Saturday night, Jon Jones defended his light-heavyweight championship against Chael Sonnen in what most considered a mismatch. Sonnen, a former middleweight contender, was over-matched from the opening bell and never landed any offense of substance. Despite this, he would have likely been awarded the championship at the end of the first round thanks to a gruesome toe injury Jones suffered in the bout.
The night was marred by a series of bizarre incidences both on the preliminary card as well as the main card. Eye-pokes, dislocations, and upsets were on the docket in what was one of the most odd nights in the company’s near 20 year history.
Jeremy Brand, Carlin Bardsley, and Shawn W. Smith try to untangle the mess that was UFC 159 in a new feature here at MMASucka.com. Three staff members will each pose a question following all UFC PPV events, and each will answer a question. Without further adieu, your inaugural ‘Three questions.’
Shawn W. Smith: We saw multiple eye-pokes last night, and everyone is seemingly in agreement that something needs to be done. What can be done to ensure things like this don’t continue?
Carlin Bardsley: Eye-pokes are going to happen, it’s the nature of the open-fingered gloves. They’re never going to be eliminated unfortunately. But if the rules were tightened up a bit, we could see a decrease. Of all the eye-pokes last night, how many resulted in a point being taken away to the offender? None. One fighter was even awarded a TKO victory via eye-poke in one of the worst calls the sport has ever seen.
If the rules were fully enforced and fighters were aware they were going to lose a point for poking their opponent in the eye, it’s as close to a guarantee as you can get that they would be a lot more careful where they were leaving their digits.
Accidental or not, an eye-poke is a foul. MMA seems to be the only sport which lets its athletes off for “accidental” fouls. In the NHL, there’s no leniency for an “accidental” high stick to the face. In the NFL, linemen aren’t given a mulligan for “accidentally” jumping offside. Hold the athletes accountable and we’ll see a dramatic increase in people keeping their fists closed while their guard is up.
Jeremy Brand: We saw Jones break his toe, the dislocated thumb, and two fights stopped due to eye poke. Was this the most cursed UFC card ever?
Shawn Smith: There have been plenty of “cursed” events in the UFC, dating all the way back to the beginning. I don’t think anything could ever top Kevin Randleman tripping on a pipe only minutes before his headlining gig at UFC 24, but this could be close.
With two eye-pokes, the debate about what can be done is sure to be a hot topic in the coming weeks. As Carlin said, there is no right answer and I am afraid little can be done. The same story goes for the dislocations which took place on the card. It’s a violent sport, people are going to get hurt.
Perhaps the most cursed part of this card however is whether or not this dismal outing as a promotion will effect their chances of legalization in New York. Not only were there numerous bouts ended by fluke – not to mention the world championship almost changing hands on a dislocated toe – but the card generally fell flat. There were few redeeming qualities on the card.
Perhaps this is karma for the UFC presenting such a lopsided and illogical main event. We may not know the full effects of this card, or how cursed it is, until it comes time for New York state to take their next steps towards legalization.
Carlin Bardsley: Should Chael Sonnen retire?
Jeremy Brand: Chael Sonnen has talked his way into three title shots in two different weight classes. What is next for him, Georges St-Pierre at welterweight or Cain Velasquez at heavyweight? Possibly retirement? I think not.
He may call it quits and step behind the microphone for a few months or maybe even a year, but I don’t think it will last. The co-host of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV will find a way to call someone new out and make his way back into the octagon.
At 36-years old, Sonnen has been fighting professional MMA for nearly 16 years. He said at the UFC 159 post-fight press conference, “I’ve had a lot of fights not go my way. But I’ve only been beat up twice, and that was number two, and he beat me at my own game.”
Sonnen will be used more as bigger figure behind the camera for the UFC and loves doing that.
“I like to fight, but I love this business, and there are so many opportunities that are out there that weren’t here a few years ago, and broadcasting is one of them.”
(Photo by Gregory Payan , Associated Press)
