(George Galanis is an MMA fan, freelance journalist and BPL contributor.)

For those who watched UFC 129's main event between welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and top contender Jake Shields there was little doubt St. Pierre would have to spend some time on the sidelines after complaining to his corner between rounds about an inability to see clearly out of his left eye.

And, in announcing its list of medical suspensions from UFC 129, Ontario's regulatory board insisted St. Pierre be given a mandatory two-month break from competition - and receive an ophthalmologist's clearance before he is able to return to the cage.

In terms of specifics, a statement from one of the Canadian's trainers - Greg Jackson — explained St. Pierre had suffered internal bleeding due to an eye poke from Shields, not retinal damage, and was expected to make a full recovery.

After every sanctioned MMA or combat sporting event, medical suspensions are handed out to fighters. Even fighters who don't take much punishment tend to be handed the standard 14-day no-contact medical suspension.

The point of the standard 14-day precautionary suspension is simply to allow the fighter's body (and brain) a couple weeks to recover. It's also worth noting that when athletic commissions are the ones holding your ability to compete in their hands, it's probably a good idea to listen to what they have to say and give your body a few days even if you feel like jumping right back in to training. 

While some other leagues and sporting competitions struggle to come up with clear regulations regarding athlete  concussions, the UFC points proudly to its medical record. "Here's the reality. This is the most regulated sport in the world," UFC president Dana White told a pre-fight news conference.

The UFC notes how referees jump in to prevent fighters in trouble from further damage, how doctors and ambulances are on hand during a fight night and the extensive pre- and post-fight tests its athletes are subjected to. MMA combatants undergo annual tests to maintain their license to fight.

The various state athletic commissions impose post-fight medical suspensions, varying on the degree of damage taken. "If they take any damage to the head, they're put on a three-month suspension," said White. "These guys are on a three-month medical suspension and cannot return until they're seen by a doctor.

"These guys don't take the damage that NFL players or boxers [boxers are subject to the same medical regulations as MMA fighters] or guys from the NHL do. Guys in the NFL and the NHL can't miss three months. If guys missed three months for a concussion, there'd be no football; there'd be no NHL. That's the difference, this sport is a million times safer than both of them."

The imposed medical suspensions are for the fighters' safety only.

Other UFC 129 main card athletes receiving sixty-day suspensions include Mark Hominick and Randy Couture. While both men will require CT scans before getting back in the cage again, a process Couture won't worry about given his retirement, the causes of their two month forced vacations were ultimately different, with Hominick's being for precautionary reasons stemming from facial cuts/swelling and Couture's being the typical sentence applied to fighters suffering a knockout.

Below is a complete list of UFC 129 medical suspensions:

Kyle Watson - Suspended 60 days due to left-eye laceration and knockout, CT scan required


Charlie Valencia - Suspended 60 days due to knockout, CT scan required


Sean Pierson - Suspended 60 days due to knockout, CT scan required


Jake Ellenberger - Suspended 45 days, must have X-ray due to possible hand injury


Nate Diaz - Suspended 45 days due to left-eye laceration


Mark Bocek - Suspended 30 days due to head laceration


Jason Brilz - Suspended 60 days due to knockout, CT scan required


Randy Couture - Suspended 60 days due to knockout, CT scan required


Mark Hominick - Suspended 60 days for precautionary reasons, CT scan required


Jose Aldo - Suspended 30 days due to lacerations


Georges St-Pierre - Suspended 60 days due to eye injury, must receive ophthalmologist's clearance