By now I'm sure almost everyone has heard and digested the shocking news that Chael Sonnen and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will be coaches for next season's The Ultimate Fighter and will fight next April.
If that was your first time hearing of that news, take some time to let it sink in. But, honestly where the hell have you been?
Now that you've had some time, let's go back and look at that. The UFC announced early Tuesday that Sonnen and Jones would be coaches for their TUF series, which means they'll fight soon after and it'll be for Jones's light heavyweight title.
The question on everyone's mind is, why? Why Sonnen? Why not anyone else?
The truth is Jones hasn't been the biggest PPV draw and isn't bringing in as much money as the UFC would like from its premier champion. Sonnen, on the other hand, has been able to verbally hype every fight he's been a part of. Whether it be his two fights with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva or bouts with Michael Bisping and Brian Stann. Sonnen garners interest just by talking.
Making this match does two things for the UFC. One, it garners interest for a show that has been struggling to keep solid rating numbers since moving to FX. Second, it pits one of the UFC's best fighters versus its most skilled trash-talker. Truth is, this isn't a match based on merit but on monetary need and gain.
On one hand you have Sonnen. He hasn't fought since losing to Silva at UFC 146 on July 7, and is 2-2 in his last four fights. It is also noteworthy that Sonnen hasn't fought at 205 since 2005. He was scheduled to make his return to the LHW division at UFC 155 versus Forrest Griffin, but just leaped over every contender for a shot at Jones.
Jones, on the other hand, recently defeated Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 and is riding a 8-fight win streak that has spanned over 2-plus years. He's defeated the likes of Mauricio Rua, Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans during that time.
This could quite possibly be the smartest idea the UFC has ever had or simply blow up in their face. It could set a horrible precedent for future fighters and give them the notion that by simply stating you could beat a champ it will lead to a title shot. Instead of fighting and earning a title shot, some fighters might begin to take the Chael Sonnen route.
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I'm thinking the show will be entertaining but the fight I think Jones will blow out Sonnen. The fight I wanted to see was Anderson Silva and Jon Jones.
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