Chael Sonnen On If He's Staying Retired Following NSAC Hearing, UFC Cuts Headliner, Cormier Update
- As far as he is concerned, retirement will stick with Chael Sonnen. Following a hearing with the Nevada Athletic Commission, Sonnen confirmed his plans to remain on the sidelines during "UFC Tonight" recently.
"I'm retired," he reiterated. "But there is a protocol that they have to go through, and they will have a hearing that I'll show up for. I won't defend myself, but I will have a conversation on the topic and on the record."
Sonnen failed his most recent drug test, as two banned substances were found in his system. Shortly there after, the former No. 1 contender announced plans to step away from MMA. He was likely facing a suspension, and will still likely be suspended following the hearing.
"I'm most definitely retired," Sonnen said. "As fighters, we tend to stay in the sport a little too long. It's fun, it's seductive and it's all we know. But I'm done."
- Brandon Vera, who has fought the likes of Randy Couture, Jon Jones and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, has been cut by the UFC. Vera was released following back-to-back defeats, the last of which came in August.
Back in 2009, Vera headlined UFC 105 from England against Couture, falling to the future UFC Hall of Famer via decision. In March of 2010, "The Truth" lost via TKO to Jones. Along with those two defeats, Vera went just 1-4 with one no-contest over the span of five years.
He was actually released following a 2011 loss to Thiago Silva, but when Silva was found to have failed his post-fight drug test, the UFC brought him back. Vera defeated Eliot Marshall via decision for his last official Octagon win.
- Daniel Cormier will be competing next month, just not inside the Octagon. Cormier will be facing Chris Pendleton in a wrestling match as part of UFC 175's International Fight Week.
Following the exhibition, Cormier will undergo knee surgery to prepare himself for a likely 2015 title fight with either Jon Jones or Alexander Gustafsson.
Cormier was a standout wrestler at Oklahoma State University and qualified for the Summer Olympics for the United States.