Jones

By FCF Staff

Only a few weeks ago, Jon Jones argued that former middleweight contender Chael Sonnen hadn’t done anything to warrant a title shot, but now the light-heavyweight champion is hoping a bout with the controversial fighter will bring “closure” to UFC 151’s cancellation.

Yesterday, the UFC shocked many throughout the MMA world by announcing that Jones will coach opposite of Sonnen on the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and that the two will fight on April 27th.

The bout has been signed not long after Jones turned down an opportunity to fight Sonnen  at UFC 151, after his original opponent Dan Henderson was forced to withdraw. In what his now well documented history, Jones was criticized by many fans for not taking the bout, despite the fact it was on extremely short notice.

According to a report from MMA Weekly, Jones relayed on a teleconference today that the UFC 151 debacle is one of the primary reasons that he’s agreed to fight Sonnen,

“I think beating Chael Sonnen, and after that beating Dan Henderson, would help me have closure to that whole situation. I think that’s what this is really about for me, putting closure to the Chael Sonnen invasion of my career and the whole 151 situation.”

When UFC 151 was cancelled, UFC President Dana White blasted Jones, as well as his trainer Greg Jackson, for not agreeing to fight Sonnen and saving the card. The champion’s decision was also criticized by many fighters. Even prior to Henderson’s injury, Sonnen had been calling out Jones, after announcing his intention to fight at light-heavyweight.

Jones reportedly added today that he is confident, as he’s always been, in his abilities to defeat Sonnen on April 27th.

The 25 year-old star is coming off a fourth round, submission win over Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 last month, which was his eighth consecutive win.