Upcoming UFC light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen says he never had a contract to fight Anderson Silva a second time and does not have a contract to fight Jon Jones next Saturday at UFC 159, according to an appearance on The Steve Austin Show.
Sonnen, a two-time UFC middleweight title challenger, certainly stirred the proverbial pot with these comments (transcription via MMA Mania):
“I never, to this day I don’t have a contract to fight Anderson Silva,” Sonnen stated in the interview. “I never signed an agreement that said I would fight him, we never picked a dollar amount, we never picked a weight class. Nothing. I told those guys I would show up and I did…But I got a world title fight coming up, we’ve got a sold out venue — I don’t have a piece of paper with my name on it or Jon Jones’ or anything else, but I don’t need one either.”
UFC 148, which was headlined by Silva-Sonnen II, took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bloody Elbow was able to get in touch with Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer, who said there was indeed a bout agreement in place prior to the heavily anticipated rematch last summer.
This isn’t the first time Sonnen and Kizer have told two completely opposite stories pertaining to the same event.
While appealing a year-long suspension issued by the California State Athletic Commission due to elevated levels of testosterone (via MMA Junkie), Sonnen claimed the NSAC approved him to use testosterone replacement therapy (via ESPN).
However, Kizer not only refuted Sonnen‘s account of events but went on to state that he had never spoken to Sonnen before (via Cageside Seats).
Is Sonnen using a negotiation tactic to get a contract extension with the UFC regardless of what happens in his fight with Jones, or is this just another instance of “Uncle Chael” hyping a fight?
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