UFC Fan Chat with Dana White, Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen (Video)
Last night, MetroPCS hosted an online chat featuring UFC President Dana White and Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The result was a night full of interesting quotes on some of the most oft-discussed topics in all of MMA. First off, Dana White addressed the fight that everybody wants to see (currently) by saying:
“I guarantee you Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones will absolutely happen. It’s happening. It will happen.”
Strong words from the ever-confident President, who is never at a lack for confidence. And he just may be correct here, as Jones was noted earlier this week as saying the fight is now a definite possibility, when earlier he ha stated he would never fight Silva. The allure of potentially the biggest bout in MMA history is a lot to turn down.
Speaking of Jones, he was on hand to discuss his future plans. Part of that future is obviously currently tied up to his stint on The Ultimate Fighter that just kicked off this week and will culminate in a season finale bout against the always entertaining Chael Sonnen. Set for April 27th, Jones detailed his plans for 2013 beyond that:
“I’ll definitely move up to Heavyweight. But it’ll probably be around 2013. Maybe at the end of 2013. now I have a nutritionist and I’m starting to take the career a lot more seriously than I used to, so my weight cuts are getting a lot easier. I walk around a lot thinner naturally. Right now I’m at, like, 225 (pounds). That’s a 20-pound cut. That’s really easy. So I might look bigger than most people when I’m fighting, but I’m really not.”
So, only time will tell Jones will move up in weight, as he is quickly destroying all comers at 205 lbs. However, if he were to do that next year after the Sonnen fight, just when would the superfight of Silva vs. Jones take place? The timing seems impossible to predict, because it probably is as of right now. What’s more, Jones also stated that he still wants to fight Dan Henderson because of the unfinished business left by UFC 151 being canceled.
Chael Sonnen also appeared, and was a rather reserved version of his usual rambunctious self. He did, however, comment on just how the relationship of he and former training partner Dan Henderson has changed since Sonnen earned the title shot against Jones. Henderson obviously still wants the fight and feels that Sonnen is undeserving of that shot, making a mockery of the sport in the process. Sonnen said he has not spoken to Henderson since the fiasco, and addressed the issue with this:
“I keep hearing that I talked my way into a fight, and guys, it’s true. But the word that I used was ‘yes.’ When the chance came, they said, ‘Do you want to fight?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ Contrary to what it may look like on TV, this guy (Jones) is pretty darn good, and there’s not a lot of guys that want to fight him. And contrary to what the oddsmakers may say, this guy (Sonnen) is pretty good too. There’s not a lot of guys that want to fight me, and a lot of guys complained that I got the fight with Jon, but not one of those guys said, ‘I want to fight Jon.’ Not one of them.”
Perhaps not many are lining up to fight Jones, but you can bet that a healthy Dan Henderson would have been at the front of the line.
The online session also included White’s statement that he has contacted the legendary Fedor Emelianenko‘s camp to try and coax the fighter out of retirement, but his offer has fallen upon deaf ears. Even at his current age it would be exciting to see The Last Emperor in the UFC Octagon.
Regardless, the MetroPCS online chat has opened the door for tons of excitement and controversy in the UFC next year, now focus shifts to just how these lofty promises can be fulfilled.
Check out video of the chat right here:
Last night, MetroPCS hosted an online chat featuring UFC President Dana White and Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The result was a night full of interesting quotes on some of the most oft-discussed topics in all of MMA. First off, Dana White addressed the fight that everybody wants to see (currently) by saying:
“I guarantee you Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones will absolutely happen. It’s happening. It will happen.”
Strong words from the ever-confident President, who is never at a lack for confidence. And he just may be correct here, as Jones was noted earlier this week as saying the fight is now a definite possibility, when earlier he ha stated he would never fight Silva. The allure of potentially the biggest bout in MMA history is a lot to say no to.
Speaking of Jones, he was on hand to discuss his future plans. Part of that future is obviously currently tied up to his stint on The Ultimate Fighter that just kicked off this week and will culminate in a season finale bout against the always entertaining Chael Sonnen. Set for April 27th, Jones detailed his plans for 2013 beyond that:
“I’ll definitely move up to Heavyweight. But it’ll probably be around 2013. Maybe at the end of 2013. Right now I have a nutritionist and I’m starting to take the career a lot more seriously than I used to, so my weight cuts are getting a lot easier. I walk around a lot thinner naturally. Right now I’m at, like, 225 (pounds). That’s a 20-pound cut. That’s really easy. So I might look bigger than most people when I’m fighting, but I’m really not.”
So, only time will tell Jones will move up in weight, as he is quickly destroying all comers at 205 lbs. However, if he were to do that next year after the Sonnen fight, just when would the superfight of Silva vs. Jones take place? The timing seems impossible to predict, because it probably is as of right now. What’s more, Jones also stated that he still wants to fight Dan Henderson because of the unfinished business left by UFC 151 being canceled.
Speaking of which, Chael Sonnen appeared, and was a rather reserved version f his usual rambunctious self. He did, however, comment on just how the relationship of he and former training partner Dan Henderson has changed since Sonnen earned the tile shot against Jones. Henderson obviously still wants the fight and feels that Sonnen is undeserving of that shot, making a mockery of the sport in the process. Sonnen said he has not spoken to Henderson since the fiasco, and addressed the issue with this:
“I keep hearing that I talked my way into a fight, and guys, it’s true. But the word that I used was ‘yes.’ When the chance came, they said, ‘Do you want to fight?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ Contrary to what it may look like on TV, this guy (Jones) is pretty darn good, and there’s not a lot of guys that want to fight him. And contrary to what the oddsmakers may say, this guy (Sonnen) is pretty good too. There’s not a lot of guys that want to fight me, and a lot of guys complained that I got the fight with Jon, but not one of those guys said, ‘I want to fight Jon.’ Not one of them.”
Perhaps not many are lining up to fight Jones, but you can bet that a healthy Dan Henderson would have been at the front of the line.
The online session also included White’s statement that he has contacted the legendary Fedor Emelianenko‘s camp to try and coax the fighter out of retirement, but his offer has fallen upon deaf ears. Even at his current age it would be exciting to see The Last Emperor in the UFC Octagon. Regardless, the MetroPCS online chat has opened the door for tons of excitement and controversy in the UFC next year, now focus shifts to just how these lofty promises can be fulfilled.
