A Bone to Pick
The UFC’s ‘Bones’ Jones dilemma - Zach Davis (AssaultMMA part of the Ball Hogs Radio Network)
Yesterday afternoon, Dana White announced what was a low point for him and the UFC. Dan Henderson was injured and out of the main event. The champion, Jon Jones had refused any replacement opponents (Chael Sonnen was first in line). The UFC would be cancelling their Mandalay Bay event, UFC 151, with 8 days notice. There would be no pay-per-view, no undercard, no refunds for fans flying out and booking hotels, no fighter paychecks and a lot of angry fans.
For a business trying its best to gets its feet and establish itself with the likes of the NBA and MLB this was a worst case scenario. There is a lot of blame to go around and it looks like Jon Jones will take the brunt of it. He deserves his fair share but there is plenty to go around.
Dana Relaying the Bad News
Now first off, I don’t think Bones is scared of Chael Sonnen, he just can’t see the forest through the trees. Any fighter that regularly steps into the octagon is past fearing his opponents. The problem is Jones’ actions are short sighted and selfish. The UFC is a business that has allowed him to blossom into one of the brightest young stars in the sport and he is reaping the benefits. He has a lucrative Nike sponsorship, an industry first, and drives around in a Bentley (or at least used to). The company was in a tight spot and he refused to bend. The UFC was able to scramble and find suitable replacements. In the end they offered up Chael Sonnen, surely he would boost the PPV sales and the show would go on. But Jones would not budge.
He felt that 8 days was not enough time to prepare. Never mind the fact that he had been training months for a heavier, more accomplished Team Quest wrestler, in Dan Henderson. This isn’t swapping a Munoz for a Bisping. That is coupled with the fact that Sonnen was training for Forrest Griffin, who while tough is not exactly a carbon copy of Jon Jones. In the end, Jones wouldn’t risk his own “legacy” to face an inferior opponent to save a card that his company, fans and fellow fighters were depending on.
Twitter Conversation:
- Jeff Houghland: @JonnyBones Can I at least get one of your new Nike T-shirts? I’ll give it to my kid since I won’t have any money for her school clothes.
- Charlie Brenneman: @JonnyBones u can send my check to PO box 198. EH NJ. Rent is due the first, so preferably by then. Thanks. @ufc
It is easy to point the finger at Jon Jones and a real company man would have stepped up in the UFC’s time of need. However, this is the fight business and leaning so hard on one individual is a risky endeavor. The UFC should have been more conservative in their rapid expansion. Now they’ve run out of tricks up their sleeve. They have a right to be angry with Jones but it’s their own irresponsible business practices that have put them in this position.
In the end the UFC has fallen flat on its face out in Vegas. They are embarrassed and have thrown their champion under the bus. Despite it being deserved, the UFC will still need to market him in the future. Turning the entire fanbase against him isn’t exactly a prudent business decision. The biggest loser here is Jones. He is in the infancy of a legendary career but will always be remembered for leaving his fans hanging and sticking the UFC with the bill. He has struggled to connect with fans and this damage may be irreparable. Somehow, Chael Sonnen ended up on top, winning, even when he doesn’t fight.
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Maybe you're not sold on Sonnen-Jones now, but the UFC is betting that by April! That's the definition of promoting, and whether you think the matchup is worthy of the belt or not, your attention and your dollars will always speak louder than your objections.
Things would have to get real bad for them to let Jones walk. However, most of his good will is used up. If their champion wont fight he wont be with the company much longer. The UFC is usually pretty good about settling these matters especially with a cash cow like Jones
I couldn't agree more. Glad to know I am not just anther crazy fan. My first thoughts were actually, would Nike drop him for the bad PR so soon and would the UFC ever actually drop a champ for something like this. Dana actually said if Jones didn't take the Machida fight they could have another conference call with bad news, I feel like he was hinting at letting Jones walk. Who knows though. Thanks for the response Zach. I can't wait for the AssaultMMA show.
I would absolutely have taken it. Not for noble reasons, but because I had already invested 10-12 weeks training for a fight. Sacrificing my time and money to train and be prepared. By fight week someone better be on the other side of the cage. Jones just passed up a huge payday against an undersized opponent. Not only did he lose face but he lost money and politicak capital. Better not ask the UFC for any favors. Yes it is the UFC's fault they spread themselves too thin but I always think of the UFC, the fighters and the fans as one big team. On a big show everyone is a winner. Winners and losers get paid, the fans are happy and the company grows. Here is Jones, going solo and throwing a wrench in the the whole works. Yes its within his rights but don't be mad when you're booed out of the arena and NIKE drops you from your sponsorship deal.
Since I know who Zach Davis is, I will choose my words carefully. Much respect Mr. Davis. The UFC did make this monster and have to live with it now. The cards are too frequent and not as strong and they should take most of the blame. But it will not. Dana White will not go out like that though. Jones will get most of the blame fair or not and he could have saved that by accepting the fight with Chael. He lost fans with his DUI and when he said he would not fight Anderson. You are supposed to be one of the P4P greatest fighters and you will not fight guys. Short notice or not. Many people in the sport have taken fights on short notice, Jones should have done the same. Chael is moving up to 205 and this would have been his first fight there. Chael was not training for Jones, he was training for Forrest, so he would be at a bigger disadvantage in my opinion. Jones was training for someone with similar style and a bigger punch. This was his chance to help the company that has stood by him through his DUI, maybe win some fans back and keep moving forward. I think he made a big mistake not taking the fight. Dana is pissed now as well as other fighters and fans. I don't think Chael wins the fight, but it would have been a better fight I think that the one we get now, Jones vs Vitor. Jone will never be able to say I will fight anyone anywhere again and that is a fighters mantra. The DUI and this will forever be in the mind of fans and critics. If he wants to make money and be the greatest ever like he says, Chael was the fight to take. Save UFC 151 and get some of the fans back on your side. With all that being said, I agree with the article. Just my two cents from a fan of MMA or $50 saved from the PPV I will now not be watching. As a fighter, what are your thoughts Zach, what would you have done? Do you take the Chael fight on 8 days notice if you are Jones?