UFC 111 suspensions; Rousimar Palhares receives 90-day disciplinary sentence
by Natalia Baage on March 28, 2010

After last night's UFC 111 fights, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board handed out their list of medical suspensions, which also included a suspension for disciplinary reasons.

Rousimar Palhares was at the center of some controversy during his fight against Tomasz Drwal. Palhares secured a heel hook, but did not release it when Drwal tapped. Drwal tapped several times and was yelling out in pain before the referee, Kevin Mulhall, intervened. However, even with Mulhall ending the fight, Palhares held the submission, which forced Mulhall to pry him out of it. While Palhares made a victory jump out of the Octagon, Drwal was left with ringside physicians, still moaning from the pain.

Consequentially, Palhares was issued a 90-day suspension, while Drwal was suspended indefinitely. However, compared to past UFC events, the suspension list, and most of what it contains, is more mild than past events.

The full list of suspensions are as follows:

-  Frank Mir was issued a 30-days suspension for precautionary reasons following his first-round KO loss.

-  Mark Bocek suffered a scalp laceration and is also suspended for 30 days after his unanimous decision loss.

-  Rory Markham was suspended for 30 days due to a facial laceration resulting from his second-round TKO loss.

-  Rousimar Palhares was suspended for 90 days for not releasing the heel hook on Drwal.

-  Tomasz Drwal was issued an indefinite suspension pending an x-ray on his left knee and ankle.

-  Jared Hamman was also suspended indefinitely pending x-rays on his right foot, but was still suspended for at least 60 days due to right foot lacerations.

-  Matt Riddle was suspended indefinitely pending a CT scan.

 |  (38) Comments The Hitman: a well deserved suspension. that was uncalled for. he could have ended his career Ares: Hmmm, a bit excessive in my opinion, I don't think it was malicious. Mtx: I'm really not sure about how this should be approached. I mean, the fight isn't over until the the ref steps in so he is in every right to keep the sub locked. On the other side, it did seemed like Toquinho kept locking it stronger even though Drwal was tapping, he could stopped applying force and just wait for the ref to get in there. I see both sides of the coin on this one, so I'm really undecided. Storm: i think some people just bought into the way Rogan made it seem. EverlastingSpringtime: Ive seen the replay now and Palhares continued to try to break the leg even after the other fighter tapped and the ref really did need to pry palhares off him. Thats not good enough at the elite level, palhares either has no idea what was happening around him or simply ignored pleas to stop and continued to try to break the leg. The heel was cranked 90' from the knee, that leg will need surgery. Storm: u guys need to remember CB Dollaway and Couture/Ortiz. how many times has CB tapped and the ref didnt stop it and CB fought on? what if Ortiz took Coutures lil butt slap as tapping since Tito was trying for a submission at the time if i remember right. nonetheless it is the refs job to stop the fight. if Palhares is to get disciplinary action for what he did, then Penn shouldve received some for what he did to Pulver in their second fight. u wanna see someone hold a choke, go watch Babalu. Palhares did NOT hold it any longer then needed. yes, Drwal was tapping, but the ref wasnt stopping it. so Palhares should continue. when the ref did come in, Palhares let go. simple as that. IwishIwasMMA: You would feel sorry for Rashad? I see Rashad doing better at MW, but I dont know how bright his future would be. As for the suspension. Its fucking bullshit is what it is. The rules are dont stop until its stopped... and the ref came in and he stopped like a second later.. Rampage should be suspended until jesus walks on water again for what he did to Wandy while he was unconscious. Kable: All this tells me is that Aoki would constantly get suspended for 90 days if he was in the UFC. LOL. EverlastingSpringtime: There has to be some sort of punishment, as he failed to stop when the ref called it. He may have got caught up in the moment, not understood the ref verbally, but the consequences of a mistake like that could be devastating for a fighter. (as it turned out it was) Had Phalhares been looking to the ref when he felt the tap, he would have been able to see the ref call it quicker (maybe stopped cranking it harder, but no). That lack of control could be a large fator in the suspension. On that same principal Dan Murgliota should get a suspension as well for Mir v Carwin, the fight should have been stopped soon after Mir slumped, Joe called it perfect. The extra damage that a fighter takes due to a bad refereeing decision should be treated the same imo... both of them f'd up, they both should be suspended. IwishIwasMMA: He held it in until the ref stopped it... when the ref came over he stopped cranking almost instantly.. He was not trying to destroy his leg, but the damage was done waaaay before the ref did shit. That suspension is pointless. It says "hey, leg locks are dangerous and they hurt people. Its legal, but your suspended if you damage someone using one." How about you start banning/punishing refs you stupid ACs? Who the fuck appointed some of these people anyways? I swear they pick the stupidest people to be the body of the ACs then after that get them to choose refs out an asylum. Man they piss me off.
HOW WILL THE THIAGO ALVES VS. MARTIN KAMPMANN FIGHT END AT UFC ON FX 2?
Alves def. Kampmann via TKO/KO
Alves def. Kampmann via submission
Alves def. Kampmann via decision
Kampmann def. Alves via TKO/KO
Kampmann def. Alves via submission
Kampmann def. Alves via decision
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!