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.

That means until the licensing process for Sonnen organically plays itself to resolution, the UFC is not in a position to act dubiously when it comes to respecting commission edict. It’s not clear given their track record the UFC would act defiantly in the face of regulation even if the New York matter were not in play. However, given that it is, it appears almost certain Sonnen’s UFC career is iced until either his situation or New York’s or both are fully resolved.