Sherdog’s Top 10: Disastrous Title Shots

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5. Chael Sonnen vs. Jon Jones
UFC 159
April 27, 2013 | Newark, N.J.

Sonnen was never supposed to fight Jones for the light heavyweight title, but when Dan Henderson was injured, he threw his name in the hat. After the turmoil that sank the ill-fated UFC 151 event and Sonnen was picked to coach opposite Jones on Season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the talkative Oregonian finally got his wish. Fans, media and many fighters were in general disgusted with the matchup at UFC 159, believing Sonnen had done nothing to warrant a shot at the 205-pound championship.

When Jones dispatched Sonnen in typical “Bones” style, the collective groan seemed justified. Jones immediately went after his smaller challenger and lured him into the clinch. There, he elected to fight Sonnen’s fight and dominated from the start. Once Jones brought Sonnen to the mat, he poured on the punishment with ground-and-pound, even after the big toe on his left foot was snapped at the joint, bone protruding through skin. After a knee to the body and a shower of punches and elbows from “Bones,” referee Keith Peterson had seen enough.

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