Don’t expect Brian Stann to come to the defense of his former opponent and colleague Chael Sonnen.
The retired middleweight and Fox UFC analyst was asked on Twitter Monday if he thought Sonnen’s firing was “just," and he said he thinks it was. According to Shaun Al-Shatti of MMA Fighting, Sonnen, who tested positive for a total of five banned substances in his two recent random drug tests, was terminated by the UFC and Fox Sports this week.
“@AverageJoeArt: @BrianStann do you think UFC/FOX making an example of Chael is just?” Yes, absolutely no other choice imo
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 1, 2014
The former United States Marine has been a consummate professional throughout his WEC and UFC tenure, and he worked alongside Sonnen at the analyst desk on UFC broadcasts. Sonnen defeated Stann at UFC 136 in October 2011 and handed Stann his first loss since his drop to middleweight.
Stann spoke to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour back in April about his motivations for retiring, and he cited the lack of effective drug testing in the sport along with facing off against too many opponents who may have been using performance-enhancing drugs as partial reasons for his exit from fighting, saying:
You can feel the difference in the gym and what big a difference it makes, and I do think there are a number of guys who are using just because the testing currently by our athletic commissions is inadequate.
Adversity reveals true character, if your first instinct is to lie or hide, then you have some serious flaws
— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) July 1, 2014
Stann was awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat for his actions throughout the course of an ambush by insurgents during the Iraq War, so he is no stranger to adversity. Stann's last opponent inside the Octagon, Wanderlei Silva, ran from a random drug test when it was required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the proposed bout with Sonnen.
