Remember last weekend, when Vitor Belfort semi-exploded on the mic and called out both UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and TUF 17 challenger Chael Sonnen? In one magnificent (and somewhat confusing) rant, Belfort not only referred to Sonnen as a “punk” and a “clown” who “just got knocked out pretty badly by Anderson Silva,” but also demanded Sonnen “go to the back of the line.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but to me those sound like fighting words. And Sonnen seemed to agree, as it took him all of five minutes to accept Vitor’s challenge on live television before mounting a trash talking campaign against Belfort on Twitter — one, I might add, that Belfort eagerly participated in.
Well, sorry to disappoint, folks. But the fight is off. I’ll allow Chael to explain.
“I thought he challenged me,” Sonnen wrote on a UFC.com live chat. “Which I quickly accepted. Then his people reached out to me and said I simply [misunderstood], that he simply wants the fight that I have, that he does not wish to fight me.
“It’s a good move by him,” Sonnen finished, of course taking one last parting shot. “He’s terrible.”
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Sonnen: Belfort turned me down. Fielding questions on a UFC.com live chat, TUF 17 coach Chael Sonnen revealed that after accepting Vitor Belfort’s recent challenge, Belfort’s “people” reached out and explained that Belfort was not actually interested in a fight with Sonnen, but rather replacing Sonnen against Jon Jones. Later in the chat, Sonnen added this unrelated nugget: “I think Chris Weidman would destroy Anderson Silva, which is precisely why the fight won’t happen.”
UFC on FOX 6 preview. Catch up on this weekend’s FOX card with pre-fight interviews featuring Rampage Jackson, Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, Demetrious Johnson, John Dodson, Glover Teixeira, Ricardo Lamas and Clay Guida.
Matyushenko still defending the old guard. Vladimir Matyushenko isn’t sure when his time will come. For all he knows, he may be on his last run, and this weekend’s fight against Ryan Bader could an indication to call it quits. But until then, he’s having too much fun to consider it.
UFC ‘probably’ signing Barnett. Said UFC President Dana White on the likelihood of the UFC signing former Strikeforce contender Josh Barnett: “It’s probably going to happen.”
UFC on FX 7 medical suspensions. Diego Nunes, Wagner Prado and C.J. Keith all received lengthy 180-day medical suspensions in the aftermath of UFC on FX 7. Likewise, headliner Michael Bisping will be forced to sit out 60 days for his TKO loss to Vitor Belfort.
GSP: Diaz rightful No. 1 contender. Among other reasons, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre called out Nick Diaz because he believes Johny Hendricks lost to Josh Koscheck at UFC on FOX 3, thus making Diaz the division’s rightful No. 1 contender. That sound you just heard was Hendricks’ head exploding.
Nobre’s future. When asked about a potential second UFC shot for Pedro Nobre, who fought to a controversial no contest against Yuri Alcantara last weekend, Dana White simply responded: “I doubt it.”
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Settle this debate for us. Ariel vs. Rampage: In the battle of the kicks, who wins?
Okay, Tommy. I’ll admit, you got me with the Miragliotta bit.
Chuck Liddell recently stopped by the Joe Rogan Podcast to talk Bisping-Belfort, the state of judging and refing in MMA, and more general goodness.
This is the internet. Of course this exists.
(HT: Reddit)
Just to get this straight, Dana White has his ear cut off in surgery. The next week he’s back fielding questions at a post-fight scrum. Impressive.
Alistair Overeem lounging alongside a brunette model and a 9-foot, 250+ pound alligator? Sounds about right.
Yet another fantastic fanmade trailer. No doubt, you guys are stepping up your game.