Healthy Edgar, Maynard in condition for UFC rematch

A rematch of one of the best Ultimate Fighting Championship fights of the year appears ready to be rescheduled.

Las Vegan Gray Maynard on Monday confirmed by text message an MMA Junkie report that he was medically cleared last week and has returned to training at Xtreme Couture.

Lightweight champ Frankie Edgar also has resumed training in New Jersey, meaning a rematch of his split draw with Maynard at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 should be booked soon.

Maynard said nothing is official, but mentioned UFC 136 in Houston on Oct. 8 as a potential site for the bout.

Edgar retained the belt after surviving a first-round onslaught from Maynard and recovering enough to earn a draw at the MGM Grand.

The two were scheduled to meet again at UFC 130 in May, but both had to pull out because of injuries. Edgar had a lingering back issue, while Maynard had knee and elbow injuries.

Maynard, still unbeaten in his career, owns a victory over Edgar from 2008, still the only loss of the champion's career.

■ SONNEN RETURNS -- Beleaguered Chael Sonnen is back from suspension and is scheduled to fight Brian Stann at UFC 136.

Sonnen was suspended from competition after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels following a dramatic loss in August to champion Anderson Silva in Oakland, Calif.

Sonnen's initial suspension was extended until June 29 after the California commission found problems with his testimony at an appeals hearing in December.

Sonnen also ran into trouble after pleading guilty to money-laundering in federal court in a separate issue that related to his work as a real estate agent.

Stann is 3-0 over the last year since dropping to middleweight. The military hero will offer a stark contrast to the bad-guy persona Sonnen has fostered.

■ TESTING RESUMES -- Funding has been put aside for the Nevada Athletic Commission to resume out-of-competition drug testing in mixed martial arts and boxing, beginning this month.

The commission has the power to randomly test any licensed fighter, even those who don't have bouts scheduled. The practice originally was approved and funded in 2008, but budget considerations interrupted the program in 2009.

Gov. Brian Sandoval signed a bill allowing the NAC to use $20,000 from the amateur grant fund to cover testing over the next two years.

The money comes from fees collected from promoter taxes, which NAC executive director Keith Kizer said will not have to be increased.

Kizer said between 40 and 50 fighters, most famously boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, were tested during the first incarnation of the program and none of the results came back positive.

"Our message is just don't do it," Kizer said. "The ultimate goal is a deterrent."

Randomly testing fighters allows the commission to catch users who cycle off illegal substances in time to avoid detection by fight night.

Kizer said fighters could even be tested a month or two after a fight just to keep fighters aware they could be tested at any time.

"I think, for the most part, four to six weeks (prior to a fight) is roughly where (a PED-using fighter) might be at their peak," Kizer said. "That might be where we focus most of our attention, but I think it's important to mix it up."

■ PAIR RELEASED -- The UFC released welterweight John Howard and lightweight Andre Winner following recent losses.

Howard won his first four fights in the organization after being signed in 2009, but lost his last three, including a unanimous decision to Matt Brown at UFC on Versus 4 on June 26.

Winner, the Season 9 runner up on "The Ultimate Fighter," had also lost three in row.

He lost a unanimous decision to Las Vegan Anthony Njokuani at UFC 132 on July 2.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.