Chael Sonnen (photo via Bellator)

By FCF Staff

Despite the ban on larger, public gatherings in the state of Oregon, Chael Sonnen has taken steps so that Submission Underground 12 can proceed today in Portland.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the ban on gatherings, recently the UFC was forced to cancel an April 11th card in the city. But, recently Sonnen explained to MMA Junkie how SUG 12 is still taking place today.

“Because of the way we are in Oregon, we went from 250 people can be in a room, to 50 people can be in a room, to 10 people can be in a room, to eight people can be in a room,” Sonnen said. “So you’ve got your venue. You’ve got a whole line of motorhomes outside so that every single athlete is kept in a different place. We’ll have a referee. We’ll have two gentlemen competing. We will have no announcer. He’ll be in a totally different truck, feeding to a live audience.

“As fas as the broadcast team, that’s going to consist of yours truly, by myself, which I must tell you in the world of calling a show, I’ve never done two hours all by myself, and then you have the doctor. We had to cut down on everybody. We had to bring in extra cameras because we usually have a three-man crew on handhelds. Can’t do that now, so we had to set up extra cameras, and they’re all still shots, so the guy in the truck – I’ll just say, there’s a lot going on.”

In the main event for SUG 12, Craig Jones will grapple Kevin Casey and the card will also see UFC veteran Jake Ellenberger face Ben Egli.

SUG 12 will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 6 PM/ET – 3 PM/PT.