How on Earth was Christian Gonzalez given the go-ahead to fight at Bellator 170?
The American welterweight suffered his first loss as a professional against Danial Rodriguez in the opening bout of the Spike.com preliminary card on Saturday night. Both fighters entered with pristine 2-0 records, but only Rodriguez exited the cage still undefeated after scoring a TKO in the second round.
Gonzalez earned a disclosed purse of just $1,350 for the defeat after being forced to forfeit 20% of his pay for missing weight. His opponent took home $3,075 for the knockout win.
Always with the 'F' word #Bellator170 https://t.co/QbKAbFvQ8Z
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 22, 2017
The medical suspensions for the event, obtained by MMA Fighting, revealed that Gonzalez was harbouring a worrying injury going into the fight. He received an indefinite suspension due to an “unreported stab wound,” according to information released by the California State Athletic Commission.
Gonzalez also had chest pain and will be out of action for at least 45 days. He, along with Brennan Ward – who suffered a gruesome eye injury after being brutally knocked out by Paul Daley in the co-main event – will require medical and commission clearance before being allowed to fight again.
Chael Sonnen, who lost to the retiring Tito Ortiz in the headline act will only require the seven-day mandatory test before being allowed to return to active competition. He suffered a first round submission to the Huntington Beach Bad Boy.
