It's more like if you think he did anything wrong by declining that fight, then you're ******ed.

This argument I can accept but still just too nitty from him.

Too nitty?? Your talking about accepting a fight from a guy who isnt ranked in ur weightclass and has failed a drug test in his 2nd to last Title fight. Beating Sonnen is expected and adds nothing to Jon Jones legacy. Losing to him could ruin everything. Why would he ever take this fight. Especially on short notice. Hell even if they were to sit around and work out a deal. Why would Jones ever accept a fight vs Sonnen for the LHW title when Sonnen just got exposed in the MW title fight.

I don't think anyone has the obligation to fight anyone else on 8 days notice, but most do it anyway. It just looks bad when you are the one (or are on the short list of ones) who won't.

And he took another no-win scenario with Belfort. The invincible champ enters a lot of no-win scenarios.

dislike the no-win argument. jones could benefit from fighting, imo

TBH him beating anyone is expected. Beating Machida, Shogun again won't add anything to his legacy either.But he's got to fight, that's his job.

I never post in SE MMA threads and after reading most of the replys defending JJ, I now have a good reason not to. I guess you can't expect people who watch softball all day to understand what it means to be a f***in warrior in the UFC.

Yes, but he turned down a fight against someone that not only isnt in his skill range, but also not in his weight range. Sonnen just got whooped by the MW champ in the fight that he waited and trained for for like 3 years. Now he gets a fight on 8 days notice vs the LHW champ and people think its a fight worth happening.

99 out of 100 times this fight is over in the first round. (taking into account Jones is in total fighting shape and Sonnen is obv not gonna be in shape). If the fight happens 100% of the people who buy the ppv will be disappointed. Noone will think any higher of Jones for winning. Noone will think any worse of Sonnen for losing. I fail to see any reason for this fight to go ahead.

Note: I would love to see Sonnen vs Jones, but not as a default fight after 8 days notice.

i feel like your post needs background music. here you go:

it's true. beating machida and shogun again won't do anything for him, but losing to guys who were former light heavyweight champs won't damage his rep that severely. look at gsp. even silva

the light heavyweight champ facing a middleweight who has never won the middleweight title on a week's notice....the 1 time out of 100 jones loses this fight, his rep and possibly his marketability is devastated, especially as someone who (iirc) wants to move up to heavyweight

I mostly agree. Why is it in ALL other major sports it's perfectly acceptable for top players to hold out for a better deal, even missing weeks of games, or to bail on a team for a better deal somewhere else. But mma has some lame bro-hipster attitude where the fighters are suppose to only care about doing whats best for UFC and being willing to fight anywhere, at any time and for the amount dana decides to pay you, and if you take a stand looking out for yourself and your career - it's fire and brimstone time.

It's a young sport/league

Look at early MLB

Machida > Chael anyways.

Plus, if they are going to fight, I'd rather wait a few months and let Chael have a full training camp instead of taking a fight on a week notice. Not that it will change the result or anything... JJ embarrasses Sonnen rather easily.

peak Sonnen >>> peak Belfort, losing to Belfort would be a lot worse than losing to Sonnen, unless the trash talk is what everyone is worried about

On a side note the worst thing about Jones possibly fighting Sonnen on 8 days notice is it cuts out so much of the build up and trash talking that Sonnen would do which is probly the best thing about Sonnen fights.

Don't take that the wrong way. I'd still be pulling for Jones 100%.

He's like a cartoon villain. He's completely awesome in his own unique way. He's a true character and makes me smile. Idk what else to say...

I don't disagree that he comes off as a huge douche, I just find him entertaining as ****.

A+ response.

I disagree. Losing to Belfort (lol @ that happening) won't be nearly as bad from a marketing standpoint. Belfort is an OG of the sport and former (multiple time?) champion.

Sonnens best win is barely beating Michael Bisping and beating Anderson Silvas ass once, not being able to finish/ getting got, and then getting got again with no hassle.

I agree with what you're getting at actually. I'll watch just to see him get his **** pushed in and eat his words so on that level he's an incredible marketer. I just dislike him personally, which is what he wants so I suppose that's worth credit.

There is more to it than just a fight. Now if JJ was asked to move up a weight class, was a marginal belt holder in his own class, I could understand it. The fact CS lost to Silva twice, hasn't been training for an upcoming title fight, recently announced his move up to 205 from 185, and his first fight supposedly is with Griffin who quite frankly is nearing the end of his career. Compared to JJ who has for the most part handled fairly easily the who's-who in 205 in spectacular fashion.

JJ has been training for a title fight, albeit not against CS, but he also claims to be a wrestler too. I don't know of any D1 wrestler who would turn down a payday match against someone from a lighter weight class, especially one who hasn't been training for a match and just working out.

This is simply my opinion and many agree and many disagree. Jones should have taken this fight. We all do things we don't want to for the greater good. The UFC gave him a shot when Rashad became hurt. JJ "stepped up" then. Certainly the UFC didn't have to give him the opportunity but they did. Even if it was for their own reasons, JJ also benefited and then went on a tear.

JJ also denounced a fight with Machida with "nothing left to prove" and the fans wouldn't want to see it. Then he went with the "I'm a businessman" approach yet turned down a fight with a smaller opponent with little to no experience at 205, with a HUGE PPV drawing power. But took the Machida fight at 152? LOLZ!

When Machida bailed, now JJ has Belfort? Hendo pretty much was the recipient of a UFC gift for Hendo-being-Hendo over the years. Which is the main reason he was fighting JJ. DW has discussed Hendo should be thinking of retiring - and that there is a place for Hendo in the UFC. Just like Lidell had a place among others who answered the call when needed.

Loyalty goes a long way and is earned from all sides involved. Personally, had I been JJ, I would have fought a lighter weight opponent. Just to be that guy in addition to the thousands of UFC fans who purchased tickets, made travel plans, the other fighters, trainers, and all involved on Mandalay's part.

But then I also once lead a small group of rock climbers up Devils Tower on a day I didn't feel well and would have rather stayed in bed. But some of them were coming from out-of-State, took time off of work, etc. Guess I could have cancelled out and rescheduled.

Someday after JJ loses his title and drops a couple of fights, maybe the UFC will release him and he can fight in the Des Moines, IA American Legion with Titan and tell everyone how he once sat out a fight at Mandalay. Loyalty is earned and the UFC really doesn't need him as much as he needs the UFC.

Yeah the UFC is so star-studded that they had to cancel an entire card because 1 guy got injured.

This is one of the main reasons i think it was right not taking the fight. This fight could be a huge PPV, but it deserves alot more than 8 days build-up. The reason Sonnen is a draw is the way he acts in the build up to a fight. Having Sonnen in a big fight where he doesnt have a few months to talk trash and build up interest is a bad idea.

If Sonnen is successful in his move to 205 and wins a few fights and sets up a title fight with jon jones it would be alot bigger than what their fight at ufc 151 could have been.

Every man has a right to be wrong in his opinions. But no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.

Chael fought at 205 from 1997-2005

GTFO

He just beat Fedor and Shogun - I'd list Cavalcante too but for some reason I think that would be lost on you.

He's also never faced JJ - dude's kind of cleaned out the LHW div if you haven't noticed.

Neither the fighter nor DW make the UFC. It is the fans with cash in hand which make the UFC. Hence quite a few fights were brought about by social media. Yes 151 was dropped, and there have been other cards where the Facebook fight were far and above better than the main card, so what? I would rather watch a Joe Blow making his way up the ranks banging and taking guys out, than a Carlos "The Natural Born Runner" Condit back peddle from Diaz for 5 rounds. I would pay $300/seat and travel expenses to see a Rousey 54 sec arm bar than Guida running from Maynard.

The fulcrum isn't how good a card an event was, it is the fact Jones ducked a smaller opponent, like I said, with little to none 205 experience. If he could have competed there, he would have stayed. Sonnen is a 185er.

For the payday, and to maintain an event, I would put money down Frankie Edgar would have fought either Sonnen or Jones. LOL

The UFC was selling events and going mainstream long before Jones rolled in, and it will continue long after Jones is gone.

Again my opinion, the boss asks you to stay late or to take a project you don't want to, yet you do because you know it will pay dividends down the road. When you turn it down, don't be surprised when some other guy gets the promotion. Just sayin'.

So go watch Tuff Man competitions or bum fights or something. MMA clearly isn't you're bag.

So then let's give that man a Title Shot!

So you don't like point fighters but I'm inferring you're a fan of FE, no contradiction there. Frankie always stays in the pocket and wings bombs

NFL doesn't need Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Rodgers needs the NFL. We didn't land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us

Sounds like you're a hard worker and not so much the thinking creative type. Those types do need the boss more than the boss needs them - good call