Dan Henderson: Nothing personal against Chael Sonnen, but title shot degrades sport

Dan Henderson has a way of saying a lot in about 140 characters.

On Wednesday the top contender saw Chael Sonnen get a title fight and "The Ultimate Fighter 17" coaching slot with light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and Henderson openly wondered if he should focus more on trash-talk than exciting fights.

Earlier today, he followed up that message and said he has nothing personal against Sonnen but that his title shot "degrades" the sport

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Dan is right. Makes the whole contender process null.

It's clear the UFC just wants to bank and try to pump some life back into TUF. Personally I still won't watch. I'll watch the fight though but be frustrated watching it knowing its going to be even longer before Jones defends the belt against someone relevant.

Nothing against Sonnen but he's gonna find out real quick he can't hang

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Posted by george112

Dan is right. Makes the whole contender process null.

It's clear the UFC just wants to bank and try to pump some life back into TUF. Personally I still won't watch. I'll watch the fight though but be frustrated watching it knowing its going to be even longer before Jones defends the belt against someone relevant.

Nothing against Sonnen but he's gonna find out real quick he can't hang

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I'd rather watch TUF than the fight but that me

i think he is right IF they werent going to coach TUF. plus, i think the fans need some new faces for jones to fight. the vitor fight was awesome and i'm just glad he's not fighting rashad again

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Posted by tcunningham

i think he is right IF they werent going to coach TUF. plus, i think the fans need some new faces for jones to fight. the vitor fight was awesome and i'm just glad he's not fighting rashad again

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Well what about Dan hes a new face for Jones. He has the resume at 205. Chael hasn't even fought 205 in how long? To be Honest I think this is Dana's way of making fighters think twice before dropping out due to injury.

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Posted by postman

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Posted by tcunningham

i think he is right IF they werent going to coach TUF. plus, i think the fans need some new faces for jones to fight. the vitor fight was awesome and i'm just glad he's not fighting rashad again

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Well what about Dan hes a new face for Jones. He has the resume at 205. Chael hasn't even fought 205 in how long? To be Honest I think this is Dana's way of making fighters think twice before dropping out due to injury.

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Exactly. I'd prop you if I could, but the site wont let me.

I'd understand if Hendo got passed over to a new, legitimate contender due to his injury, but giving a title shot to someone coming off a one sided loss is a lower weight division, who hasnt fought at 205 since 2005, is embarrassing and bull sh*t.

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Posted by postman

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Posted by tcunningham

i think he is right IF they werent going to coach TUF. plus, i think the fans need some new faces for jones to fight. the vitor fight was awesome and i'm just glad he's not fighting rashad again

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Well what about Dan hes a new face for Jones. He has the resume at 205. Chael hasn't even fought 205 in how long? To be Honest I think this is Dana's way of making fighters think twice before dropping out due to injury.

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C'mon Uncle Dana justified it by saying it's because Chael stepped up to fight Jones!!

Fighters not stepping up and "fighting" when called upon by Uncle Dana DEGRADES the sport......Hey Dan, simmer down and focus on rehabbing your injury.

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Posted by Chael_Sonnen

Fighters not stepping up and "fighting" when called upon by Uncle Dana DEGRADES the sport......Hey Dan, simmer down and focus on rehabbing your injury.

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Oh I disagree. 15 PPV a year and fighters getting title shots in a weight class they have not fought in years is far more offensive then not taking a fight on short notice. Dans injured Jons Injured clearly the only logical play is for them to get better and fight. This has everything to do with that crap TV show they put on the air, and the trash talking Chael will bring. I wonder if Chael will attack black america like he attacked the entire nation of Brazil..........That should go over well.

I agree with Dan. It's like letting Rashad Evans fight for the HW title just because he has fought at HW years ago.

i wish it had been Dan & JJ, especially since the fight isnt until April, i'd assume dan would be ready to go by then.

also, since dan trains w/ chael, just make chael one of dan's coaches & let him run his mouth a lot. win/win for everyone & still sets up a possible Chael/JJ fight in the future if Chael earns it.

damn logic makes so much sense sometimes

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Posted by postman

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Posted by tcunningham

i think he is right IF they werent going to coach TUF. plus, i think the fans need some new faces for jones to fight. the vitor fight was awesome and i'm just glad he's not fighting rashad again

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Well what about Dan hes a new face for Jones. He has the resume at 205. Chael hasn't even fought 205 in how long? To be Honest I think this is Dana's way of making fighters think twice before dropping out due to injury.

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I think Dana is trying to make other fighters believe what you just said above but the real reason is just pay per view buys....Its all money...Lets be honest.....

Jones has other guys that really could be more relevant right now....Jones could fight the winner of Shogun and Gus....or even fight Glover.....Gus and Glover deserve a title shot before Chael.....I mean they have won fights at LHW already...

Chael should fight Bader....I think hed get KTFO...

Chael lacks punching power at 205....

Of course sonnen stepped up at short notice that's the only way he would ever get a shot at the lhw title.

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Posted by Poor_Franklin

i wish it had been Dan & JJ, especially since the fight isnt until April, i'd assume dan would be ready to go by then.

also, since dan trains w/ chael, just make chael one of dan's coaches & let him run his mouth a lot. win/win for everyone & still sets up a possible Chael/JJ fight in the future if Chael earns it.

damn logic makes so much sense sometimes

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Agreed. Not to mention Dan isn't getting any younger. Hendo vs Jones is a match that a lot of us die hards really want to see, and as old as Dan is we don't really have a lot of time before it is no longer an option. If Hendo loses to Machida it may put him far enough back in the contender hunt that we will never get to see that fight, and it would be a damn shame because of how much it would add to the legacy of both jones and Hendo. Hendo gets one last big win in a title fight to add to his resume as a future Hall of Famer if he wins, and if Jones wins it really cements his legacy as one of the greatest LHWs of all time with 2 wins over 2 legends of the sport in Belfort and Hendo.

Dan Hendo speakin the truth .

Whole situation is some grade A bullshit imo.

Sorry Chael!