UFC lightweight contender Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone feels that light heavyweight champion Jon Jones should have fought Chael Sonnen at UFC 151.
His opinion holds a little more water than other fighters, because he is a teammate of “Bones” at Greg Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Cerrone spoke his mind at a question-and-answer session for fans prior to the UFC 155 weigh-ins in Las Vegas, Nevada (via MMA Junkie).
“Yes, I’d have fought,” Cerrone said about Jones declining a fight with Sonnen on eight days notice in September. “They could call me tomorrow and ask me to fight. I think you need to fight. That’s our job. I don’t think you should curl up and find a way out. So yes, that’s my answer.”
There is no question that the Colorado native loves to fight, competing inside the Octagon five times in 2011, looking like he was primed for a title shot before losing to Nate Diaz at UFC 141 in Dec. 2011.
While the infamous UFC 151 cancellation is well documented, a basic summary is that Jones was set to fight Dan Henderson at the event scheduled for Sept. 1.
Henderson had to withdraw from the title fight just eight days prior due to a knee injury, so a longtime friend and training partner of Henderson (Sonnen) stepped up to the plate to keep the event alive.
Based on the advisory of Greg Jackson, Jones declined the fight, and the event was ultimately canned.
According to Cerrone, he’s spoken to Jones on this subject many times, and the 25-year-old title holder still stands by the decision he made.
“He’s my teammate, and we have this discussion all the time,” Cerrone said. “I said, ‘You should’ve done it.’ And he goes, ‘Well, you don’t make a million (dollars) to fight.’ And I said, ‘Well, you’re right, but I f—ing fight every time with all my heart.'”
Jones eventually decided to fight Sonnen after a full training camp, with a title fight set for April after the two coach opposite one another on this season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Is Cerrone beating a dead horse here or just voicing his opinion on a controversial matter?
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