UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen, who has not competed since UFC 117 in a loss to Anderson Silva, is now back in hot water with the California State Athletic Commission for allegedly perjuring himself in a previous hearing where he battled suspension in a hearing for elevated levels of testosterone.
Chael Sonnen No Longer Suspended By California
In January, Sonnen pled guilty to a felony money laundering charge. The CSAC re-instituted his suspension Sonnen in May as a result of Kizer’s statements and the felony guilty plea.
Sonnen appeared before the CSAC on May 18 and unsuccessfully appealed the suspension.
Read Article >UFC Will Honor CSAC’s Suspension Of Chael Sonnen
Sonnen’s employment with the UFC, while problematic for the time being, does not appear to be in existential question. Still, Sonnen’s statement during his May 18th hearing that unless he were able to have his license reinstated that day he would be “effectively retired” does not appear to be true. It is not clear whether White once said it and has since changed his mind or if it was never true.
Read Article >After Chael Sonnen, Will UFC Commission Shop?
The most intriguing part of the discussion revolves around the issue of commission shopping. In other words, the UFC technically can arrange for Sonnen to fight in unregulated territories such as Brazil or England or even other states willing to be lenient and work around the California suspension. So, will they?
Highly unlikely. None of those on this roundtable thought the UFC would do so either. Top Rank’s Bob Arum did so with Antonio Margarito to make the Manny Pacquiao fight possible, but the UFC is in a very different predicament. There’s not only a noteworthy brand to maintain, but the UFC’s ongoing push to have MMA legalized in New York state complicates matters. The UFC would not only appear hypocritical by pushing a “we run towards regulation” meme and then doing precisely the opposite, but they would give ammunition to skeptical or agenda-driven lawmakers in New York from regulating mixed martial arts.
Read Article >More Details About Chael Sonnen’s May 18th CSAC Hearing
I’m not certain what the probabilities are the State of California will pursue criminal charges in the event they believe Sonnen perjured himself. I’m looking into it now, although one wonders if there’s a difference in penalty for lying in a hearing for an athletic commission versus a criminal or even civil trial.
But I ask that you simply consider the moment at which we have arrived with Sonnen. From the second minute of the fifth round of his main event fight at UFC 117, take a second to inventory his collapse.
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