopedic doctor for dislocated elbow or suspended for 180 days
Brad Riddell: Suspended 45 days for multiple lacerations
Drew Dober: Suspended 45 days for two lacerations, needs orthopedic clearance for hip pain
Eryk Anders: Seven day suspension
Darren Stewart: 14 day suspension
Lauren Murphy: Suspended 45 days for right eyebrow laceration, no contact for 30 days
Joanne Calderwood: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Movsar Evloev: Seven day suspension
Hakeem Dawodu: 14 day suspension
Pannie Kianzad: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Alexis Davis: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Terrance McKinney: Needs MRI and clearance from orthopedic doctor for right knee or suspended for 180 days, no contact for 30 days
Matt Frevola: Suspended 45 days for knockout, no contact for 30 days
Steven Peterson: Seven day suspension
Chase Hooper: Seven day suspension
Fares Ziam: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Luigi Vendramini: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days
Carlos Felipe: Suspended 45 days for right eye laceration, no contact for 30 days
Jake Collier: Suspended 30 days for hard bout, no contact for 21 days