It’s not likely that the “UFC GOAT” conversation will ever really come to an end. However, Chael Sonnen wants to throw one major name out of the discourse: Jon Jones.
According to Sonnen, Jones, who was once UFC light heavyweight champion and is now the heavyweight champ, pales in comparison to the middleweight champ, Israel Adesanya. Sonnen explained why on The MMA Hour.
Chael Sonnen: Israel Adesanya Has Already Eclipsed Jon Jones As UFC GOAT
“Jon Jones and Izzy, they’ve got this weird thing going back and forth. They’re not going to fight. They’re separated not by one weight class, they’re [separated] by two weight classes.
Well, wrong! There’s still a fight going on. They both want to claim that they’re the best and they’re both getting a lot of people to say that they are. That’s how this is going to be settled through history. It’s going to be settled by the people in a popular opinion.
Izzy’s beating him. What Izzy did [at UFC 290] and the attention that Izzy can command, and the hype that Izzy can command, the checks that he gets, the money and the dollars that he brings.
He’s coming after [Conor] McGregor’s spot, I’m telling you now, and he’s long put Jon Jones in the dust. Jon Jones has never played that game.
It’s going to be a mistake. Ten years from now, when you’re looking back and trying to tell the story, you’re not going to be saying Jon Jones. You’re going to be saying Adesanya.”
Sonnen continued, pointing out Adesanya’s major drawing power compared to Jones’. “Look, you’ve got a sport going on here, and Jon Jones, he’s great at the sport. But then you have the fight business, and that’s a game that not very many guys play.
Izzy plays it, Conor plays it. Jon does not play it. And so it’s just, it’s a different level, it’s a different thing that’s going on with these guys. Like, if Jon watched this piece right now, he wouldn’t know what I’m saying. ‘What is he saying? What is the fight business? What’s he talking about?’
He doesn’t even know, and there’s only four or five guys that know. But those are the guys. Those are the guys that matter. Those are the guys that move the needle.
Those are the guys that can make a show by not even competing. And that’s where Adesanya’s at.” Is Chael Sonnen right about the Adesanya/Jones rivalry, or is there something he’s missing? Let us know in the comments.
