Random UFC MW News

Sonnen's suspension:

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The California State Athletic Commission on Wednesday released an official statement regarding the suspension of UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen, 33, tested positive for steroids following his Aug. 7 defeat to titleholder Anderson Silva at UFC 117 in Oakland, Calif.

“A sample from Sonnen's August 6 drug test came back with a high T/E (testosterone-to-estrogen) level, which is indicative of anaboloic steroid use,” read the statement. “CSAC learned of the results September 2 and ordered a second test, which also came back positive for steroid use. CSAC received test results from the second sample on September 14 and suspended Sonnen two days later.”

The statement did not indicate which specific steroid Sonnen had been flagged for, but noted that Sonnen’s urinalysis sample had been collected on Aug. 6 and sent to the World Anti-doping Agency test facility at the University of California, Los Angeles for processing.

Per CSAC protocol, Sonnen has been suspended for one year from the Sept. 2 date and will be fined $2,500. The Team Quest fighter will have 30 days from receipt of notification to file a written request for a commission hearing in which to comment on the allegations and possibly reduce his sentence.

Sonnen’s manager, Mike Roberts, told Sherdog.com on Tuesday that the fighter plans to contest the CSAC’s findings, but wouldn’t give any further comment.

The next CSAC hearing has been tentatively set for Dec. 2 in Sacramento, Calif.

Who steps in to face Silva:

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Vitor Belfort -- withdrawn on Tuesday from his scheduled main event with Yushin Okami at UFC 122 in November -- will instead challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight championship. UFC President Dana White on Wednesday made the announcement via Twitter, and though no official date was pegged, all signs point to a Silva-Belfort showdown in early 2011, perhaps as soon as New Year’s Day.

Widely recognized as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter, Silva has rattled off 13 consecutive victories, a record-breaking 12 of them inside the UFC’s hallowed Octagon. The 35-year-old Brazilian last appeared in August, when he submitted Chael Sonnen with a fifth-round triangle choke in a fight he was clearly losing on points. The two were expected to meet in a rematch, but Sonnen faces the possibility of a year-long suspension following a positive test for suspected steroid use. Silva has secured 20 of his 27 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. His list of victims includes former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (twice), two-time Olympian Dan Henderson and one-time UFC light heavyweight titleholder Forrest Griffin.

Belfort will carry a five-fight winning streak into the match. He underwent shoulder surgery in February and has not competed since September 2009, when he put away Franklin at UFC 103. The 33-year-old Brazilian holds other notable victories against one-time Pride Fighting Championships middleweight titleholder Wanderlei Silva, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Bobby Southworth and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland. A black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Belfort, revered for his devastating hand speed, has delivered 13 of his 19 career wins by knockout or technical knockout.

Meanwhile, Okami will remain atop UFC 122, where he will lock horns with former middleweight King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt in the headliner. According to White, the winner of that fight will move into position to face the Silva-Belfort winner.

What about Okami?

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Fresh off a definitive first-round stoppage against Rousimar Palhares less than a week ago, Nate Marquardt has propelled himself into the UFC 122 headliner against Yushin Okami on Nov. 13 at the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.

Marquardt will reportedly replace Vitor Belfort, according to the first report of the middleweight mix-up from Mixedmartialarts.com on Tuesday. Sherdog.com independently confirmed the new matchup, as well.

According to sources, Belfort, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, has not been removed from the roster due to injury, leading to speculation that the promotion might be trying to rekindle a bout between the 33-year-old Brazilian and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in either January or February. That title bout was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 112 last April in Abu Dhabi, but Belfort withdrew with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

On Monday, the California State Athletic Commission confirmed that Chael Sonnen, who was set to rematch Silva for the middleweight championship in January or February, tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone in the wake of his gripping fifth-round defeat to the reigning titleholder on Aug. 7 in Oakland, Calif.

Sonnen faces a maximum one-year suspension and $2,500 fine for the infraction. The Team Quest fighter will have the opportunity to contest the suspension at a CSAC hearing on Dec. 2 in Sacramento, Calif.

The promotion had announced on Monday that Belfort-Okami would be a title eliminator bout; it is not known yet if the new fight will garner the same status.

Marquardt defeated Brazilian Top Team’s Palhares with strikes after slipping out of the jiu-jitsu black belt’s leglock attempt nearly three minutes into their bout. Palhares initially protested the outcome, accusing the 31-year-old of using a greasing agent on his legs. Marquardt was immediately inspected in the cage and vindicated of the allegation.

Okami, 29, earned a split decision against Mark Munoz at UFC Live 2 in August. A longtime staple of the promotion’s middleweight ranks, Okami touts wins over Dean Lister, Alan Belcher, Mike Swick and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 semi-finalist Kalib Starnes.

Well, there is a lot of news there. I think Belfort is one of the most aggressive strikers Silva has ever fought and I think it will be fun to see. I also think Silva will get a KO, early in the fight.

All of this sure does make the Div more interesting at the moment.

A failed test pops up and basically everyone at the top of the MW division is affected in some way.

To add on to this, a match-up that comes to mind right now would be Palhares vs Maia. Would make for an interesting grappling match and shoot one of them up the division to take on some of the losers of the above fights.

That would be a great BBJ match up