Chael Sonnen explains why Jon Jones’ DQ loss shouldn’t be overturned

By Fernando Quiles - June 28, 2019

Chael Sonnen is not in favor of having Jon Jones’ lone defeat overturned.

Jon Jones, Matt Hamill, Chael Sonnen

Jones is widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound mixed martial artist in the world. He has gone 15-0, 1 NC in his last 16 outings and is a two-time UFC light heavyweight champion. That does not include his interim light heavyweight title win. Jones is set to defend his 205-pound gold against Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on July 6.

Much has been made over the only loss in Jones’ professional MMA career. That was a disqualification defeat to Matt Hamill back in Dec. 2009 after “Bones” landed illegal 12-6 elbows. UFC president Dana White claimed he is working on getting the loss overturned. Taking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen weighed in on the situation:

“It’s still the rule,” Chael Sonnen said. “They never needed to share with us in the first place why they made that rule. That was their biggest mistake. Make the rule and move on. Instead they shared [it] with us, which of course then made themselves look like fools. Either way the rule got written down and the athletes agreed to abide by the rules. So when Jon did throw those elbows and they absolutely went into the back of the head of Matt Hamill, they were completely illegal.

“In addition to that just being the way it is, you then are left with referee’s discretion where the referee can decide ‘well yeah it landed in an illegal spot but that was because Hamill was moving. Hamill moved into it, it wasn’t Jon’s fault’ or vice versa. But either way it is a decision made game time, meaning on the fly in the moment and then you have to live with it.”

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has strongly opposed athletic commissions deeming the 12-6 elbow an illegal strike. Rogan has also expressed that he’d like to see Jones’ loss to Hamill overturned.

Do you think Chael Sonnen brings up a good point on why Jon Jones’ DQ loss shouldn’t be overturned?

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


Topics:

Chael Sonnen Jon Jones Matt Hamill UFC