Lyoto Machida now joins Dan Henderson in voicing his displeasure in the UFC’s recent decision to have Chael Sonnen be next in line to face light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Machida, who was scheduled to be face the winner of the ill-fated UFC 151 bout between Henderson and Jones, was stripped of his contender’s status for not stepping in to face “Bones” on short notice when the Temecula native was forced to withdraw due to injury. “The Dragon” and Henderson seem to have both lost their standing in the ranks, as they are slated to face each other according to UFC President Dana White.
Machida took to twitter today, giving his reaction to Sonnen’s title shot.
With all respect,but for me Chael does not deserve The title shot,I would like To know What He had done in LHW for deserve!!
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Well said Lyoto. The ufc is turning into a joke and quick.
Does this mean Nick Diaz can just move up to middleweight and take on the Spider? Oh no. That was rediculous according to Dana.
At least this will totally de-value the light heavyweight belt. Maybe the entire division.
Doesn’t really even matter with the 205ers anymore, Anderson would destroy each and every one of them. (except Lyoto of course).
Henderson vs Machida?
Dana, keep the jokes coming. After ufc 129 and the Fox deal, the ufc has totally jumped the shark.
Machida turned down a fight with Jones. His opinion means nothing.
everybody turned it down except for chael then Jones pussied out from fighting chael canceling the whole fight card.
Now he wants to fight chael. So don’t say Machida’s opinion means nothing cause your opinion about that means nothing.
DW has been saying al along that the “Fox people” LOVE Chael Sonnen. After a very disapointing TUF season, this makes a lot of sense to me.
Henderson / Machida sounds pretty awesome. I would LOVE this fight.
Say what you want about Shonnen, at least he stepped up on 8 days notice & Machida didn’t! Too bad for the geico oh I mean the dragon. Lolo
after talking a little trash Overeem too , will get a title shot next at either Dos Santos or Velasquez.
Dont know why your all bitching about Chael its not his fault he gets the opportunities just a shame he actually cant back him mouth up! Machida vs Evans rematch
Although he’s right, Machida forgave his title shot wrapped in a bow, so he doesn’t have much room to talk.
Lets not forget that LM didn’t turn down the fight for the 151 card, it was for the 152 card that Vitor ultimately fought on. So that wasn’t on 8 days notice like Chael stepped up for. He has no good excuse for that, and no right to talk about what DW does with Jones and Chael. He lost that right when he didn’t sign the fight contract. Period.
Agreed and it’s not like machida is walking around with a Jon Fitch fight streak.
A lot of you guys are missing Lyoto’s point, he’s not necessarily saying he should be getting the next title shot (though I’m sure he feels more worthy/deserving than Chael) and he is probably just sort of trying to defend the 205lb class and meaning even if not himself but guys like Shogun, Hendo, Gus, or hell even Forrest who’s coming off a win all are more deserving than a guy that hasn’t competed at 205 in years and is coming 0-2 in title shots in the UFC and is coming off a loss
I agree Doug_H. I don’t think Lyoto is complaining about not getting the titleshot himself, if people would read his wording he’s actually wondering what has Chael done at lhw to deserve a titleshot. No where does he say it should have been him, I think he’s just saying what’s on a lot of other peoples mind, WTF has Sonnen done to deserve this? Nothing except have a big mouth and start talking crap to the champ on twitter.
I totally get the TUF thing, they are trying to breathe new life into it, but if Sonnen had to be involved then it should have been him and any of the guys you mentioned. I actually think a season of Sonnen/Evans would have been better to watch than Sonnen/Jones.
I feel bad for Hendo but not for Machida …If he wanted a shot so bad he should have jumped at UFC 151. Even if Sonnen doesnt deserve it, it will be an exciting fight and an entertaining season of TUF
Its all about ultimate fighter With it moving days, and assuming its gonna go against spike and bellator. Ufc wants to make sure it wins that fight and shuts down Spike and Bellator with a great season of UF. No way Chael deserves the fight over many 205s but hes gonna put on a show, and i bet we all check in to see what he’s up to, and that’s exactly what Dana wants
I for one won’t be TUF has been so bad I don’t even bother to dld it and watch it for free any more. TUF has become more of a soap opera for dudes then a show about fighters as of the last few seasons.
I dont think that Sonnen is deserving but he stepped up when Dana was in a bad position. Hendo for one shouldnt have waited almost a year for a title and he waited way too long to back out of the Jones fight which screwed Dana. As for Machida, he got offered a fight and didnt take it. Sonnen will help the ratings and at least he was winning to step up.
Everyone blames dan because Dana pointed the finger at him. Yes he should’ve reported the injury sooner but the guy was trying to show up for the fight he agreed to make. Its not like he committed murder.
But seriously can’t Machida get some help from one of his friends on those tweets. At least someone who knows how to use the keyboard I mean good god.
“Everybody blame Dan because Dana pointed the finger at him”? As I recall, Dana was only pointing fingers at Jon Jones and that was unwarranted.
I agree with the others…Dragon was mainly talking about the integrity of the Light Heavy Division and its championship. The more I think about someone as undeserving as Chael Sonnen leapfrogging real contenders, the angrier I get.
“…someone as undeserving as Chael Sonnen leapfrogging real contenders, the angrier I get”
I know what you mean, there are guys who’ve been competing and winning at lhw for years, just waiting for their shot at either a title or contender bout…and along comes a guy who hasn’t even fought there getting an instant shot at Jones. It makes me angry too.
It’s just so hypocritical, Dana says Nick Diaz is NOT getting an immediate title shot when his suspension is up and will have to earn the spot again. What? Ok, so let me get this straight, a guy who held a ww title in the 2nd biggest mma company for over a year and a 1/2 and lost a decision to the current interim champ has to work his way back up, but a guy who has never fought in a weight class can get an immediate shot?
Dana later blamed Hendo in one of his FUEL TV interviews
@Newfie, you are right, it is at the height of hypocrisy. It feels like Dana is trying to pander to an audience that is only as large as the bubble he exists in.
But hey, if Fox likes it nothing else matters right?
Fox is paying the bills…
He blamed both of them instead of taking responsibility himself. He also made the Sonnen/Jones fight. I agree the Sonnen title shot is almost mind numbing. Notice a trend here?
Haha @Bsbiz. Otherwise as selling your soul. FML
Let’s understand. UFC, like any other pro sport, is a business, driven by money more than honor. Microphone savvy is more important than previously realized. Like WWE, and like Muhammed Ali’s rise to fame in boxing. Low TUF ratings, some cancelled shows, and Dana’s instinct to survive. Bring on Chael’s verbal edge. MMA is evolving to embrace that angle. I enjoy it. Being an olympic athlete is not enough, because this is not just real athletics — it is athletics AND entertainment. And it has to be, to compete with other sports for our attention, NFL, boxing, WWE, and all the rest.
Watch as the UFC evolves.
@newfie
That’s exactly my beef. Its not just that Dana is slapping the other fighters in the face with these company-first fights, its the complete hypocrisy with which he does it. What a circus.
I don’t mind Machida for saying that because it’s the truth, Dana keeps on saying you have to at least beat 1 contender to be considered. Well, the UFC doesn’t care, they gave Edgar vs. Aldo after he came off 2 very controversal loses against Bendo, and now this. I would of been happier if Hendo vs. Jones was back on track for April and have Sonnen fight Machida for the #1 contender match.