Professional mixed martial artist Chael Sonnen is suing his business partner and the co-owner of his West Linn restaurant, claiming he embezzled $20,000 and owes Sonnen another nearly $23,000 in borrowed money and unpaid rent.

The lawsuit filed earlier this month in Clackamas County Circuit Court also seeks to oust Lee Gamble, who co-owns Mean Street Pizza with the Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter, from the limited liability corporation the pair run. West Linn Guys, LLC owns the restaurant, which opened last year.

Gamble also never paid Sonnen back after borrowing $10,000, the suit alleges, and owes him $12,600 after failing to pay rent for the past seven months for the West Linn home Sonnen owns and rents to Gamble.

Chael Sonnen

Gamble did not answer phone calls seeking comment.

Sonnen hopes to recover a total of $42,600 and wants to charge a 9 percent per year interest rate until the money is fully paid back.

The restaurant's new manager, Dustin Rockstrom, said he took over Gamble's job about a month ago.

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