At tonight’s UFC 159 event, Jon Jones proved that he was by far the better fighter when he stepped into the cage against Chael Sonnen. Without a doubt Sonnen did his best to bring the fight to the Light Heavyweight champion, but he was completely overwhelmed by the champion’s ability. With less than half a minute left in the first round, Jones finished Sonnen with brutal ground strikes to retain his belt and tie the record for LHW title defenses.
Following the fight, Joe Rogan questioned Chael regarding his plans going forward. The defeated challenger replied solemnly:
He’s an excellent fighter, I have no problem with the decision or stoppage. He’s very powerful. When he went for the kill, I thought I was alright but I think he’s the better fighter.
I just wanted to beat him, I thought I could keep up with him. I was surprised at his power and his size. I’m disappointed. I thought I had more in me. Tonight Jon’s the man.
I’m gonna think it through. I’m not gonna be one of the guys to hang around. If there’s not a road to the title, this sport isn’t for me. I believe that was probably my last opportunity.
Going out following the two biggest fights of his MMA career would by no means lessen Chael’s accomplishments. He complimented an incredibly effective grinding style with a sometimes infuriating persona that drew in MMA fans to work himself to become one of the most prolific names in the UFC. If this was his last fight, the UFC will be losing something special that won’t be easily replaced.