Chael Sonnen to Once Again Appear Before Nevada Commission Next Week

Despite not fighting since UFC 117 in August, Chael Sonnen has been one of the most talked about middleweights in MMA. 

Most of the publicity for Sonnen has not been in a positive light however, as he first tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone after pushing middleweight Anderson Silva to the brink. 

He then pleaded guilty to a money laundering scandal, but got off with a slap on the wrist since he agreed to cooperate with the investigation of the scandal.

Sonnen has kept his name alive in the MMA scene by trash talking fellow middleweights Michael Bisping and Wanderlei Silva, as well as my training with UFC welterweight Jake Shields. 

Uncle Chael went as far to say that Shields will beat reigning champion Georges St-Pierre for the belt at UFC 129 at the end of this month, and that St-Pierre’s best bet to wear gold again will be to take on Silva for the middleweight title.

In the same time frame, Sonnen has been rumored to be coaching season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter” against Michael Bisping, culminating in a showdown between the Brit around October in a number one contender fight for in the middleweight division. 

These plans have been put on hold though, as Sonnen is not currently licensed as a fighter or a cornerman in the state of Nevada. 

This is course stems from his six month suspension issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commision for his elevated testosterone levels after the Silva fight. 

The suspension was originally scheduled to be for a year, but Sonnen appealed in December and got the suspension reduced to six months when he gave the explanation that he was diagnosed with hypogonadism back in 2008.

A suspension remained in tact since Sonnen’s testosterone levels were well above those who receive regular synthetic testosterone injections from a doctor. 

That has not deterred the former two-time All-American’s efforts to get back in the Octagon though, as he will meet with the NSAC on April 27 to obtain both a fighter’s and cornerman’s license,  the second of which would be a necessity to coach on TUF.

These parties, along with UFC President Dana White, met about a month ago, with the meeting essentially being deemed a failure. 

NSAC Executive Director Keith Sizer has some well documented tension with Sonnen at this point, mostly due to Sonnen’s explanation regarding his use of testosterone. 

He claims his manager got a verbal “therapeutic exemption” from Kizer, but Sonnen referred to the conversation in the first person initially, indication that he spoke to Kizer himself.

Sonnen’s reasoning that he should have used the word “my manager” instead of “I," and that he did not lie and simply misspoke, was deemed a “ridiculous explanation” by Kizer.

Although Dana White said Sonnen “was unlikely to be chosen” as a coach for the upcoming season of TUF about two weeks ago, if he was to obtain the two licenses he seeks out next week, their really would not be any obstacles remaining in Sonnen’s path towards coaching. 

To obtain a fighter’s and cornerman’s license from the NSAC, Sonnen needs three of the five presiding members of the commission to vote in his favor at the conclusion of their meeting.

In what is likely another blessing for Sonnen, Kizer will be present and part of the discussion, but will not be voting on the final outcome for the middleweight contender. 

MMAJunkie.com broke this story when Sizer confirmed an April 27 meeting for Sonnen with the website.