Sonnen States Jones Is A Talented Kid But He's Facing A Man In Dan Henderson | UFC News
By Jamie McAllister
Chael Sonnen comments on the UFC 151 main event between his friend and former training partner Dan Henderson and UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.
“I believe in Hendo and so should you,” Sonnen said. “If you look at Jon Jones and think of a man who can beat him, you would think of someone with great KO power, the best chin in the sport because, with his reach, Jones is going to hit you, great wrestling and a relentlessly aggressive style. That man already exists – and his name is Dan Henderson.”
Sonnen since making the move to Light-Heavyweight has lured the champion Jones into a war of words and Jones responded by calling Sonnen a coward and cheater. However Sonnen admitted Jones is a great fighter and thinks the bout with Henderson will determine who is the greatest Light-Heavyweight of all time.
“This fight on September 1 is a fight to determine who is the greatest ever light heavyweight. I give Jon Jones his due as a great fighter. He’s beaten some outstanding fighters already and looked impressive each time. He’s already accomplished so much in the sport. Just not as much as Dan Henderson,”
Sonnen went on to backup his argument that Henderson is the greatest Light-Heavyweight of all time by stating his former training partners achievements.
“Everyone talks about pound-for-pound champions and pound-for-pound achievements. But if you look at what pound-for-pound should mean – who has the ability to beat small fast guys, the ability to knockout big, strong guys, to move through the divisions with your skill-set and win – the only conclusion a rational person would make is Dan Henderson is the pound-for-pound greatest of all time,” Sonnen said.
“Dan beat the 170lbs champion in Carlos Newton, he’s won the PRIDE 183lbs title, the PRIDE 205lbs title, the Strikeforce 205lbs title, and he’s won the two great tournaments in our sport, the UFC tournament back in the day and the PRIDE Grand Prix. All in all he’s beaten 11 world champions in his career. The man is the best of all time. That is who Jon Jones is facing.”
“Jones is a talented kid but he’s taking on a man, and I’d bet on the man any day of the week.”
For all the latest MMA news and fight updates stay tuned to BJPENN.COM
Related:
About the Author
Jamie McAllister
UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Marc Ratner, stated today that the UFC’s debut on…
Upstart promotion, AriseFC made its debut last Saturday from the Santa Clara Convention Center in…
Internet sensation Tommy Toe Hold joined BJPENN.COM’s Fist-Ta-Cuff Radio show this past Sunday, June 16,…
UFC heavyweight champion has something to prove at UFC 166 as he faces off against…
UFC on FOX 8 welterweights Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald traded verbal jabs yesterday on…
At the Metamoris 2 event in Los Angeles, California UFC heavyweight fighter, Brendan Schaub failed…
Josh Burkman took revenge last Friday as he dispatched perennial UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch…
UFC 161 took place last weekend from Winnipeg, Canada. In the main event Rashad Evans…
Former UFC fighter turned commentator, Kenny Florian, took to twitter recently to echo the sentiments…
CM Punk goes one-on-one with World Champion Alberto Del Rio and then gets attacked by…
No charges will be laid as a result of a fight in the stands between…
From Cat’s Youtube: After surgery Cat’s knee had a ton of fluid in it. She…
Hendo gonna’ die
jones gonna make him like an amateur on sept 1..hendo had over rated KO power,jbj already faced more powerful hands than him like rampage..jbj gonna torture hendo.
Rampage did .not do shit that fight but waddle forward.
Hendos gonna destroy this kid.
Overrated ko power..Lol,LolLolLol……..if Dan connects with his h bomb it’s game over……….I’ll bet u if u get hit by hendo u would retract that statement…Lol
Sorry as much as I want Dan to win also that “talented kid” is going to give Dan “the man” a one sided beating.
First time I ever agreed with Chael. Right on I am really pulling for Hendo. Good call on this Chael
Chael hit the nail on the head, but the question is: Can Hendo still deliver what he used to back when he accompished all of that? I don’t think that even with TRT he’s not as good as he was ten years ago.
Now chael is talking trash for somebody. Just can’t stop running his mouth. Well chael, you are absolutely right, dan henderson was a great fighter in his prime, but we all know he’s past it by a mile now. Jon jones is peaking, getting better and more dangerous by the day. Much respect to dan but we all know what happened to an aging magic johnson when he met michael jordan in his prime.
Sting I agree with your statement. The only thing that people should remember however is the last thing to go in a fighter is his punching power, and Dan has allot of championship experience. This should be interesting
Agreed. I think you can’t count Hendo out, he’s achieved some astonishing things even this late in his career and stylistically it’s still really interesting. I suspect JBJ has come too far and is too versatile for Dan, but the H bomb can’t be counted out and Hendo is still a brilliant fighter even at this ripe old age. He dominated five rounds with Shogun… only really Jones himself has the ability to do that in the division at the moment.
If I were to guess one person with the best shot at beating Jones at LHW it would probably be Cormier for the same reasons Chael thinks Hendo is the guy, but I still think Hendo has a fighting chance. Probably Jones wins, but it’ll be a good god damn fight
True 757, you’ll always have your punching power, but so did shogun, rampage and rashad evans. This kid jones is the real deal. When this kid hits his peak, nobody’s touching him. So anderson silva, good move trying to avoid fighting this freak.
Sonnen speakin the truth…. again
but “truth?” Not so much. Sonnen is hyping the fight and this is why he belongs in the UFC whether he is fighting or not. He is speaking purely on emotion and not logically. Because if what he is saying is the “truth” and Jones comes in and wins decisively (TKO?), then Hendo’s career means absolutely nothing when compared to MMA today and the fight will be more evidence that yesterday’s top MMA fighter is today’s average fighter.
The game has changed in the past in the past 5 years and is no longer the Pride of yesterday. I think the word would is “evolving. ” Stronger, faster, smarter, more well-rounded fighters are being groomed right now. MMA will change even more in the next 5 years and fighters have to adapt or be left behind. That’s the truth.
so if Hendo loses his career means nothing??? GTFOH with that BS bones will never be as decorated a mma fighter as Hendo… if bones some how avoids the H BOMB he will get smashed soon as he moves to HW… fukk bones i think im ali jones
Believe in Hendo
I don’t believe in a lot of things, god being one, but I do believe in Chael P Sonnen the American Gangster from West Linn Oregon. Now all you haters, go to your rooms…
Chael is God
Hmmm,maybe Chael is da man.
I like hendo but hes 40a and hes no randy
The man is charismatic ill give him that. I have almost changed my vote just by READING what he said lol but I still think that Jones is just too professional. I just don’t think he will slip up. I hope to god he does though, Hendo has got a shot, but I’m leaning towards JBJ with a unanimous decision victory :/
Dan Henderson is a badass there’s no doubt but he’s not gonna out-wrestle/grapple Jones……I see this 1 of 2 ways: Hendo catches him with the H-Bomb and buckles him(which u know Jones is preparing for ex. Circle to the right not the left) or Jones utilizes his reach, takes him down & uses those sharp, bony elbows on Hendo’s face_________as much as I’d love to see Hendo win, I pick Jones by referee stoppage in the 2nd Rd
Jones is probably the most talented fighter at LHW right now but his chin has never been really tested. We saw him get wpobbled by Rashad and Lyoto clearly won the first round by utilizing his range. If Dan keeps out of range and rushes in to close contact he has enough juice in his hands to end the fight. I’m betting on Dan clipping the kid and putting him out.
I see Hendo vs Silva all over again…
Chael is a genious think about it… Jones has a fight with Henderson but, he is irritated by someone who he isn’t even facing. Chael is all up in Jones’ head… Brilliant and extremely loyal to his friends.