NEWARK, April 27 – Chael Sonnen talked the talk leading up to his UFC 159 main event against Jon Jones at Prudential Center Saturday night, but it was Jones walking the walk once the bell rang, defending his UFC light heavyweight title for the fifth time with a dominant first round TKO of his loquacious challenger.
“We went through a lot of drama and it motivated me a lot,” said Jones, who tied Tito Ortiz’ UFC record for 205-pound title defenses. “I really wanted to try to Chael Sonnen Chael Sonnen and I think I did a good job of that.”
He also did it with a broken left toe suffered during the bout. And while Sonnen showed up to fight, he was outgunned by the 25-year-old champion.
“He’s an excellent fighter,” said Sonnen. “When he went for the kill he never stopped. I think he was the better fighter. I’m disappointed. I thought I had more in me.”
The two-time middleweight title challenger also said that he had likely fought his final fight.
“I believe that was probably my last opportunity,” said the 36-year-old Sonnen. Yet despite that announcement, the night belonged to Endicott, New York’s Jones, who was in control from start to finish.
As the champion made his way to the Octagon, Sonnen alternated between staring at his adversary with hands on knees and waving him into the Octagon while yelling “come on.” Jones wasn’t about to give the challenger what he wanted though, taking the long way around before calmly stepping through the door to the cage.
With both fighters both receiving rousing ovations from the crowd, it was hard to determine who the favorite was before the bell rang, but once the fight commenced, it was Jones getting a big roar for his takedown of Sonnen. The challenger quickly rose and the two traded punches on the inside before Jones bulled him to the fence and got a second takedown. Sonnen took some shots before getting up again, but Jones kept him tied up. As the battle heated up at close range, Sonnen tried to stay busy, but Jones wasn’t allowing him to take control as he fired strikes back and dumped him on his back a third time. This third time, Sonnen wouldn’t get back up, as the champion unleashed a barrage of ground strikes that busted his face up and prompted referee Keith Peterson to stop the fight at 4:33 of the first round.
With the win, Jones improves to 18-1; Sonnen falls to 28-13-1.
NEWARK, April 27 – Chael Sonnen talked the talk leading up to his UFC 159 main event against Jon Jones at Prudential Center Saturday night, but it was Jones walking the walk once the bell rang, defending his UFC light heavyweight title for the fifth time with a dominant first round TKO of his loquacious challenger.
“We went through a lot of drama and it motivated me a lot,” said Jones, who tied Tito Ortiz’ UFC record for 205-pound title defenses. “I really wanted to try to Chael Sonnen Chael Sonnen and I think I did a good job of that.”
He also did it with a broken left toe suffered during the bout. And while Sonnen showed up to fight, he was outgunned by the 25-year-old champion.
“He’s an excellent fighter,” said Sonnen. “When he went for the kill he never stopped. I think he was the better fighter. I’m disappointed. I thought I had more in me.”
The two-time middleweight title challenger also said that he had likely fought his final fight.
“I believe that was probably my last opportunity,” said the 36-year-old Sonnen. Yet despite that announcement, the night belonged to Endicott, New York’s Jones, who was in control from start to finish.
As the champion made his way to the Octagon, Sonnen alternated between staring at his adversary with hands on knees and waving him into the Octagon while yelling “come on.” Jones wasn’t about to give the challenger what he wanted though, taking the long way around before calmly stepping through the door to the cage.
With both fighters both receiving rousing ovations from the crowd, it was hard to determine who the favorite was before the bell rang, but once the fight commenced, it was Jones getting a big roar for his takedown of Sonnen. The challenger quickly rose and the two traded punches on the inside before Jones bulled him to the fence and got a second takedown. Sonnen took some shots before getting up again, but Jones kept him tied up. As the battle heated up at close range, Sonnen tried to stay busy, but Jones wasn’t allowing him to take control as he fired strikes back and dumped him on his back a third time. This third time, Sonnen wouldn’t get back up, as the champion unleashed a barrage of ground strikes that busted his face up and prompted referee Keith Peterson to stop the fight at 4:33 of the first round.
With the win, Jones improves to 18-1; Sonnen falls to 28-13-1.