Wanderlei and Sonnen will undergo doping tests before Bellator 180

Sonnen (left) and Wand (right) will face each other in New York (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram WanderleiSilva)

The New York State Athletic Commission announced, this Tuesday (13), that Wanderlei Silva e Chael Sonnen, protagonists of Bellator 180, scheduled for June 24th, in New York (USA), will undergo surprise anti-doping tests before the event. Scott Coker, president of Bellator, assured at a press conference that the test results should be released before the fight. The information is from the “MMA Fighting” website.

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Both Wanderlei and Sonnen have had problems with doping. In 2014, the Brazilian escaped a surprise doping test before his duel against Sonnen, then scheduled for UFC 175, in Las Vegas. As a result, he was suspended for three years. Chael, in turn, received a two-year suspension for testing positive in tests carried out before UFC 175.

Wand has not performed since March 2013, when he knocked out Brian Stann at UFC Saitama. He had his return scheduled for December last year, against Mirko Cro Cop at Rizin, but an injury prevented him from fighting. At 40 years old, the former Pride champion has 35 wins, 12 losses, one draw and one no contest. Professional since 1996, Wanderlei Silva has already defeated names like Kazushi Sakuraba, Quinton Rampage Jackson, Ricardo arona e Michael Bisping.

Sonnen, 39 years old, has already fought for the franchise: he was submitted by Tito Ortiz at Bellator at 170, in January of this year. At 39 years old, the North American loudmouth gained fame after leading a fierce rivalry with Anderson Silva, a fact that gave him the opportunity to fight for the UFC middleweight belt twice against the Brazilian, but he ended up defeated both times. In total, Chael has 28 wins, 15 losses and one draw on his record.