MMA News and Notes 5: The Blame Game

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Why doesn't Dana just admit that he has a crush on Sonnen since he's basically given him a title shot that he's done f*** all to earn?

[Citizen Grimm]

What honestly blows my mind is that Sonnen wants to fight Jones.

Sonnen could make some seriously good money calling out other LHW guys. Call out Shogun, Machida, or even Gustafsson or Vera. Those are guys that he might be able to beat on a good night.

Sonnen did so well against Silva because isn't great at wrestling. That one of Jones' biggest strengths. If Sonnen can't get Jones to the ground and keep him there, which I HIGHLY doubt he can, then Sonnen is going to have to beat Jones on his feet.

At one point, it was a big deal when someone managed to hit Jones with a solid punch and Sonnen thinks he could beat him with his stand up?

Sonnen is going to be DESTROYED, even more so since Jones will probably be fed up with Sonnen after an entire season of TUF.

[543Y2J]

Damn, I was looking forward to Sonnen vs Griffin as well . I wonder who the replacement will be for Griffin now. This TUF season could be good.

Any chance Anderson Silva's next fight could be Rashad Evans? Thats a big money, never before done fight with both men having huge name value. Rashad said in an interview it would be a dream come true to face Silva, so why not do the fight and then Silva can move onto the dream fights after that and a couple of other fights.

[mysterydriver]

Reactions to the Jones/Sonnen announcement from a few UFC fighters.

Dan Henderson ‏@danhendo
I guess I should just quit training to win fights and to be exciting for the fans and just go to s*** talking school. @danawhite

Lyoto Machida ‏@lyotomachidafw
With all respect,but for me Chael does not deserve The title shot,I would like To know What He had done in LHW for deserve!!

Forrest Griffin says: ""I'm not mad at him. Why fight your way to the top when you can talk your way to the top?"

[secretJOKER]

Oct 17, 2012 17:23:17 GMT -5 mysterydriver said:

Reactions to the Jones/Sonnen announcement from a few UFC fighters.

Dan Henderson ‏@danhendo
I guess I should just quit training to win fights and to be exciting for the fans and just go to s*** talking school. @danawhite

Lyoto Machida ‏@lyotomachidafw
With all respect,but for me Chael does not deserve The title shot,I would like To know What He had done in LHW for deserve!!

Forrest Griffin says: ""I'm not mad at him. Why fight your way to the top when you can talk your way to the top?"

Fighter's revolt at LHW? Awesome.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Wow. Hendo going after Dana and his former teammate. I like it.

Honestly, I'm starting to think it's almost time for Dana and Joe Silva to go. They're starting showing that they doesn't give a s*** about the sport itself and just want to make it a spectacle. At least that's what it comes off like.

People aren't going to take it seriously if they continue to give mediocre fighters title shots simply because they're charismatic.

[mysterydriver]

Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen on TUF 17 'made sense'

From a Press Call. A write-up but also a YouTube video with the audio is on the site linked. Here's some choice quotes

"Basically, we got the word when Jon went out and got his elbow checked, that he was out and couldn't come back until April," White explained on Wednesday afternoon's media conference call. "So it made sense for him to do The Ultimate Fighter. Why block up [the division]? Machida can fight. Dan Henderson can fight. Gustafsson and Shogun are going to fight in December. Everything will keep right on moving."

"These guys will both coach The Ultimate Fighter. They'll fight when the season's over, and then whoever's next in line at 205 pounds can fight Jon Jones next for the title."

The article itself point out how Dana said "fight Jon Jones next" instead of "fight the winner." Pretty much tells the story right there.

Sonnen also gave his promo:

"Welcome to life, we don't deserve things. You get what you get. And let's understand, not one of those fighters said, ‘Hey Dana, I'll fight Chael. Let me prove that I'm the No. 1 contender. Let me fight that guy.' Not one of them. They all sat there and said their little things. I've called every one of those bastards out, and I'll call them out right now. I got no problem getting a tune-up fight and slapping any one of these guys around, including the Karate Kid.

"They don't want to fight Jon Jones. Not one of them has called out Jon. The only fighter to call Jones out is me. Nobody called me out. I don't turn down fights and I never get hurt. I will fight anybody at anytime. So these guys can say all these things they want, but not one of them has stepped up. I‘ve got to deal with this all the time, where guys always get jealous of an opportunity, but they never want to walk out to the mound and point to the crowd and tell them where they're going to hit the ball. I will. I'll call my shots. And as far as talking my way into it, what do I care about that? So what I talked my way into it? I wanted it, and I got it. I talked a cat out of a tree earlier today. I'll do whatever I want."

Good for you, Chael.

But here's the line that irked me: "I've said this before and I'll say it again Dan Henderson had the opportunity for the fight, and he got injured."

That's right. Dana White stripped Henderson of his title shot and gave it to Sonnen because Hendo was injured. I guess Hendo getting hurt means he can't coach a season of The Ultimate Fighter? That he can't recover and train for the fight he earned? The season is all about stalling and keeping Jones relevant and in the public eye...but since Hendo can't talk trash, he's not deserving of a title shot because he got hurt...but he can go ahead and fight other people at other times and perhaps "re-earn" a shot after Sonnen's well deserved (Because he offered to take a fight on 8 days notice!) title shot.

Daggone.

[molson5]

It's not just his charisma, its his flexibility and willingness to fight. He won't bail on a fight if his opponent has to be replaced, and he's willing to step up on short notice. They can plug him in for April, but then can use him earlier too if they need to save a show.

[WIENERS=$$$]

Oct 17, 2012 21:57:46 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Wow. Hendo going after Dana and his former teammate. I like it.

Honestly, I'm starting to think it's almost time for Dana and Joe Silva to go. They're starting showing that they doesn't give a s*** about the sport itself and just want to make it a spectacle. At least that's what it comes off like.

People aren't going to take it seriously if they continue to give mediocre fighters title shots simply because they're charismatic.

I agree. Henderson being stripped of his shot for Sonnen is an embarrassment for the sport. What other sport is like this? Could you imagine if the NFL did this if one team was unable to compete in the Superbowl for some reason, um... they all get super-cancer or something, and instead of going to the next most logical team, they give a team that sells the most jersey's, or to the team with the coolest looking mascot a chance at the big time. THIS IS NOT PRO-WRESTLING! If MMA and the UFC want to be taken seriously then they NEED to stop this spectacle garbage! The writing was on the wall when they hot-shotted Lesnar to the title, and brought in James Toney to fight Couture.

Also, f*** SONNEN! Saying crap like "None of those guys stepped up to challenge me," is very bush-league. Hey Sonnen, instead of just accepting your free hand-outs, you fight the fight you where scheduled to fight against Griffin and PROVE YOURSELF YOU PATHETIC CHOKE ARTIST! Beat a former LHW champion, and then get your title shot, you know, like how real fighters are supposed to do it.

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Oct 17, 2012 23:22:57 GMT -5 molson5 said:

It's not just his charisma, its his flexibility and willingness to fight. He won't bail on a fight if his opponent has to be replaced, and he's willing to step up on short notice. They can plug him in for April, but then can use him earlier too if they need to save a show.

But he hasn't beaten anybody at the LHW division in the UFC. He could have done that by beating Forrest Griffin but he decided to just talk s*** and hope that Zuffa will cave in to him and give him the Jones fight.

How does a guy lose a fight in the embarrassing way that he did against Anderson Silva get a title shot at a division he doesn't usually fight at the very next fight?

I don't care how "flexible" he is or that he can take a fight on short notice, he lost his last fight. Therefore, it's time to go back to the drawing board and climb the ladder again to prove yourself. That's how this works

[SEAN CARLESS]

Oct 17, 2012 23:27:14 GMT -5 WIENERS=$$$ said:

Oct 17, 2012 21:57:46 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Wow. Hendo going after Dana and his former teammate. I like it.

Honestly, I'm starting to think it's almost time for Dana and Joe Silva to go. They're starting showing that they doesn't give a s*** about the sport itself and just want to make it a spectacle. At least that's what it comes off like.

People aren't going to take it seriously if they continue to give mediocre fighters title shots simply because they're charismatic.

I agree. Henderson being stripped of his shot for Sonnen is an embarrassment for the sport. What other sport is like this? Could you imagine if the NFL did this if one team was unable to compete in the Superbowl for some reason, um... they all get super-cancer or something, and instead of going to the next most logical team, they give a team that sells the most jersey's, or to the team with the coolest looking mascot a chance at the big time. THIS IS NOT PRO-WRESTLING! If MMA and the UFC want to be taken seriously then they NEED to stop this spectacle garbage! The writing was on the wall when they hot-shotted Lesnar to the title, and brought in James Toney to fight Couture.

I hate to be that guy, but the sport will never be the way the hardcores (who just like in wrestling, are not the desired audience) want it to be so long as it is a pay-per-view and ratings-driven business. And therein is the thing. UFC is a brand. It's a business. It's not a pure sport. This ain't the Olympics. And UFC, on athletics, sportsmanship and fairness alone, does not draw buys and money. As sad as it is. That's why Brock Lesnar gets hot-shotted, and a great fighter like Frankie Edgar couldn't draw flies to shit. It's a business where they give the majority what they want -- and the hardcores' don't want to hear this, but what the casuals want IS spectacle. It's what built UFC, and allowed great fighters like GSP to become draws on a huger stage.

Chael Sonnen is entertaining. Chael Sonnen makes the casuals sit up and take notice. And if the guy was as good in the cage as he is from the mouth, like it or not, he'd be the Muhammad Ali of MMA. And they'd make millions for years to come.

Unfortunately though, he's not. But he CAN talk people into buying select shows --and thus make UFC some much needed bank RIGHT NOW after a year of under-performance-- before the rest of the world figures out that he has more sizzle than steak. He will draw a huge buyrate against Jones, and everyone involved will make money, and all the casuals will be emotionally invested, despite it being a blowout to people who know better. That's why he's doing it. That's why he's not calling out Vera, Machida, or Gustafson or whomever. He's doing business. Why risk it? He's not trying to prove anything. Dude has to know he's on borrowed time.

Right now, the Titanic has a few holes in it. UFC needs spectacle right now to get the ball rolling again. Bones Jones has already cleaned out the Division pretty much, so him killing Sonnen before fighting the next contender really means nothing. It just gives Dana, Lorenzo and Silva what they desperately need right now: a last ditch shot in the arm to their dying flagship show; and a guaranteed million buy pay-per-view in April that wouldn't draw a third of that if it featured any of the people mentioned in this thread.

Some people here are calling for Dana's head. But if YOU put a man in charge of YOUR business, wouldn't you want him to create something that will make you a f***ton of money? The most money possible? Shouldn't you fire him if he doesn't?

[corndog]

Oct 17, 2012 2:06:49 GMT -5 Citizen Grimm said:

What honestly blows my mind is that Sonnen wants to fight Jones.

Sonnen could make some seriously good money calling out other LHW guys. Call out Shogun, Machida, or even Gustafsson or Vera. Those are guys that he might be able to beat on a good night.

Sonnen did so well against Silva because isn't great at wrestling. That one of Jones' biggest strengths. If Sonnen can't get Jones to the ground and keep him there, which I HIGHLY doubt he can, then Sonnen is going to have to beat Jones on his feet.

At one point, it was a big deal when someone managed to hit Jones with a solid punch and Sonnen thinks he could beat him with his stand up?

Sonnen is going to be DESTROYED, even more so since Jones will probably be fed up with Sonnen after an entire season of TUF.

At first thought I didn't get it, but it's more than obvious why Sonnen wants this fight now, he has no chance of getting it the right way.

While it would be great seeing some of those fights at LHW, and he might even have a chance of winning some, no way he gets through the top LHWs with a winning record and actually earns a title shot.

Sonnen is just doing things backwards, he is getting his title match first, which he will lose quickly and embarrasingly. Then he will get a match with a big name LHW and a chance to earn some of his dignity back.

As far as Sonnen at LHW, the fight I want to see most is him and Forrest Griffen. I don't know why I just think it would be a good one.

[WIENERS=$$$]

Oct 18, 2012 3:56:25 GMT -5 SEAN CARLESS said:

Oct 17, 2012 23:27:14 GMT -5 WIENERS=$$$ said:

I agree. Henderson being stripped of his shot for Sonnen is an embarrassment for the sport. What other sport is like this? Could you imagine if the NFL did this if one team was unable to compete in the Superbowl for some reason, um... they all get super-cancer or something, and instead of going to the next most logical team, they give a team that sells the most jersey's, or to the team with the coolest looking mascot a chance at the big time. THIS IS NOT PRO-WRESTLING! If MMA and the UFC want to be taken seriously then they NEED to stop this spectacle garbage! The writing was on the wall when they hot-shotted Lesnar to the title, and brought in James Toney to fight Couture.

I hate to be that guy, but the sport will never be the way the hardcores (who just like in wrestling, are not the desired audience) want it to be so long as it is a pay-per-view and ratings-driven business. And therein is the thing. UFC is a brand. It's a business. It's not a pure sport. This ain't the Olympics. And UFC, on athletics, sportsmanship and fairness alone, does not draw buys and money. As sad as it is. That's why Brock Lesnar gets hot-shotted, and a great fighter like Frankie Edgar couldn't draw flies to s***. It's a business where they give the majority what they want -- and the hardcores' don't want to hear this, but what the casuals want IS spectacle. It's what built UFC, and allowed great fighters like GSP to become draws on a huger stage.

Chael Sonnen is entertaining. Chael Sonnen makes the casuals sit up and take notice. And if the guy was as good in the cage as he is from the mouth, like it or not, he'd be the Muhammad Ali of MMA. And they'd make millions for years to come.

Unfortunately though, he's not. But he CAN talk people into buying select shows --and thus make UFC some much needed bank RIGHT NOW after a year of under-performance-- before the rest of the world figures out that he has more sizzle than steak. He will draw a huge buyrate against Jones, and everyone involved will make money, and all the casuals will be emotionally invested, despite it being a blowout to people who know better. That's why he's doing it. That's why he's not calling out Vera, Machida, or Gustafson or whomever. He's doing business. Why risk it? He's not trying to prove anything. Dude has to know he's on borrowed time.

Right now, the Titanic has a few holes in it. UFC needs spectacle right now to get the ball rolling again. Bones Jones has already cleaned out the Division pretty much, so him killing Sonnen before fighting the next contender really means nothing. It just gives Dana, Lorenzo and Silva what they desperately need right now: a last ditch shot in the arm to their dying flagship show; and a guaranteed million buy pay-per-view in April that wouldn't draw a third of that if it featured any of the people mentioned in this thread.

Some people here are calling for Dana's head. But if YOU put a man in charge of YOUR business, wouldn't you want him to create something that will make you a f***ton of money? The most money possible? Shouldn't you fire him if he doesn't?

Trouble is that this is a sport, as much as the last 5 years would have you think otherwise. You know what made "casuals" start to take notice in the UFC and MMA? An epic fight between two unknowns who made the chance to fight in this sport mean SOMETHING. Sonnen's name is crap. He has no legs to stand on, his hype-machine lost gas the minute he tried dancing with Silva. This "he's entertaining" debate is old and stale and subjective. When the business is a sport and said sport strips contenders of title shots and hands them to "hype-men" then your sport looks like a joke, because your championships mean f***-all and when your championships have no merit then your business fails. You keep praising Sonnen for doing business, but don't be surprised when we get "Norris vs Seagal" at one of these PPVs, dawning the age of "Celebrity MMA."

[Drink Up Me Cider]

I just have to say my thoughts on the TUF debacle...

It sucks, everyone knows it sucks. Jon Jones, great fighter, boring as dishwater personality. Chael Sonnen, promos that rival Kurt Angles, average fighter. A failing show that, as far as I know, is not apart of the public spotlight like it used to be. A company that is rife with injuries, politics and cancellations.

I love MMA competition. The word that needs to be highlighted is competition! Chael is good, but not great, new weight division, ignoring all contenders ie Gustafsson/Teixeira, six months off for both champ and challenger?

Does this make sense to anyone apart from fans who want more of Rampage Vs Door or Koscheck pouring water on Leben's sleeping bag?

[Mochi Lone Wolf]

Bottom line: As long as people who don't deserve title shots continue to get them, MMA will not get any mainstream attention and acceptance(Which SHOULD be the goal of the UFC). Why would ESPN cover a sport where all you need to do is talk a bunch of s*** and you can be gifted a title shot even though you got embarrassed and looked like a putz in your last fight?

So a few people will buy to watch Sonnen fight because he can be funny. And? If ESPN doesn't bother to cover it because they don't treat themselves like a real sport than all you have is a niche audience and that will only take you so far.

[Drink Up Me Cider]

Oct 18, 2012 15:07:41 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Bottom line: As long as people who don't deserve title shots continue to get them, MMA will not get any mainstream attention and acceptance(Which SHOULD be the goal of the UFC). Why would ESPN cover a sport where all you need to do is talk a bunch of s*** and you can be gifted a title shot even though you got embarrassed and looked like a putz in your last fight?

So a few people will buy to watch Sonnen fight because he can be funny. And? If ESPN doesn't bother to cover it because they don't treat themselves like a real sport than all you have is a niche audience and that will only take you so far.

You are completely right. What I do not get is why can't they have the loud mouth guys (Sonnen, Bisping, Weidman,) in a reality tv series without f-ing up an entire division and having real contenders?

For example...

Sonnen/Bisping TUF sounds good right, rematch, very close first match and interesting guys.

It's complete horsecrap that they hold up titles for ratings because they're desperate for the FOX money...at least it seems that way.

Blah...mad.

[SEAN CARLESS]

Oct 18, 2012 14:37:23 GMT -5 WIENERS=$$$ said:

Oct 18, 2012 3:56:25 GMT -5 SEAN CARLESS said:

I hate to be that guy, but the sport will never be the way the hardcores (who just like in wrestling, are not the desired audience) want it to be so long as it is a pay-per-view and ratings-driven business. And therein is the thing. UFC is a brand. It's a business. It's not a pure sport. This ain't the Olympics. And UFC, on athletics, sportsmanship and fairness alone, does not draw buys and money. As sad as it is. That's why Brock Lesnar gets hot-shotted, and a great fighter like Frankie Edgar couldn't draw flies to s***. It's a business where they give the majority what they want -- and the hardcores' don't want to hear this, but what the casuals want IS spectacle. It's what built UFC, and allowed great fighters like GSP to become draws on a huger stage.

Chael Sonnen is entertaining. Chael Sonnen makes the casuals sit up and take notice. And if the guy was as good in the cage as he is from the mouth, like it or not, he'd be the Muhammad Ali of MMA. And they'd make millions for years to come.

Unfortunately though, he's not. But he CAN talk people into buying select shows --and thus make UFC some much needed bank RIGHT NOW after a year of under-performance-- before the rest of the world figures out that he has more sizzle than steak. He will draw a huge buyrate against Jones, and everyone involved will make money, and all the casuals will be emotionally invested, despite it being a blowout to people who know better. That's why he's doing it. That's why he's not calling out Vera, Machida, or Gustafson or whomever. He's doing business. Why risk it? He's not trying to prove anything. Dude has to know he's on borrowed time.

Right now, the Titanic has a few holes in it. UFC needs spectacle right now to get the ball rolling again. Bones Jones has already cleaned out the Division pretty much, so him killing Sonnen before fighting the next contender really means nothing. It just gives Dana, Lorenzo and Silva what they desperately need right now: a last ditch shot in the arm to their dying flagship show; and a guaranteed million buy pay-per-view in April that wouldn't draw a third of that if it featured any of the people mentioned in this thread.

Some people here are calling for Dana's head. But if YOU put a man in charge of YOUR business, wouldn't you want him to create something that will make you a f***ton of money? The most money possible? Shouldn't you fire him if he doesn't?

Trouble is that this is a sport, as much as the last 5 years would have you think otherwise. You know what made "casuals" start to take notice in the UFC and MMA? An epic fight between two unknowns who made the chance to fight in this sport mean SOMETHING. Sonnen's name is crap. He has no legs to stand on, his hype-machine lost gas the minute he tried dancing with Silva. This "he's entertaining" debate is old and stale and subjective. When the business is a sport and said sport strips contenders of title shots and hands them to "hype-men" then your sport looks like a joke, because your championships mean f***-all and when your championships have no merit then your business fails. You keep praising Sonnen for doing business, but don't be surprised when we get "Norris vs Seagal" at one of these PPVs, dawning the age of "Celebrity MMA."

I agree with you fundamentally. Part of my "real life" job is covering MMA. I'm a fan of the sport overall. But I know the way they think and how they run their business, and unfortunately, sizzle over steak always draws more money. The people who know better are never the majority in any aspect of entertainment or sport. It's why certain TV shows of higher quality languish and reality TV still exists, despite it all being moronically brainless.

The Bonnar/Griffin fight was a monumental moment for UFC, true, but only because Tito and Ken drew the initial interest and build. It's like how Savage and Steamboat are lauded as having a legendary match; but Hogan and Andre drew the house and gave them the platform. Bonnar and Griffin benefited from the drama of the hatred between Ken and Tito, and both, the awesome fights, and the personality, worked in unison from there in UFC for years to make one hell of a great product.

I know you hate Chael Sonnen. But his name is not crap to the people who don't know better. Those people who'll make up the 650,000 extra buys over the (if their lucky these days) 350,000 hardcores who'll order for the sake of watching two good fighters go at it who deserve it.

Sonnen's window is definitely closing, but he's pretty much UFC's Roddy Piper at this moment, talking people into the building, which is ironic since Piper was Chael's favorite growing up in Oregon.

Sonnen's last fight with Silva, no matter how lop-sided, drew the highest buyrate of 2012. That's a fact. And this was after a lot of people considered Bisping the real winner of their elimination fight.

Sonnen will use the Ultimate Fighter platform to make people hate him or hate Jones. And either way, it will be a million buy fight. That's just the way it is. It's too bad, because I agree with you from a pure sports standpoint, but just like in wrestling, like with Vince relying on the same old heads, Dana will ride a horse until its dead. And Sonnen's got one mega fight in him, and maybe one more if he performs at a decent enough level.

That said, the problem with the business right now, that leads to moments like this, is that too many guys over-train, get hurt, and then exploit UFC's medical coverage, that says their rehab can be paid for, even if they get hurt training. Guys get cut or beat up in camp, and drop out, leaving UFC holding the bag, and a panicked Dana White looking for answers. And opportunists like Chael exploit this. I mean, Vitor stepped up, almost got a miracle submission, and all people could talk about at the presser and beyond was whether Jones would ever fight Sonnen. It was incredible.

I know it sounds cruel, but fighting worked better when the guys, fearing a loss of a pay day, came in, regardless. They didn't have a cushion to fall back on, so they came to play. (For the record, though, I think there should absolutely be coverage for injuries in the cage itself). This is the reason Hendo's getting passed over. Not that he got hurt. But because his camp didn't report it until right under the wire. Machida then turned it down, citing more time needed to train. Shogun turned it down from there. These things take on a life of their own when the talent goes down, and the show must go on.

Oct 18, 2012 15:07:41 GMT -5 Mochi Lone Wolf said:

Bottom line: As long as people who don't deserve title shots continue to get them, MMA will not get any mainstream attention and acceptance(Which SHOULD be the goal of the UFC). Why would ESPN cover a sport where all you need to do is talk a bunch of s*** and you can be gifted a title shot even though you got embarrassed and looked like a putz in your last fight?

So a few people will buy to watch Sonnen fight because he can be funny. And? If ESPN doesn't bother to cover it because they don't treat themselves like a real sport than all you have is a niche audience and that will only take you so far.

UFC doesn't get mainstream attention because mainstream sports coverage is a corrupt old boys network, financially "motivated" shall we say to give preferential treatment to the usual suspects. Believe me, I know this firsthand. That, and most outlets won't really touch it until it gets legalized in more states --namely New York; who's corrupt, mob-backed commission has been trying to block it for years, in fear of it treading on their precious cash-cow of boxing.

[Jazzman]

I just want Jon Jones to crush Sonnen's jaw into dust and send him into retirement that way I never have to hear that dumbass talk or fight ever again.

[mysterydriver]

Random long post ahoy.

The UFC is a cruel business in the "What have you done for me lately?" way. Chael Sonnen mauled Anderson "The Spider" Silva, the greatest pound-for-pound fighter perhaps ever to engage in any form of hand-to-hand contact for four and a half rounds. He almost did the thing that the entire Middleweight division cannot. Then he lost because Anderson Silva is Anderson Silva.

Sonnen responded by coming out and beating the hyped Brian Stann (He's a decorated military man, you know) handily with an arm triangle. So the hype was still there. Sonnen was winning. Sonnen was going to win one or two more matches and this time he'd know how to avoid the miracle triangle and take the title off the champion.

Then...well... 2012 happened. He started the year looking sluggish and couldn't bully Michael Bisping. However he won via "Judges Want to See Sonnen/Silva 2." He followed this up by getting legal permission to dope up with TRT which garnered criticism towards him.

After running his mouth everywhere...to the point that I believe propaganda leaflets were dropped in foreign countries where starving children wondered "Who is this Silva and why is this Sonnen going to step on him like a spider?!"...he ran his mouth some more. Then some more. Then some more. Then Silva promised to murder him in the cage. Then Silva murdered him in the cage.

So, what we have from Chael Sonnen is sustained hype that garnered him a rematch despite a sluggish Fox channel fight where fans booed the decision that was completely dashed in the second round of his rematch when Anderson Silva embarrassed him like a nerdy kid in a high school gym class.

He then immediately ran to interviews and started claiming "CHEAT CHEAT!" despite the fact that Silva didn't cheat, making him look ridiculous. Then he began trashing any and everyone to try and get a fight. Thankfully the Jones thing came up and he went back to talking like he's a world beater despite the fact that the entire world has seen him beat.

People try to discredit Brock Lesnar as always a fraud because of his last MMA fights. People say Fedor Emelianenko is a fraud because he lost 3 out of his last 6 career fights. And I believe people will think that Sonnen is an unworthy opponent and that the fight is not worthy of their money.

That's my opinion. I don't see Jones/Sonnen bringing in a million buys. Considering Jones tends to be a lower drawing champion (Who has openly complained about the Machida rematch because their PPV didn't do as well as expected) I'd personally be amazed if it got 600,000.

[Citizen Grimm]

Oct 17, 2012 22:37:39 GMT -5 mysterydriver said:

Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen on TUF 17 'made sense'
"Welcome to life, we don't deserve things. You get what you get. And let's understand, not one of those fighters said, ‘Hey Dana, I'll fight Chael. Let me prove that I'm the No. 1 contender. Let me fight that guy.' Not one of them. They all sat there and said their little things. I've called every one of those bastards out, and I'll call them out right now. I got no problem getting a tune-up fight and slapping any one of these guys around, including the Karate Kid.

I would love for Henderson or Machida to call out Sonnen now and see how he handles that.