2 very different philosophies from 2 very different champs

[dipstickjimmy]

Exactly, which is why the UFC deserved all the blame. If the card is so bad that the show literally can't go on without the main event, that's on the company.

The statement I responded to said the UFC could have easily still went ahead with UFC 151 without Jon Jones and that is patently false. Jon turning down a layup against Chael was kind of sad.

 

[j18lee]

Being a control freak like Jones is a mental disease that confidence can't counter no matter how much confidence he has in himself, and I'm guessing he has a whole lot. Part of the reason he's such an alcoholic is likely self-medicating his condition as a control freak.

When it comes to fighting, Jones is the kid who often has a breakdown if he gets only an A+ rather than a perfect score on a test. Plenty of confidence, knows he's getting the A+, but that isn't enough. The prep work is for the perfect score; the alcohol is to avoid or cope with the breakdown.

Well analyzed and said.

At the time of UFC 151, I couldn't for the life of me understand why someone as superior in everything single aspect of MMA over Chael Sonnen would decline possibly the easiest payday of his career, just because of short notice. I mean, that was proven at UFC 159 where Jones toyed with and easily finished Sonnen in one round.

Your explanation makes good sense. Of course Jones was not afraid of Sonnen. Only a total control freak would decline an easy payday like he did.

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

LW Champ Islam Makhachev has taken a last minute opponent in Renato Moicano for UFC 311. Here's what he had to say about it:

"What does this title represent," Makhachev asked. "It means you are the best in the world and if you are the best in the world, it doesn't matter who's going to be standing across from you. What do I say? No? NEVER. Let's do this!"

Jon Jones refused to fight a replacement opponent in his headline fight for UFC 151, leading to the entire event's cancellation. Here's what he had to say about it:

"I don't regret the decision," Jones said. "I pretty much had everything to lose in that situation. Chael Sonnen is a guy whose record is, I think, 6-5, which isn't a very good record to even fight for a world title. I just thought it would be a bad decision to give a guy an opportunity of a lifetime like that".

Just for saying that, Jones shouldn't be considered a Goat, doesn't believe in himself at all.

 

[volcom5]

I believe, when Jon Jones witnessed a robbery back in 2011, he did not watch the burglar's game film prior to taking him down.

Elite fighters should be confident of their skills to fight at a moment's notice.

While I don’t agree with Jones denying the Chael bout, I understand why he did it. To him MMA is competition and he wants to properly prepare.

Jones is that guy that will fight at moments notice believe that, he’s a psycho we all seen him and DC go at it. But I think it comes to MMA to him it’s different and he wants to be in control.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

Chael Sonnen is a higher level fighter than Renato is though.

 

[kahymo]

steroids user are the most insecure

always suffering from impostor syndrome,
so he was concerned Chael has access to better PEDs than him, actually they were both juiced
Chael admited and even commented on what Jones was caught on, this is not amateur stuff,
this is the advanced formula delivered by the good doctors

the pound for pound junkie will always be the hero of all the fans who enjoy taking drugs, he is the inspiration that kept them calling their drugs dealer

 

[HavokHarmon]

I get both stances. And to be fair to Jones we’ve seen big underdogs win the title before in fights they were supposed to lose. Bisping was famously counted out as a late replacement, and Luke had already beaten him so it’s not like he was unfamiliar with the guy. I get it.

 

[plataoplombo]

In the spirit of fighting, Islam is correct . I'll side with Jones on this one though. This is a business where at the end of the day the job is to win.

 

[kkthx]

Trust me, if Islam had to fight a "Chael Sonnen" instead of a renato moicano he would have pulled out in a flash.

 

[j18lee]

While I don’t agree with Jones denying the Chael bout, I understand why he did it. To him MMA is competition and he wants to properly prepare.

Jones is that guy that will fight at moments notice believe that, he’s a psycho we all seen him and DC go at it. But I think it comes to MMA to him it’s different and he wants to be in control.

Yeah, good explanation and you're likely to be completely right about Jones' mindset. I just have a hard time understanding someone who is possibly the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, being able to beat 99.99999% of human beings, and 99% of professional fighters would decline to fight someone from a lower weight class who is one dimensional like Sonnen. If it were someone like Aspinall, Gustafson, Machida or Pereira, I'd understand more. But Sonnen??? If Jones was asked to fight Strickland, Belal or Topuria (lol) on short notice, he'd probably decline too, which just baffles (and irritates) me.