Jon Jones has been continually lambasted by fans, the media, fellow UFC fighters and UFC president Dana White since it was revealed that he declined a potential UFC 151 main event match with Chael Sonnen, which would have saved the now-disbanded event.
While few have rushed to vindicate Jones’ decision, Jones’ own coach, Mike Winkeljohn, claims that his fighter declined the match because he was smart enough to recognize an ambush in wait.
Winkeljohn spoke with Bloodyelbow.com about the thought process behind Jones’ handling of the situation.
I think Chael played almost everyone like a fiddle. But I believe like a coward he tried to train and strike Jon when Jon wasn’t looking. But hey, Jon is a warrior, and he, actually we, saw it coming. All I can say to Chael is nice try.
While Winkeljohn suggests Sonnen “tried to train” for the match in secrecy, he does not specify exactly how Sonnen tried to “strike when Jon wasn’t looking.”
Still, Winkeljohn asserts that Jones’ reasoning for electing not to contest the former middleweight contender was entirely circumstantial:
“Jon vs Sonnen. With no surprise attacks like Pearl Harbor. That’s a fight I want to see. Jon will win the war, and I think the UFC should capitalize on it.”
Winkeljohn goes on to note that, to his knowledge, Sonnen was not offered to Jones for UFC 152. Jones’ coach says he isn’t sure what prevented that offer from coming through (if it in fact did not), but believes that “Jon would be super-motivated to be up on Chael in Toronto.”
While that won’t happen now that Vitor Belfort has been tapped to contend for the UFC light heavyweight strap, a future fight between Jones and Sonnen certainly lies within the realm of possibility should Sonnen make a successful transition to the 205-pound weight division.
It seems the drama continues.
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