UFC
Chael Sonnen thinks if the UFC puts Jon Jones in a title fight when he returns, "then none of this makes sense"
May 22, 2015 - 12:15:58 PM Chael Sonnen thinks if the UFC puts Jon Jones in a title fight when he returns, "then none of this makes sense"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"In fighting there is a history. You can't operate outside of the confines of history. You get stripped for two reasons: You don't defend your belt or you are unable to defend your belt. Those are the only two things that get you stripped. You have a guy who is still in the company and you took his belt. It's weird. It's really weird. If you cut a guy and he is no longer with the company than, obviously, he is no longer the champion. I don't know what you do from here. Are you telling me that Jon's next fight when he comes back won't be for the title? Because if it is for the title, than what's the difference?

If you put him in a title fight then none of this makes sense. It's the exact same spot he's in. He walks out to the ring without the belt and he walks away with the belt. Or, if he loses, he doesn't leave with the belt. That is the exact same thing that would've happened if he would've walked to the ring with the belt... Then it comes back full circle, okay, well then you have to put him back in a title fight. You just have to do it six months from now and everyone forgets about this. Well, if you do that, nothing has changed. It's the exact same spot. So, it's just weird. I don't know what you do with him. That's why it's weird."

-Chael Sonnen comments on the UFC stripping Jon Jones of the UFC Light Heavyweight Title in an interview with MMAMania.com.

Penick's Analysis: Here's one occasion where I'm in full agreement with Sonnen. I understand suspending Jones, fining him if they needed to, and keeping him on the sidelines while dealing with his legal issues. However, if they weren't going to cut him, and they're going to bring him right back into a title fight, then again, taking the title from him was a mostly empty gesture.

[Chael Sonnen art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]