Dana White gives insight on why Jones and Sonnen became TUF coaches
Posted on October 17, 2012, 06:00 PM by Andreas HaleThe UFC's announcement to have light heavyweight champion Jon Jones coach opposite Chael Sonnen on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter has become one of the most polarizing decisions in recent MMA memory. Some fans were enthralled with the idea, while many die-hard MMA fans were unhappy that a fighter who just lost in a title fight at 185 would get a crack at the 205 champion over more qualified competition.
A conference call was held featuring Dana White, Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen as they discussed how the decision came to be.
"We got the word that Jon couldn't fight until April it made sense for him to do TUF," White said while mentioning that Jones' arm is still healing from the armbar submission attempt by Vitor Belfort at UFC 152. Finding out Jones would be unable to compete, White quickly went to work on getting him to take part in season 17 of TUF. With fans clamoring for a Jones-Sonnen fight after the 205 champ turned down the short notice showdown -- and the subsequent cancellation of UFC 151 -- the idea of putting these two together on TUF became the best move for both parties. Meanwhile, White figures that he can pit some of the top light heavyweights against each other to create a bonafide #1 contender for the Jones-Sonnen winner in mid-2013.
"Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderon can fight now with Alexander Gustaffson and Shogun Rua fighting in December," White continued. "Everything will keep on moving. Chael wants this fight. The fans want this even though now say it's ridiculous. Jon said he wants to whoop Chael's ass and wanted to defend against whoever. They'll fight and whoever is the top guy at 205 can face Jon next."
Although there were fans that were unhappy with the decision, Dan Henderson immediately took to Twitter to voice his displeasure about Sonnen vaulting over him to get the title fight. "I guess I should just quit training to win fights and to be exciting for the fans and just go to shit talking school," Henderson said. While Henderson may have a valid point considering that the only reason that he didn't get to face Jon Jones was due to an injury, others in the 205 division who feel that Sonnen may not deserve the title shot won't get much sympathy from White.
"All of the top contenders who are pissed off were the same ones that I called and turned down the fight," White said, seemingly aimed at Lyoto Machida. But when asked about Henderson, White expressed that he was unsure of Hendo's recovery and had to make a decision.
"I don't know about Dan's health," White continued. "They said it would be a few weeks but then a few weeks later I hear he's not ready. We have to pull the trigger if guys aren't ready to fight because we have to move on. I don't even know if Dan would do The Ultimate Fighter."
The next season of TUF will begin filming on October 29th and premiere on a new night on FX in January.
Comments
"on said he wants to whoop Chael's ass and wanted to defend against whoever. They'll fight and whoever is the top guy at 205 can face Jon next.""
and if Chael should win??????
I'm a Chael fan and even I gave you a "Funny" for that one.
That is what stood out the most for me in that interview as well, Dana is always pretty careful to not suggest their champions can't lose but this time not even Dana could bring himself to suggest Jones could lose. I guess it's possible that Jones could slip and break his leg or something, however that might just make Jones beat up Chael with some sick one legged rounds house kicks.
Considering he basically beat Vitor with a dislocated elbow, you could be right
The only way this fight (and the assurance that Jon fights the #1 contender after this fight) could be rationalized is if the belt wasn't on the line. Everything would continue to progress smoothly, just Jon taking a "fun fight".
Has it been CONFIRMED that, indeed, the belt is on the line? Not questioning it, just haven't seen it definitively mentioned.
Someone call Nate Marquardt. I'm sure Dana will want another former middleweight for Jones to fight within the next year.
Chael is getting subbed. He has zero chance here. Look what Jon did to Vera and Hamil on the ground.
MONEY
PPV numbers come first, twitter followers come second, and then rankings come last in the UFC business.
At every press conference when Dana is asked where a guy is in the division he always says well see what happens.
To be fair this is a decent explanation and may not be the perfect set up for the LHW situation but it'll do.
There's no exactly much new Lesnar's or Sonnen's popping up all the time so we shouldn't worry about guys skipping the line to bad
I agree. As we criticize Dana we often forget that his main job is to sell fights (in big numbers). It may not always be the right thing to do for the good of the sport or what we like but to the owners big PPV numbers are key. Nothing brings in big numbers like the prospect of a guy with a big mouth having it shut for him.
I don't usually say this kind of stuff but that is one impressive ability to just eat whatever is put in front of you you got there, even if it's all bullshit.
No it isn't. Dana states that he doesn't even know if Dan would do TUF. Did he even ask? This is no explanation at all. It is just PR. @Dana BTW some of us who criticized Jon (I criticized him early on and then became convinced that he had made the right choice) never clamored for them to fight. We just thought that Jon was being unnecessarily difficult in that situation.
Dana make it a Tag Team Dream Match:
Anderson Silva & Hendo vs. Jones & Sonnen
and if not at least a triple threat for the UFC Undisputed P4P Champ:
Silva & GSP & Jones
C'mon be serious. If the undisputed crown is on the line then it has to be a royal rumble ladder match.
Yeah so that wasn't the dumbest explanation ever, why not have Chael fight Machida and give Hendo the title shot he earned? But then again that is a bit silly since Chael in no way deserves to fight Machida either.
Am I the only 1 who thinks what Dana said only makes sense to himself.
And his wallet....
Nope.
This sh*ts crazy!!
All he really had to say was Chael will bring in the best tv ratings.
TUF works best when theres a villain vs hero set up like gsp and koscheck, only thing is here, not sure its clear whos who cause of the hate Jones gets.
wtf nonsence fight in April this means Silva vs Jones willl never hapen wath a waist of time.Sonnen lost last fight in lower devision now fighting the LHW champion. i dont enjoy MMA any more becose of this bull shit some dont wana fight each other becose they are friends some from rerspect and some becose they are scared this is a sport to see who is the best they need to fight each other.Who will Silva fight next rematch with Bonnar.last good oponent Silva foght was Hendo 5 years a go and Hendo sucked in submition game his only weakness
"Last good opponent?" I guess you haven't been watching MMA for 5 years.
Sonnen beat Silva's ass for 4 rounds and was ahead on all cards. And in the rematch, he did far better in the 1st round than Hendo did way back.
Chael can be a jerk, no question. But just because you don't like him doesn't make all his fights magically disappear..
Beat him for 4 rounds on roids! Then Lost!
You're both right about Sonnen. He did whoop Silva's ass for a good part of their encounters. but he isn't really that good.
I have no illusions about who Sonnen is. Is he in Anderson's class? No. But who is?
He's still an elite opponent and deserves credit for the things he's done.
Terrible move IMO. Just when there was serious momentum about the fight of the century, maybe the fight of all MMA history thus far, between Jones and Silva taking place, Dana then follows up immediately with possibly the most anti climatic announcement in the history of UFC.
I do understand Sonnen is entertaining and the TUF figures need boosting, why not do Silva - Jones on TUF? The figures would need a bigger chart to show them on and everyone's happy. This is short sighted quick buck mentality, which as others point out is bad in the long run.
As much as I can't stand the guy, Dana deserves a lot of credit for bringing the UFC from it's early years to it''s present day existence, almost as much as the fertilla's $$$ but for all of the advancements he has made to UFC this is the biggest backwards step ever, and there's a danger of a portion of the hardcore fans becoming disillusioned with the product.
Fans have been Clamoring about Jones/Sonnen?
Which fans? I believe majority of the fans keep up with who is winning and losing and not asking for ridiculous match-ups like this one.
"I don't know about Dan's health," White continued. "They said it would be a few weeks but then a few weeks later I hear he's not ready. We have to pull the trigger if guys aren't ready to fight because we have to move on. I don't even know if Dan would do The Ultimate Fighter.".....
Dana, did you even bother asking Hendo if he would do TUF? No..you ass-u-me
Translation to Dana's explanation=because all I see is $$$$$$$$ signs!!!
The term "BULLSH*T ARTIST" comes to mind, for some reason.
here are the real reasons:
1. money.
2. more money.
3. even more money.
I will watch this fight on live stream--if I have the time--otherwise I will watch it the next day on MMA Share.
Dana ain't getting my $'s for this card.
well ...UFC used to be about the best fighting the best...damn shame..