Jon Jones says Chael Sonnen gets what he wants, except for championships

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With all of the hand-wringing and faux-outrage surrounding the booking of Chael Sonnen vs. Jon Jones this week, one of the key reasons the fight was put together in the first place hasn't been discussed much. That key reason is Jones himself, who essentially requested the bout following fan reaction to him turning the fight down at UFC 151.

"Just two months ago I had the whole world calling me a sissy and a wuss and saying that I'm afraid of Chael Sonnen, and even my own fans in my hometown questioned why I wouldn't fight him," Jones said during a media conference call this week for the bout and The Ultimate Fighter (transcribed by ESPN UK). "And it seems like a lot of people have jumped on this train of Chael not deserving a title shot, but they jumped on that train a little too late."

"I think I'm over the fact of whether he deserves it or not, and I'm getting more realistic with the fact that the fans really want it. And without the fans, who are any of us?"

Still, while he's chastising those complaining about the booking now after criticizing him before, Jones took a few occasions during the call to get in some shots at Sonnen's skillset, and where he's at in the sport.

"Chael's an interesting guy. I respect some things about him, like the way he goes out there and gets what he wants, everything except for a world championship, or any championships for that matter. So he's a good talker, he's definitely good for the sport in some ways."

"He's extremely disrespectful and not much of a championship level athlete at all, but he has his qualities, and most of his qualities are gonna come to light when he retires and when he's able to do his TV shows and commentating and things like that. But right now I feel as if I'm doing a lot of people in the sport a favour and I'm doing Chael a favor by showing him what his true calling is, and that's using that gift of gab, not athletic talent."

Penick's Analysis: This is an issue that went into the decision to make the fight that's just not being acknowledged as month. Jones essentially said this is a chance for him to shut Chael Sonnen up, then move on to more deserving competitors down the line. The rest of the division will have fights play out in order to determine the next challenger, and he'll more than likely be the one still holding onto the belt by then. He clearly doesn't hold Sonnen in high regard as a fighter, and he'll carry that feeling into their fight by April.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_14734.shtml

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