Nearly 500 days have passed since Tom Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title, but a bout with Jon Jones remains unofficial. After withdrawing from their original fight due to a torn pectoral muscle, ‘Bones’ took a year off, returned at UFC 309 to defeat Stipe Miocic, and is now asking for another six months before confronting the Briton. This has sparked outrage among fans, prompting a strong response from Chael Sonnen, who wasted no time calling out ‘Bones.’ However, it seems like all it did was start a war of words with the reigning kingpin of the heavyweight division.
Sonnen, never one to back down from a verbal altercation, blasted Jones for prolonging the inevitable. “It’s been four and a half months since you fought, Jon. Are you not training with Aspinall in mind? Do you not know the champion has to fight the interim champion? What do you mean you need six months?” he asked. Sonnen’s dissatisfaction is shared by many fans, who believe Tom Aspinall is the deserving challenger but fear the contest may never take place. Calls for ‘Bones’ to be stripped of his belt are growing stronger, with some claiming that the heavyweight division is being kept hostage while Jon Jones dictates the rules.
Jones, of course, was not going to leave Sonnen’s statements unanswered. In a now-viral Instagram comment on his recent Instagram post, he indirectly fired back at ‘The American Gangster’, writing, “The lesser man talking about territory, he’s never been.” Though he did not mention Sonnen by name, the message was clear: Jones regards his old rival’s words as inconsequential. But, aside from the verbal barbs, the bigger concern remains: if Jones actually requires six more months, does that mean UFC 317 in June is out of the question?
International Fight Week appeared to be the ideal setting for the fight, but the schedule no longer makes sense. With the UFC still pressing for a July showdown, something must give. If Jon Jones keeps delaying, Dana White may be forced to make a difficult decision. Stripping Jones is a drastic move, but the UFC cannot afford to keep the division stalled indefinitely. The Briton has previously defended his interim title and has done all that is needed to earn his shot. If ‘Bones’ refuses to step up, the UFC may have no choice but to proceed without him. However, this might also give Jon Jones the opportunity to play the ‘victim’ again, something that Chael Sonnen claimed that the heavyweight champion always does.
Chael Sonnen accuses Jon Jones of always playing a victim
Chael Sonnen‘s seen enough. The former title challenger has been in his fair share of verbal spats with Jon Jones, but his latest claim may be the most devastating yet. According to ‘The American Gangster,’ Jones isn’t simply postponing his fight with Tom Aspinall; he’s laying the groundwork for yet another victim narrative. ‘The American Gangster’ feels this is an important aspect of Jones’ thinking, allowing him to portray himself as the righteous individual in every conflict, even when the facts show otherwise.
This isn’t the first time Jones has created a scandal to fuel his mindset. Prior to his fight with Stipe Miocic, he exploited an innocent statement from his opponent to use it as his motivation. ‘The American Gangster’ claims this is a recurring pattern with Jones. He cites Miocic’s post-fight prediction that Francis Ngannou will defeat ‘Bones’ as a reaction to Jones, not as an objective analysis, but as a reaction to how ‘Bones’ treated him. “If you’re not aware that this is just the process Jon goes through, you could get your feelings hurt,” Sonnen said. He went on to claim that Jones thrives on drama, stating, “Jon likes to be a victim. He just likes that. ‘The side that I stand on is righteous,’ thus needing to make his opponent a very bad guy.”
This approach could explain why Jones has been dragging his feet in the Tom Aspinall fight. If Sonnen is right, then Jones’ six-month demand is about more than simply physical preparation; it is also about building the perfect narrative. By the time he enters the Octagon, ‘Bones’ expects to portray himself as the underdog, fighting an unfair system and an opponent who does not deserve to be in the cage with him. What’s the problem? Fans are no longer buying it. And if the UFC is not careful, they may wind up with a heavyweight champion who is more concerned with playing the victim than protecting his championship. But what do you think? Do you agree with Chael Sonnen’s accusations? Let us know in the comments.
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