The UFC 175 event scheduled for July 5th, 2014 has received a blow to the main card, as it appears that Chael Sonnen is out of the event due to a failed random drug test. Sonnen was scheduled to face Vitor Belfort, and his appearance in the fight awaited the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s approval of his license due to a failed random drug test. And Belfort was a replacement for Vanderlei Silva, who famously did not fail a random drug test because he refused to take it. Are you following all this?
For Sonnen, this could spell the end of his career. He is facing a long suspension, as this is his second test after a failed 2010 exam and suspension. He is also on record stating that he is dependent on the therapy and may indeed be forced to retire. It is a huge surprise and a bit of egg on his face, as Sonnen has been a vocal critic of Silva for avoiding the tests, but if anyone can let that little bit of hypocrisy not hamper what he is saying, it is Sonnen.
Up next is Belfort’s licensing effort, which may be unnecessary at this point. Belfort bizarrely published a series of documents including failed drug tests of his own on the internet, so it is unclear whether he would have received a license at all.
The UFC will likely cancel the fight and Belfort would not appear on the card. But what if Belfort is licensed? Will the UFC look to get an opponent in front of Belfort to help fill out a card they are counting on to be a big seller?
Now is it completely inconceivable that Belfort could be given a fight against Vanderlei Silva? Silva understands the licensing process and he was supposedly prepared to apply for the fight with Sonnen. Also, despite the PR machine known as Chael Sonnen, Silva is the only one in the group who doesn’t have multiple failed drug tests under his belt.
Silva and Belfort fought once before, and the re-match was one of the more hotly talked about matches just a few years back. Would the UFC stoop so low as to book that fight? Stranger things have happened.
