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UFC - Chael Sonnen suspended following money laundering plea

Chael Sonnen (credit: Wikipedia)

Chael Sonnen has been suspended by the UFC after pleading guilty to one count of money laundering earlier this week

Sonnen, who faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $500,000 fine, will be sentenced on March 28th after admitting the charge and UFC president Dana White has made the call to suspend the 33-year-old.

Sonnen was pencilled in to fight Yoshihiro Akiyama on March 19th at UFC 128.

"I spoke with Chael earlier today and he agrees that setting priorities in his life is the best thing for him right now," White told TMZ. "I sincerely hope Chael is able to straighten out his personal life."

He added: "Sonnen has gone through a lot in the last few months and we think it's important for him to focus on getting his personal life together before focusing on his career in the UFC."

Sonnen had earlier admitted in the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon to "a financial transaction he conducted was designed to conceal or disguise the ownership and control of the proceeds of wire fraud," according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

Sonnen is currently serving a California State Athletic Commission suspension after testing positive for high levels of testosterone prior to his UFC 117 defeat to Anderson Silva last year.

His suspension was due to end on March 2nd after last month being reduced to six months and a $2,500 fine.

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UFC - Chael Sonnen suspended following money laundering plea

Chael Sonnen has been suspended by the UFC after pleading guilty to one count of money laundering earlier this week.

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