UFC: Chael Sonnen Suspended After Money Laundering Conviction

I guess we don't have to worry about wondering when out favorite politician is fighting again.

The UFC's answer: Not anytime soon.

Almost 24 hours removed from a shocking guilty plea for money laundering, Fanhouse MMA and MMA Junkie respectively report that UFC President Dana White has made it official: Chael Sonnen has been suspended from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

This is a move which will sadden longtime Sonnen fans and even his most recent followers, as he'll not only be put on the shelf until further notice, but also Chael's bout with exciting Judoka and three-time "Fight of the Night" winner Yoshihiro Akiyama will undoubtedly be scrapped from the otherwise exciting UFC 128 fight card. That event is headlined by the long awaited UFC Light Heavyweight title bout between champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and former champion "Suga" Rashad Evans.

Said White on this bit of breaking news:

"Chael Sonnen has gone through a lot in the last few months and we think it's important for him to focus on getting his personal life together before focusing on his career in the UFC," White said. "I spoke with Chael earlier today and he agrees that setting priorities in his life is the best thing for him right now. I sincerely hope Chael is able to straighten out his personal life."

While this move will indeed disappoint some fans, many MMA pundits are commending this action taken by White, noting that as of yesterday's guilty plea and subsequent plea deal, Sonnen has become a convicted felon. Subsequently, that type of moniker is a much poorer reflection on mixed martial arts than was Sonnen's previous monikers of "best pound-for-pound trash-talker in the world" and "the guy who almost beat Anderson Silva."

As other sports discipline their athletes in certain ways, Dana White is looking to do the same, hence his decision to suspend Sonnen—a suspension that appears to be an indefinite suspension at this time.

Was this a good move by Dana?

To each his own, and I'll leave it at that.