Upon hearing the news that Chael Sonnen would be the next challenger for Jon Jones light heavyweight title, former champion Lyoto Machida went to Twitter to say that Sonnen does not deserve this opportunity.
With all respect,but for me Chael does not deserve The title shot,I would like To know What He had done in LHW for deserve!!
— Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) October 17, 2012
Machida is the second top heavyweight contender to come out and say that Sonnen should not be getting this opportunity. Prior to Machida’s tweet, Dan Henderson said on Twitter, “I guess I should just quit training to win fights and to be exciting for the fans and just go to s— talking school.”
During Wednesday’s conference call, UFC President Dana White responded to what the two fighters have said on Twitter and he doesn’t want to hear it because Chael was the only guy that was willing to step up and face Jones.
“All the contenders who are pissed off they didn’t get the title shot are the same guys who I called, offered them the fight with Jon Jones in September, and they turned it down,” White said. “I don’t want to hear any bitching from them. Chael was the only guy who stepped up and wants to fight Jon Jones. Chael wants this fight, the fans want this fight and we give the fans the fights they want to see. Chael Sonnen is the only guy who stepped up and wanted to fight.”
During the same conference call, Sonnen also reacted to what contenders are saying and that none of them have said they would be willing to fight him.
“People are upset I’m fighting Jon? Welcome to life. You get what you get, not what you deserve. And I have to deal with this all the time, people who are jealous of what I’ve gotten in the sport. But I am No.1 because I say I am – and no one has been able to look me in the eye and say otherwise. (Light Heavyweight contenders) are blowing up their Twitter accounts bitching and moaning, but they won’t step up to fight me and they won’t step up and fight Jon Jones.”
Henderson has a better case to complain about Sonnen getting the next title shot, because he lost the opportunity for a title shot because of an injury. Machida had the chance to take on Jones, but was unwilling to face Jones on three weeks notice.
Machida and Henderson are scheduled to square off in their next fight and will likely face the winner of the UFC on FOX 5 bout between Alexander Gustafsson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the chance to face the light heavyweight champion