Noisy Withdrawal: Sonnen retires, Belfort out of UFC 175

After failing a drug test that left him out of UFC 175 and having his say about the NSAC random drug test, Chael Sonnen announced his retirement on Fox Sports 1.  In addition, Vitor Belfort will no longer be fighting on the UFC 175 card.

Sonnen’s retirement announcement can be seen here.

In addition, Belfort will no longer appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission next week seeking a license to fight in Nevada per MMA Junkie.  The removal from the NSAC’s agenda means he will no longer be fighting at UFC 175.  A hearing would have brought up a random drug test in February which showed levels of testosterone not within the allowable range per the NSAC.

Payout Perspective:

Will this be a permanent retirement for Sonnen?  We shall see. It’s hard to say whether Sonnen should have retired before defending himself on TV or did he just want to save face prior to deciding to retire.

The move is likely for the best considering Sonnen is more of an asset to the UFC and Fox as a studio analyst rather than a fighter.  In the short term, it mutes further inquiry into the drug test failure and the potential for an appeal that would have sullied Sonnen’s image which, in turn, would make it very awkward for him to step in front of a Fox camera.

As for Belfort, pulling him from 175 was an easy choice in terms of public relations.  Without an opponent and the potential for him to have to answer questions about a February drug test, it was the best route.  At this point, it would make sense for Belfort to wait to fight.

Both of these moves are still problematic of the post-TRT era.  While they are moves to resolve short term public relations issues, one would hope that the commissions and the UFC work together to come up with an exit strategy in which fighters are able to come off of TRT and ensure that violators are dealt with swiftly and appropriately.