Chael Sonnen has come up short in every attempt he’s made at procuring major-promotion gold during his mixed martial arts career.
But the pride of West Linn, Ore. remains the undisputed, pound-for-pound champion of trolling.
On Tuesday, Sonnen took to the airwaves to announce his move to light heavyweight on Fuel TV’s “UFC Tonight,” and in doing so, couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a shot at the current champion, Jon Jones.
“Sure, I could go up to 205, and I could take Jon Jones’ belt away the same as I could take away his candy on Halloween,” Sonnen said, as he announced his Dec. 29 bout with Forrest Griffin. “Like a little punk kid, I could snatch it away all I want.”
On Wednesday, Jones took the bait. The champion, who is training for his Sept. 1 title defense against Dan Henderson, fired back at Sonnen with three tweets, kicking off a chain reaction.
“The things you say about me hold absolutely no weight,” tweeted Jones. “You disrespected Anderson [Silva] and his country but fought like a child.”
Two more tweets rapidly followed: “If you’re going to disrespect me, at least disrespect me to my face like a man,” Jones tweeted. A minute later, he followed up with another tweet, which apparently referenced Sonnen’s California and Nevada commission suspensions. “And you call me a punk, I’m more man than you’ll ever be. #Coward #Cheater.”
This set off an entertaining back-and-forth between the two:
@sonnench lol dude, you’re not worth my time.. Earn a title shot instead of trying to talk your way into one and I’ll be glad to hurt you— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 15, 2012
Advice to
@jonnybones. Take some of that Nike money, hire new writers.— chael sonnen (@sonnench) August 15, 2012
By this point, Jones appeared to have walked away, so Sonnen took one last shot and went straight at Jones’ DUI issues:
@sonnench lol you’re an idiot if you think I haven’t heard every dui joke in the book. I applaud original ones, that’s powerless— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 15, 2012
Somehow, we get the feeling this won’t be the last of it.
For everyone who thinks I’m “falling into chaels game” I know exactly what I’m doing..
#AreYouNotEntertained— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 15, 2012