• TUF 14

Bisping v Sonnen gathers momentum

ESPN staff
April 12, 2011
Chael Sonnen could be heading for a TUF 14 rivalry with Michael Bisping later this year © Getty Images
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Chael Sonnen has given the biggest indication yet that he will take on Michael Bisping in his comeback fight, revealing he has spoken to the UFC about a potential encounter.

Sonnen is nearing a return to the Octagon after serving a suspension for abnormal levels of testosterone. And, following the conclusion of his legal hearing for a money laundering case, he can now concentrate on regaining his fight licence.

The former UFC middleweight No. 1 contender knows he cannot target Anderson Silva or Yushin Okami, who are expected to fight at UFC Rio, so it looks increasingly likely that Bisping will provide Sonnen's opponent in a title eliminator, potentially following a TUF 14 series rivalry.

"I called [the UFC] up and said, 'Give me the worst guy you've got under contract'," Sonnen told MMA Fighting. "They said, 'Chael, Wanderlei [Silva] won't fight you'.

"I said, 'Alright. Give me the second worst guy you've got under contract?' They said, 'Chael, how many times do we have to tell you, [Mirko] Cro Cop's a heavyweight'.

"I said, 'Alright, is there anybody available? How about Bisping? Is his dance card open?' And then they said that might be a possibility. So that's where we left off. But that's just not my focus. My focus is making things right with director Kizer."

Sonnen's reference to Keith Kizer, head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is in regard to him regaining his fight licence. Kizer's name was brought into Sonnen's defence against his high levels of testosterone, so bridges will need to be repaired before the American is allowed back inside the Octagon.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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