The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) - the worldwide leader in sports - has added some star power to their roster by hiring former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran, Chael Sonnen.

The hiring of Sonnen comes four months after he was released from the UFC, when he was caught with performance enhancing drugs in (PEDs) his system. This got him kicked out of performing professionally, as well as his duties commentating on television.

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However, the ex-UFC middleweight has gotten another chance to tell the world about his sport with ESPN.

Sonnen joins the ESPN as a mixed martial arts (MMA) analyst. He returns to broadcast media after he was fired by his job with Fox.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Sonnen said that he loves to break down fights.

"I love to watch them. The fact that ESPN will allow me to do that on the air in a fancy suit and call it a job, it's what I would be doing at home anyway," he adds.

After failing two drug tests in three weeks, Sonnen was dropped by the UFC's official broadcast partner last summer. When his fighting license was also revoked, this led to his retirement from competitive MMA.

Sonnen opted to voluntarily walk away from Fox, as to avoid any unnecessary drama. However, he is now eager to get back on the air with studio commentary and on-site analysis for ESPN.

His debut will come on Friday when he adds commentary on ESPN's coverage of UFC 180. He will appear regularly on "SportsCenter" and other network platforms too. He adds that he won't ignore his past with drugs while discussing the sport's future stars.

"There are topics like that, and there are opponents I'm going to have to cover that have also embarrassed themselves, but that's part of the sport, man. I cherish those moments."

Tagschael sonnen, UFC