Medical suspension means we may not see Anthony Pettis fight until the summer

The list of medical suspensions for UFC 181 has been released and Anthony Pettis is among the worst affected.

The lightweight champion defended his belt for the first time on Saturday night by submitting Gilbert Melendez via guillotine choke but it looks like he is facing another spell on the sidelines. Pettis (19-2) had been out for over a year before Saturday night and, according to the medical report, he is set to miss another six months unless X-rays prove that his left hand isn't broken. The 27-year-old insisted via Twitter that his hand isn't broken but it will take more than an adamant Tweet to convince the Athletic Commission to clear him.

My hand is fine! — Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 9, 2014

It calls into question the durability of the 155lb kingpin who has fought just four times since February of 2012. Prior to the UFC 181 co-headliner on Saturday, the Roufusport fighter had claimed he intended to fight four times in 2015 in order to establish himself as a superstar of the sport along the lines of Ronda Rousey and Jon Jones. Those plans look to have gotten the kibosh after his latest injury. The full list of suspensions are as follows:

• Anthony Pettis -- Suspended until June 6, 2015, due to potential left hand injury unless a physician clears him to return earlier.
• Johny Hendricks -- Suspended until Jan. 6, 2015, with no contact until Dec. 28, 2014, due to "tough fight."
• Brendan Schaub -- Suspended until Feb. 5, 2015, with no contact until Jan. 21, 2015, due to upper lip laceration.
• Todd Duffee -- Suspended until Jan. 6, 2015, with no contact until Dec. 28, 2014, due to forehead laceration.
• Anthony Hamilton -- Suspended until Jan. 21, 2015, with no contact until Jan. 6, 2015, due to forehead laceration.
• Tony Ferguson -- Suspended until Jan. 21, 2015, with no contact until Jan. 6, 2015, due to forehead laceration.
• Abel Trujillo -- Suspended until June 6, 2015, due to fractured nose unless a physician clears him to return sooner. He must serve a minimum suspension until Jan. 6, 2015, with no contact until Dec. 28, 2014.
• Francisco Rivera -- Suspended until June 6, 2015, due to eye abrasion unless an ophthalmologist clears him to return earlier.
• Eddie Gordon -- Must receive post-concussive clearance from a neurologist before he can resume contact training. He must serve a minimum suspension until March 7, 2015, with no contact until Feb. 5, 2015.
• Raquel Pennington -- Suspended until Jan. 21, 2015, with no contact until Jan. 6, 2015, due to forehead laceration.
• Sergio Pettis -- Suspended until Jan. 6, 2015, with no contact until Dec. 28, 2014.
• Matt Hobar -- Suspended until Jan. 6, 2015, withno contact until Dec. 28, 2014, due to left eye hematoma.
• Clay Collard -- Suspended until June 6, 2015, due to potential left forearm injury unless a physician clears him to return earlier. He must serve a minimum suspension until Jan. 6, 2015, with no contact until Dec. 28, 2014.
• Alexander White -- Suspended until Jan. 6, 2015, with no contact until Dec. 28, 2014, due to left eye laceration.