Two-division UFC champ Amanda Nunes and featherweight title challenger Felicia Spencer had very different competitive outcomes at UFC 250, but both face potentially long timeouts.
According to medical suspensions released on Monday by the Nevada Athletic Commission, which regulated the ESPN+ pay-per-view event this past Saturday at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nunes needs an X-ray of her right tibia and fibula to avoid a six-month suspension.
Spencer, meanwhile, needs doctor clearance for an orbital fracture and broken nose to shorten a half-year timeout.
Nunes battered Spencer over five rounds to retain the UFC featherweight title. So dominant was the champ’s performance, many fighters said online that the Spencer’s corner could have thrown in the towel.
If Nunes follows through with her stated post-fight plans, a six-month suspension will have no effect on her career. The champ said she might not fight for the rest of 2020 as she prepares for the arrival of her daughter with UFC strawweight Nina Ansaroff.
Here’s the full list of medical suspensions from UFC 250:
Amanda Nunes: needs X-ray of right tibia/fibula – if broken, needs orthopedic doctor clearance or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Felicia Spencer: needs clearance from maxillofacial surgeon on left orbital floor and nasal fracture or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until Aug. 6 with no contact until July 22.
Raphael Assuncao: suspended until Aug. 6 with no contact until July 22.
Neil Magny: suspended until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Eddie Wineland: suspended until Aug. 6 with no contact until July 22.
Chase Hooper: needs X-Ray of right thumb – if broken, needs orthopedic doctor clearance or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Gerald Meerschaert: suspended until July 22 with no contact until July 7.
Cody Stamann: suspended until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Brian Kelleher: needs right foot X-ray – if broken, needs orthopedic doctor clearance or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Charles Byrd: needs left wrist X-ray – if broken, needs orthopedic doctor clearance or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Alex Perez: needs right ankle, foot and right ribs X-ray – if broken, needs orthopedic doctor clearance or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until July 7 with no contact until June 28.
Jussier Formiga: suspended until July 22 with no contact until July 7.
Devin Clark: needs clearance from maxillofacial surgeon on left orbital floor fracture or suspended until Dec. 4; suspended at a minimum until Aug. 6 with no contact until July 22 for laceration.
Gilbert Burns: needs new MRI by June 3, must have left foot sutures cleared by doctor or no contact until July 7.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
