Cro Cop, who interrupted his time off to headline this past Saturday's UFC 119 against Frank Mir, was knocked out cold in the final minute of an otherwise lackluster fight and has been suspended indefinitely pending clearance from doctors.
Twelve total fighters were medically suspended following UFC 119, which took place at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
"Cro Cop" wasn't the only fighter to receive a long-term suspension.
Matt Serra, who met Indy native Chris Lytle in a rematch of their November 2006 bout, also received an indefinite suspension following a three-round slugfest that never touched the mat despite both men's decorated submission-grappling backgrounds. The former welterweight champion dropped a unanimous decision, his third loss in four fights.
Both Filipovic and Serra also face mandatory 180-day suspensions regardless of whether they are cleared to compete by a CT scan, according to Means. That will keep them out of action until April 2011.
Additionally, K-1 and PRIDE veteran Mark Hunt also is suspended indefinitely following his bout with newcomer Sean McCorkle. The event's first contest ended in a little more than two minutes when McCorkle appeared to injure Hunt's left elbow with a kimura joint lock.
The full list of suspensions includes:
- Mirko Filipovic: suspended indefinitely or until cleared by CT scan; regardless, suspended 180 days for precautionary reasons
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: 30-day suspension with no contact for 30 days for precautionary reasons
- Matt Serra: suspended indefinitely or until cleared by CT scan; regardless, suspended 180 days for precautionary reasons
- Evan Dunham: 45-day suspension with no contact for 45 days for precautionary reasons
- Sean Sherk: 30-day suspension with no contact for 21 days for precautionary reasons
- Joey Beltran: 30-day suspension with no contact for 30 days due to laceration
- Matt Mitrione: 30-day suspension with no contact for 12 days for precautionary reasons
- Steve Lopez: 30-day suspension with no contact for 30 days due to forehead laceration
- Sean McCorkle: 30-day suspension with no contact for 21 days for precautionary reasons
