Sonnen: Jones Should Have Packed Up and Left the Division
On this week's "UFC Tonight," Host Todd Harris and Analyst Kenny Florian interview Chael Sonnen and get the scoop on his upcoming fight against Jon Jones. They are also joined in the studio by former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, who discusses his next fight and more. Also, Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo tells us when he'll be ready to get back in the Octagon.
Quote of the Week: Chael Sonnen on what changed Jon Jones' mind to fight him: "I don't know. Here's the bottom line, he should not have been pressured into this. I did everything I could to warn this guy. I told him 'Hey I'm coming to the division' and he should have packed up and left it. He talked about going to heavyweight and he should have done it because now he's waited too long and the man has arrived."
Sonnen on if he is fighting for the light heavyweight belt: "Listen, here is what you need to know. This show [The Ultimate Fighter] has some tremendous young talent on it. I will be taking 50 percent of that talent and teaching them how to fight. The other half is going to be taught how to be selfish, entitled brats like Jones. The good news is that when it is all over, I'm sure Coach Jones will throw a hell of an after-party."
Sonnen on how he plans to beat Jones: "What you need to know, Todd, and what Jon already knows, is that I got the biggest arms, I got the greatest charm and I do the most harm. I'm better than Jon Jones, I'm better than Sean Combs and I'm better than John Holmes."
Sonnen on how the fight against Jon Jones got made: "Well, probably by elimination. I've got no one else willing to fight me. And little Jon Jon, the little leprechaun, has my belt I'm coming to take."
Sonnen on if his fight against Forrest Griffin is cancelled: "Forrest Griffin fight has been cancelled. Griffin has a new opponent, as do I."
"UFC Tonight" Analyst Kenny Florian on how Chael Sonnen should fight Jon Jones: "The great thing about Chael Sonnen is that this is a guy who likes to go forward. He isn't concerned about the myth and what you've done. He is going to bring the fight to Jon jones and he isn't intimidated."
Florian on if Sonnen deserves to get the fight against Jones: "This is a guy who's always been at the forefront getting the fights he wants. Props to Chael. Does he deserve a shot against Jon Jones? No, he doesn't. But it's about what he's done to get that fight. He's very popular. He talks a great game, and I'm sure he'll talk a lot in The Ultimate Fighter. That's a fight everyone will want to see. For anyone complaining, tell me you won't tune in and watch this?"
Florian on if he believes the UFC is sending a message to fighters to step up to fights: "I do. They're saying: Guys, you've got to step up and fight. Chael did at short notice in a different weight class. And look at what's happened to Lyoto Machida now, he's been pushed to the back of the line and now he's got to wait."
Rashad Evans on Jones vs. Sonnen: "It is a tough one. For the most part I commend the UFC for making the fights happen that the fans want to see. But as a fighter, I'm wondering when I'm going to get a chance to get back out there. I mean, I wanted to fight Anderson Silva, but they said I needed one more fight to be back as a contender at middleweight."
Evans on if Jones vs. Sonnen is happening too soon: "Well, do I think Chael can do it? I think Chael can do it and that is something that is relevant. And it is making the fight that the people want to see. Other organizations don't do that. We make the fights people want to see."
Evans on if Sonnen can beat Jones: "I think he can get it done and I think he is going to need to do the same thing, put pressure on him. With Jones, it's different because he is a long guy that can fight short."
Evans on if he will be a part of Sonnen's training camp: "Chael is a friend of mine, but I don't know. I may just stay on the sidelines. I don't like to bring the focus on me because it's not about me. It is a big opportunity for Chael and I don't want to make it about me."
Evans on when he will fight next: "I was hoping in December, by the end of the year, but it looks like it's not going to happen until maybe February or March. Who am I going to fight is the main question?"
Evans on what division he'd like to fight in: "I want to be at light heavyweight because there is unfinished business. I can't go down unless something really beckons for my calling. I like to fight at 205 and I have done fairly well there."
Evans on if he would fight Anderson Silva: "I would. That is just a big opportunity, to fight Anderson. He is one of those guys I consider my favorite to watch and to get to fight him would be a dream come true for me."
Evans on who he would like to fight: "The guy who I really want to fight is a guy I lost my first fight to. I would like to fight Lyoto Machida again. He looked good against Bader. I want to get that one back, bad."
Evans on training with Hannibal King: "It was a great, I am a big fan. Meeting him is a pleasure. What he can do with his jiu jitsu is crazy, he can do anything. Once you master the core you can do anything. You see him doing a flag and to be able to master your body like that is at least six months of training. This is a guy who has pure, pure strength and training."
Evans on if training with King will help: "I think it will help a lot because the way we train. There are so many different facets of sports and we have to dedicate to all of them. Some of them are high impact. We always have to be in shape, so we need a low impact training. Using our body weight is really low impact, so I can do it again another day and it won't impact my body too badly. This works on your small ligaments and muscles that usually get tweaked in a fight. This is pure strength. This guy's core is incredibly strong."
"UFC Tonight" Insider Ariel Helwani asks Jose Aldo if he will ever ride a motorcycle again: "Never again, the days of the motorcycle are now over.
Aldo on if he would like to fight Frankie Edgar next: "I would really like to fight Frankie Edgar and I think all the fans really want to see this fight, too."
