Did Chael start on JBJ knowing Hendo was injured?

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                                Did Chael start on Jones knowing Hendo was injured?

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                        <a href="/go=news.detail&gid=418311" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=60&q=75&x=62&y=17&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=chael-sonnen-06-13-12-15-35-49-791.JPG" /></a>


                            <strong class="ArticleSource">[The Underground]</strong>


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                    <p>Delving into the timeline of recent events, one may be able to deduce that Chael Sonnen very well may be the smartest fighter in the UFC. A month after losing his chance at the middleweight title to Anderson Silva, Sonnen made the decision to move up to the lightheavyweight division and was booked ten days ago, into <a href="http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/416696/Griffin-vs-Sonnen-booked-for-UFC-155/" target="_blank">a bout with Forrest Griffin for December 29th</a>.</p>

When the media started to question his motives, Sonnen cited that he would be more motivated at lightheavyweight, as a third fight with Silva after losing the first two would be a hard sell. He believed he could earn a shot at the title or fight with Jon Jones with a win over former Champion Forrest Griffin:

“I don’t think there’s gonna be much left of [Jones] when Dan Henderson gets done with him,” Sonnen said. “If there’s anything left of him, I’d be happy to play cleanup.”

This is of particular interest, because today we learned that Dan Henderson injured his MCL three weeks ago. The above quote was 10 days ago. Did Sonnen already know there might be a possiblity for a last minute replacement, and if he did, was his media attack on Jones a pre-emptive ploy to make the fight appealing to Jones?

Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson have always been close, going back to their days training together at Team Quest. It is more than likely that Sonnen knew Henderson injured himself, and although he couldn't be sure if it would effect the bout, he certainly could have started to taunt Jones in the media and Twitter...just in case.

In the last three weeks since Dan Henderson injured himself, Chael Sonnen has directly attacked Jon Jones, calling him a kid facing a man, and predicting a Henderson win. Although, the UFC President said that Sonnen would not be able to talk himself into a title fight with Jones, perhaps that's exactly what he planned and exactly what happend,

Or maybe it is all coincidence?

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Of course he did.  Even worse, Dana was probably encouraging him to do so, but it blew up in his face. 

Of course he knew. He's good friends with Hendo and knew a last minute replacement would be needed if Hendo was a no-go.

Pretty damn smart, imo. Too bad Jones wasn't having any of it...or I guess I should say Jackson wasn't having any of it. Phone Post

Warzone209 - Hendo's Team Quest Buddie just happens to get the title shot and starts talking shit weeks before...Obviously Chael was training in secret i dont buy chael coming out on 8 days notice bullshit at all.

He was training in secret, eh. Obviously, eh.

Top secret. Phone Post

This is more exciting than "Where is Nick Diaz?!" ! I love DraMMA

Chael Sonnen is a genius!

Really? that's "exactly what happened?"

I wasn't aware Chael was fighting Jon Jones at UFC 152.

For what its worth Hendo is claiming Chael had no knowledge of his injury. At least that what he told Mauro Ranallo today.

Shady if true, won't make Hendo look so good either Phone Post

Underground Blog - 

Did Chael start on Jones knowing Hendo was injured?

[The Underground]
 

Delving into the timeline of recent events, one may be able to deduce that Chael Sonnen very well may be the smartest fighter in the UFC. A month after losing his chance at the middleweight title to Anderson Silva, Sonnen made the decision to move up to the lightheavyweight division and was booked ten days ago, into a bout with Forrest Griffin for December 29th.

When the media started to question his motives, Sonnen cited that he would be more motivated at lightheavyweight, as a third fight with Silva after losing the first two would be a hard sell. He believed he could earn a shot at the title or fight with Jon Jones with a win over former Champion Forrest Griffin:

“I don’t think there’s gonna be much left of [Jones] when Dan Henderson gets done with him,” Sonnen said. “If there’s anything left of him, I’d be happy to play cleanup.”

This is of particular interest, because today we learned that Dan Henderson injured his MCL three weeks ago. The above quote was 10 days ago. Did Sonnen already know there might be a possiblity for a last minute replacement, and if he did, was his media attack on Jones a pre-emptive ploy to make the fight appealing to Jones?

Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson have always been close, going back to their days training together at Team Quest. It is more than likely that Sonnen knew Henderson injured himself, and although he couldn't be sure if it would effect the bout, he certainly could have started to taunt Jones in the media and Twitter...just in case.

In the last three weeks since Dan Henderson injured himself, Chael Sonnen has directly attacked Jon Jones, calling him a kid facing a man, and predicting a Henderson win. Although, the UFC President said that Sonnen would not be able to talk himself into a title fight with Jones, perhaps that's exactly what he planned and exactly what happend,

Or maybe it is all coincidence?

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That graphic is extremely convincing...

nothing new here,called this exact conspiracy already in all these threads and even before that....chael aint all that brilliant,its just a lot of the newer fans are that dumb.dan,chael, and dana all tryed to pull a fast one.im glad jbj said na,im good

Chael , the most cunning man in mma

Love the drama pet lol Dana White was asked this and said that Chael had no idea; that he in fact had to chase down Sonnen becuase his gf's father had a stroke or something and was in the hospital.

Chael Sonnen chases the belt. Always. He's well known for a few things and that's one of em. He doesn't try and make a secret of it and that's why he started picking a fight with Jones. I wanna say that 3 weeks ago he was only just announcing his move to LHW if he even had by then.

Sonnen didn't need advance notice to take this fight. He's Chael Sonnen. If you offer him a fight and he physically can take it then he will. Easy peasy.

Of course that's why Chael started running his silva knee sucker. Nothing but a cheating opportunist. Phone Post