Great post from Sherdog...
As a now former fan of Jon Jones, I find his failure to step up like a true champ for the his fellow fighters, the fans, the UFC, his new sponsor, and the whole damn sport, nauseating and utterly indefensible. If you're trying to defend this, you're not hugging on his nuts, you're choking on them.
There's simply no angle where refusing to fight and sinking a whole card make any sense. As a businessman, you take this fight for the check. And dealing with a divisive personality like Chael, win or lose, worst case scenario, there's even a lucrative rematch down the road. Also, you don't jerk around your revenue stream. The fans pay the UFC and Nike, who in turn pay Jon. And he just screwed them all.
As a warrior, and especially a champion, you take on all comers. If everyone is fighting for a shot at you, sure, wait and see who proves themselves worthy. But if there's just that one crazy bastard willing to rise up and challenge you, you have absolutely got to meet that challenge.
As a MAN, you don't deprive another man of his opportunity to provide for his family. No matter what you do, you can't make that right. The other fighters on that card aren't looking for a handout. They didn't bleed and sweat their way through camp so that Jonny Bones could oh-so-graciously cut them a check or whatever the hell he thinks would fix this. They were coming to fight. They were coming to earn their keep and advance their careers.
I always try to avoid all the nuthugger vs. hater garbage, as it's almost always thoroughly idiotic, particularly as it pertains to such a polarizing fighter as Bones. He's smug and fake? So what? A kid that young who could beat the brakes off of 99% of the population is gonna be a little full of himself, period. He really doesn't need to try and act humble, the fact that he recognizes that it's a quality trait and even bothers is admirable enough. His creativity, almost reckless at times, coupled with his very real talent and marketability was pushing the envelope for MMA. He is entertaining and he WAS helping to grow and evolve the sport. For that I WAS a fan. No more, not after this prima donna B.S.
As for Chael Sonnen, love him or hate him (a whole different matter, filled with generally absurd arguments on both sides), you have got to respect his willingness to step up on short notice. Some have said he has nothing to lose, which is ridiculous. How many cracks at a title shot do you really think he's gonna get? And he's willing to go up against a monster like Jones on 8 days notice, almost certainly dropping to 0-1 vs. the reigning champ? An opportunity like this isn't much better than not getting it to begin with, especially since it could burn a better shot later. So, for that, WAR SONNEN.
I feel like I have no choice but to partake of the Haterade... and offer up a big F*CK YOU, Jon.
