MMA Junkie reports that Bellator’s Derek Anderson has been suspended for 120 days by the Mohegan Sun Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation for falsifying his pre-fight medical forms.
Anderson, who suffered a nasty broken nose in a lost to Michael Venom Page, did not disclose that during his fight camp, he went to the hospital four times for kidney failure.
Anderson posted this news on his Instagram post-fight.
Payout Perspective:
Anderson’s actions would not have been discovered had he not posted this news on social media. This is a problem that goes to the heart of fighter safety and the wages of independent contractors. Anderson knew that if he had disclosed that if he had kidney failure and had to go to the hospital four times, there’s no way he fights. But, saying he “wanted to make this fight happen” means that he was not sure if he had pulled out, he’d get another opportunity again. But Anderson risked his health for this fight and if he would have been seriously hurt, the commission and Bellator could be in trouble for not following up with the fighter. Pre-fight medicals are important and a fighter that does not disclose something vital (like this) will likely suffer consequences.
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