Seven months, twenty-four days, three hours and sixteen minutes. That’s the amount of time Chael Sonnen has been suspended by the CSAC for his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs at UFC 117 and today, Sonnen appeared yet again in front of the CSAC panel to appeal his decision. Despite the trial being held about twenty minutes away from my current residence, I was unable to make it to the trial. There’s a little thing called ‘MiddleEasy’ that I must slave over, constantly, which prevents me from going outside during the day. Luckily, ESPN’s Josh Gross was there during the trial and here’s a rundown of the information he managed to extract in the form of informative tweets.
- Sonnen’s attorney Steve Thompson says the felony conviction in Oregon should play no part in his licensing in California. Eloquent opening.
- Thompson said Sonnen has a lot on the line: a spot on TUF and a potential No. 1 contender bout.
- Thompson is working hard to establish that Sonnen was informed by Matt Lindland that he was cleared in Nevada in 2008.
- Kizer, after a question from commissioner Dr. Van Lemons, points to Sonnen’s declaration and says it includes a false statement.
- Last sentence in graph 22 of Sonnen’s declaration: NSAC told me don’t “declare testosterone injections in pre-bout medical questionnaire.”
- Kizer said that’s untrue. The commission never told Sonnen that. … So far it’s all word play and semantics. We’re in a short intermission.
- Sonnen is very understated. He said he never intended to make it sound like he had a conversation with Keith Kizer.
- Sonnen said Lindland made it sound to him as if he was cleared for TRT in Nevada and California.
- Sonnen said UFC would give him a job 18 days from now. “A once in a lifetime opportunity to be a coach on The Ultimate Fighter.”
- The winner of the fight between coaches (Michael Bisping) would earn a title shot against the UFC middleweight champion.
- “If I don’t get my license today I’m effectively retired. That came from the boss, Dana White.” — Chael Sonnen
- “I worked for this chance my whole life. I don’t want to retire today.” Chael is welling up. He’s talking about himself.
- Dean of the commission, John Frierson, is speaking now: “It’s very hard for me to believe in your second chance.”
- Sonnen’s camp is attempting to enter a declaration from Matt Lindland. Chappelle asks it to be stricken & Calif. won’t allow it into record.
- “I don’t know how you can ever trust him,” she says. Chappelle is weaving a picture of Sonnen as someone who does not tell the truth.
- Thompson said this shouldn’t be “a game of gotcha” and asks commissioners to consider White’s words that no license means Sonnen is done.
- Thompson is talking up how much UFC supports Sonnen through their willingness to put him on TUF and a potential title fight.
- Sonnen’s mother is speaking.
- Back to the motion for indefinite suspension, which was seconded by Giza. 4-1 motion passes, the indefinite suspension remains.
- Indefinite means suspended until his license in California expires June 29. Sonnen goes on MMA commission watch list. Can apply elsewhere.
Chael Guevara. The guy is such a revolutionary that no one fully understands him. We’re not sure if Chael Sonnen will actually retire, as mentioned in his CSAC trial. However, one can only hope that at some point in time this magical TUF: Bisping vs. Sonnen show will come to fruition.
