Chael Sonnen Meets Rashad Evans in UFC 167 Co-Headliner

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Chael Sonnen will return to the cage on Nov. 16, just not against Wanderlei Silva.

UFC officials announced Wednesday night that the former three-time title contender will take on Rashad Evans in the co-main event of UFC 167, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and airs live on pay-per-view.

The show is headlined by a welterweight title clash between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks and will also see Rory MacDonald collide with Robbie Lawler in a pivotal 170-pound showdown.

Sonnen had initially called out Silva to face him at UFC 167, but the Brazilian’s Octagon return has been slowed by injury. As a result, Sonnen will now lock horns with Evans, a former light heavyweight champion who recently halted a two-fight skid by taking a split decision from Dan Henderson at UFC 161. “Suga” owns 10 of his 18 victories by way of decision and has only been stopped one time as a pro.

Sonnen, meanwhile, has won six of his last nine fights, with his only losses in that span coming to Anderson Silva (twice) and Jon Jones. The self-proclaimed “American Gangster” returned to the win column last month, when he submitted former 205-pound champion Mauricio Rua with a first-round guillotine choke in the main event of Fight Night 26.