Chael Sonnen will finally end his 14-month exile from action when he returns at October's UFC 136 to face Brian Stann.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the fight's booking to MMA Fighting on Wednesday night. It's possibility was originally reported by Heavy.com.
Sonnen has been on the shelf since his epic UFC 117 middleweight title matchup with Anderson Silva in August 2010, in which he led for four-and-a-half rounds until falling into a Silva triangle choke late in the fifth.
Afterward, Sonnen's urine sample came back with a high testosterone-to-estrogen (T/E) level. In a subsequent hearing with the California state athletic commission, Sonnen (25-11-1) argued that he had previously divulged to them his testosterone replacement therapy to treat hypogonadism. His one-year suspension was shortened to six months, but the commission eventually ruled that he had misled them on some elements of his testimony and placed him on indefinite suspension. The UFC also froze his contract as he worked though legal problems in his home state of Oregon.
Those issues now behind him, Sonnen will move back into the forefront of the UFC's middleweight division, though he will still need to apply for a fighter's license in Texas, the host state of UFC 136. A search of the state's combative sports license database shows he is currently unlicensed in the state.
His return will come against one of the hottest fighters in the division. The 11-3 Stann is on a three-fight win streak, boasting finishes of Jorge Santiago, Chris Leben and Mike Massenzio in the process.
UFC 136 will take place on October 8 in Houston. Though a main event has yet to be announced, a featherweight title bout pitting champ Jose Aldo against challenger Kenny Florian is a possibility for the slot.
Source: Back From Exile, Chael Sonnen to Return Against Brian Stann at UFC 136
Wait both are from usa.. hmm ok erm Go army guy!
