THE CANADIAN PRESS
A broken jaw, hearing loss, some facial cuts and a few joints that need a doctor’s clearance.
That’s the bottom line damage from Saturday’s UFC 116 mixed martial arts card in Las Vegas, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar was handed a 6 1/2-week medical suspension due to cuts on his right eyelid and left eyebrow. Shane Carwin, submitted by Lesnar in the second round, was suspended for two months.
Lesnar’s basic purse was US$400,000, according to the commission. But the big man picked up another $75,000 from the UFC for submission of the night and will undoubtedly earn a far bigger chunk of change from his cut of the lucrative pay-per-view.
Carwin’s purse was a modest $40,000 although UFC president Dana White told reporters the former interim champ would make more than that.
The purses listed by the commission do not tell the whole story since the UFC does not provide details on most of its bonuses or contracts.
Canadian light-heavyweight Krysztof (The Polish Experiment) Soszynski, a loser to Stephan (American Psycho) Bonnar, collected $85,000 including $75,000 for fight of the night. Bonnar made $125,000 including the bonus.
Soszynski, a native of Winnipeg who now makes his home in California, is suspended until the end of the year unless a doctor clears his left thumb. His minimum medical suspension is until Sept. 2.
Middleweight Chris (The Crippler) Leben, a winner over Yoshihiro Akiyama in the co-main event, was suspended for a month after his second win in as many weeks. Akiyama was suspended until Aug. 18, with the commission citing “tough fight” as the reason for the bans.
Both men also collected $75,000 fight of the night bonuses, upping Leben’s total to $161,000 and Akiyama’s to $120,000.
Middleweight Gerald (Hurricane) Harris also had a lucrative night, collecting $95,000, including a $75,000 bonus for best knockout, for his win over newcomer Dave Branch.
Branch, who was knocked out when he was dropped on his head, was suspended until Aug. 18. He left with a headache, no doubt, and $6,000.
Light-heavyweight Ricardo Romero, who rallied to beat Seth (The Silverback) Petruzelli, is suspended until Dec. 31 pending a doctor’s clearance of a broken left lower jaw. The earliest his medical ban can be lifted is Sept. 2.
Romero made $16,000 for his troubles, compared to $10,000 for Petruzelli, who faces a similar medical suspension pending clearance of a right elbow strain.
Heavyweight Brendan Schaub made $20,000 for his 67-second knockout of Chris (The Crowbar) Tuschscherer. The loser picked up $12,000 and a medical suspension until the end of the year pending clearance of hearing loss in his left ear. Tuschscherer’s minimum ban is until Sept. 2.
