Chael Sonnen, one of the most popular MMA fighters from the 2000s, blasted heavyweight champion Jon Jones and called him a “scumbag” in the lead-up to UFC 300.
The company’s 300th anniversary card is scheduled for April 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the lineup is jam-packed throughout, one thing is still noticeably missing: A main event bout.
Jon Jones, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, was asked about UFC 300 recently. He told reporters Dana White offered him the main event fight, but Jones declined to take it and never mentioned who his potential opponent would have been.
His former rival in the octagon, Chael Sonnen, had strong words for Jones following the champ’s comments. Sonnen outright called it a “scumbag move” and even claimed the three-time champion was not operating in good faith.
Sonnen calls Jones a “scumbag” for UFC 300 comments
Both fighters have a long history of jawing back and forth in the media and the octagon. Jones defeated Sonnen via TKO in the first round at UFC 159, and the animosity between the fighters has been very public since then.
In a recent video from Sonnen’s self-titled YouTube account, he explained in detail how Jones’ comments backed Dana White into a corner for the UFC 300 main event conversation. “He only said one detail that could harm the company,” Sonnen began. “They don’t have a main event, and they’re scrambling.”
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The polarizing Sonnen continued, “It’s a scumbag move. Dana [White] shouldn’t have to call you and say, ‘Hey, this is just between us.’ If you’re our champion, we should be able to count on you.”
Sonnen cited former UFC champion Daniel Cormier to round out his statement, agreeing with Cormier that Jones was a “bad employee” for revealing White’s desperation to fill the main event vacancy.
Chael Sonnen feels Jon Jones made a "scumbag move" by revealing he was offered to headline UFC 300.📰 https://t.co/lV2HPY9Nv3 pic.twitter.com/IxOVo9BJGZ
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 13, 2024
“Do you understand what I would be doing if I was assigned to UFC 300? There would be a non-stop lobby every day for me to be the main event,” Sonnen claimed. “[Jones] is scared. He doesn’t want it to look like he backed down or ruined a show.”
UFC 300 still lacks a headline for the main event at this time. And, based on his comments earlier this week, Jon Jones will not be fighting in April.
