Oh boy, the aftermath of UFC 298 is quite the tale, isn’t it? Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa, the warriors of the co-main event, find themselves in a bit of a pickle. They’re staring down the barrel of a potentially long time away from the octagon.
Whittaker’s got a laundry list of woes. A possible hand fracture could bench him for 180 days unless a doc gives the thumbs up. Then there’s his right eye and foot; both got a bit roughed up, earning him a 60-day timeout, pending a physician’s nod. At the very least, he’s out for 45 days, with a strict no-contact rule for 30 of those.
Costa’s in a similar boat. His right foot and leg might sideline him for 180 days unless he gets medical clearance. Like Whittaker, he’s also looking at a 60-day suspension for some cuts, plus a minimum 45-day suspension with a 30-day no-contact period.
The fight itself? Whittaker clinched a unanimous decision victory over Costa. It was a battle that left marks, both physically and in the record books.
Now, let’s talk about the event as a whole. UFC 298, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, was nothing short of spectacular. Ilia Topuria snagged the featherweight title from Alexander Volkanovski with a knockout in the second round. Topuria walked away with a mandatory seven-day rest, while Volkanovski needs to lay low for 45 days, with no contact for 30, thanks to that KO.
But wait, there’s more. A total of seven other fighters from UFC 298 are looking at up to 180 days on the sidelines. We’re talking about big names like Henry Cejudo, Mackenzie Dern, Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Carlos Vera, Mingyang Zhang, Danny Barlow, and Josh Quinlan. Each has their own battle scars to show, from fractures to the need for CT scans.
The list of medical suspensions is a long one, folks. From Volkanovski’s 45-day rest to the numerous 180-day suspensions based on potential injuries and the need for medical clearance. It’s a stark reminder of the toll this sport can take on those who step into the octagon.
Among the suspended, we’ve got Amanda Lemos and Junior Tafa, each facing a 45-day timeout for their hard-fought battles. Then there’s Brendson Ribeiro, also licking his wounds for 45 days after a knockout.
And let’s not forget Oban Elliott and Valentine Woodburn, both given 45 days to recover from their intense fights.
In the end, UFC 298 was a night of triumphs, setbacks, and everything in between. The road to recovery might be long for some, but it’s all part of the game they love. Here’s hoping for speedy recoveries and return to the action-packed world of MMA.