UFC superstars Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen will be the coaches on season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter before fighting for the UFC light-heavyweight championship on April 27, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Watch new episodes of The Ultimate Fighter every Friday night on Sportsnet and get weekly recaps on sportsnet.ca
Back in August, when Dan Henderson withdrew from a UFC 151 bout with Jones scheduled for Sept. 1, the UFC attempted to set up a fight between Jones and Sonnen. However, the light-heavyweight champion refused to take the fight on short notice. With no main event, UFC officials decided to cancel the show altogether — the first time the company had ever done that. Jones received criticism from company president Dana White, fans and many fighters including Sonnen.
Jones ended up fighting and defeating Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 in Toronto on Sept. 22 and after the event White told media that a future bout with Sonnen was still a possibility despite Jones’ previous refusal.
The champion suffered an elbow injury against Belfort that requires extensive physical therapy, but he will have plenty of time to recover before fighting Sonnen in late April.
Recently, Jones went on record saying he had changed his tune on fighting Sonnen.
The more I realize how bad the fans want to see me fight Sonnen the more I am beginning to disregard whether he deserves it or not
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2012
A part of me wants to do it for the fans the other part of me feels as if it delegitimizes the importance of championship
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) October 12, 2012
Sonnen caught wind of what Jones tweeted and he promptly responded.
You don’t GIVE.I TAKE.Remembah that, Bonesie-Boy @jonnybones
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) October 12, 2012
“This should be a good one,” White told the L.A. Times. “Jon has accepted the fight. He knows the fans want to see that fight.”
