Chael Sonnen is accused of 11 counts of battery, including a felony, stemming from a December incident in Las Vegas, according to court records. The battery by strangulation is a felony.
The charges can be re-filed after the battery citations were dismissed without prejudice. According to court records, a new criminal complaint was filed by the Clark County District Attorney on March 16.
Chael Sonnen will not appear on the show as the company explores the details of the charges.
The first court appearance for Sonnen will be on April 27. He didn't return a request for comment.
A man who Sonnen is accused of killing is one of six victims in the criminal complaint. The complaint states that Sonnen used violence against a woman by punching and shoving her.
According to the complaint, Sonnen is accused of hitting the first man, punching and kicking a second man, punching a third man in the face, punching and kneeing a fourth man, and striking a fifth man with his elbow.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the court have not released documents explaining the situation. The case is considered an open and active investigation so police denied the request.
The man known for his rivalry with Anderson Silva is a former multiple-time UFC title challenger. He was one of the most popular and well-paid fighters of his era, a perennial 185-pound contender and charismatic antagonist to the UFC's biggest stars. He was a wrestling All-American at the University of Oregon.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended the Oregon native for two years after he tested positive for several performance- enhancing drugs. It was his third positive drug test.
After his suspension, Sonnen never returned to the UFC. He worked for multiple promotions and media outlets as an analyst after retiring from MMA competition.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
