that this fight isn't gonna happen. It is all publicity for a failing TUF series.
They justed wanted their best talker and the best fighter they have (outside Anderson of course) to coach on the show to try to save it. The UFC isn't hyping this fight. Noone will talk about it. Dana says shit like "If Shogun or Gustaffson wins impressively they get the next shot at Jon Jones." (paraphrasing)
Everyone knows Chael doesn't deserve it, especially Dana. This is a ruse to get us to watch TUF, and we will get the old switch-a-roo. Not a bad thing really as a deserving contender will get a shot at the belt.
If bovada puts a line on whether or not this fight happens I'm taking a loan out on my 401k and putting it all on "hell na!"
What do you guys think, am I crazy, retarded, or genius?
FatLoser - i like canned peaches but not as much as i like butterscotch
Scoff now if you will, but when the fight falls through I will bump this thread for my redemption. Should the fight actually happen I'll do my best to bury it deep in the internets.
Not a bad theory. Especially if chael planned to retire and they told him to stick around for a big payday. 
It's at least plausible.
They make a fake big fight with their best salesman to get viewers, Jones gets exposure he needs and people will either love him or hate him because of what happens on the show. Either way more people will buy his fights to see him win if they love him, or lose if they hate him.
In summary, this ploy should save TUF, increase Jones buy rate, line Chael's pockets, and make Dana feel like the puppetmaster.
The crazy thing is, IT IS GOING TO WORK!!!
FatLoser - Bad Monkey - FatLoser - i like canned peaches but not as much as i like butterscotch
Scoff now if you will, but when the fight falls through I will bump this thread for my redemption. Should the fight actually happen I'll do my best to bury it deep in the internets.
I will scoff
all the BUTTERSCOTCH!!!!
seriously though why would they do a TU season building up a massive personal rivalry then switch the opponent thus negating the point of the fight and resulting in lower ppv buys.
it may end up having a change due to injury but no intentional conspiracy.
I think the better question is "what sense does this fight make?" The answer is none.
What sense does it make to have Chael on TUF opposite the best American fighter on the UFC roster when the ratings are in the can? Well, that makes dollars and sense.
Diazed And Confused - You're just going to grasp at straws if one of them gets injured.
Jones is looking to prove himself as the most dominate LHW ever, and Chael wants nothing more than to win a belt for his dead father.
Fight is set to happen, and more than likely will.
If it falls through, it wasn't pre-planned and is just the nature of the sport.
You may be right, and I could be way off base, but I've had this feeling since the fight was announced. I just can't believe the UFC would put this fight on. I can believe they would pull a publicity stunt to save the vehicle that launched them into the mainstream.
I'm not usually a conspiracy theorist, but I've got my tinfoil hat on right now.
And, BTW, Chael will be the one that falls out of the fight, freeing Bones to fight the #1 contender. Chael will then be scheduled a more appropriate fight before his "injury" would have had time to heel.
I know, I sound like a lunatic. Time to step away from the keyboard for awhile.
Diazed And Confused - You're just going to grasp at straws if one of them gets injured.
Jones is looking to prove himself as the most dominate LHW ever, and Chael wants nothing more than to win a belt for his dead father.
Fight is set to happen, and more than likely will.
If it falls through, it wasn't pre-planned and is just the nature of the sport.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK
does anyone remember when brock pulled out against jds, and roy nelson called it months before?
How can anyone not be a broke Fitch fan?
I don't watch TUF very often, but I assume Brock coached opposite JDS on TUF. Why would Brock do that if he wasn't able to fight? Maybe cause he's a ratings machine, kinda like Chael on roids x10. Makes sense to not disclose that he was unable to fight until after the show, does it not?
BrokeFitch - does anyone remember when brock pulled out against jds, and roy nelson called it months before?
Or the other tuf fights that never happened
I have been feeling the same since the announcement, I would not be at all surprised if Chael gets 'injured' prior to the fight and Gus steps in.
FatLoser - Bad Monkey - FatLoser - Bad Monkey - FatLoser - i like canned peaches but not as much as i like butterscotch
Scoff now if you will, but when the fight falls through I will bump this thread for my redemption. Should the fight actually happen I'll do my best to bury it deep in the internets.
I will scoff
all the BUTTERSCOTCH!!!!
seriously though why would they do a TU season building up a massive personal rivalry then switch the opponent thus negating the point of the fight and resulting in lower ppv buys.
it may end up having a change due to injury but no intentional conspiracy.
I think the better question is "what sense does this fight make?" The answer is none.
What sense does it make to have Chael on TUF opposite the best American fighter on the UFC roster when the ratings are in the can? Well, that makes dollars and sense.
take off the tin foil hat a second
chael is beloved by the americans and could sell sand in a desert the way he takes.
jon jones is hated by the people, thinks the sun shines out of his arse and after the ufc 151 debacle has serious credibility issues regarding chael
having them fight means big ppv money i reckon one of the biggest of 2013
having them on TuF means instant ratings.
wherever chael is trolling zuffa zombies be laughing.
all of that equals sweet mama bank a roney ma jonie
also known as money
take off the tin foil hat a second--- No
chael is beloved by the americans and could sell sand in a desert the way he takes.---Yes
jon jones is hated by the people, thinks the sun shines out of his arse and after the ufc 151 debacle has serious credibility issues regarding chael ---Yes
having them fight means big ppv money i reckon one of the biggest of 2013---Meh, fight itself isn't large enough to draw big PPV #s
having them on TuF means instant ratings. ---abso-fucking-lutely, drama+comedy = good TV
wherever chael is trolling zuffa zombies be laughing.---true
all of that equals sweet mama bank a roney ma jonie---bigger fights out there for Jones, his exposure on TUF+his crazy fighting ablility will mean he will be a bigger draw after the show, even with another oppponent.
also known as money---Dana likes his money, and he knows how to get it out of the fans
KZTT_W85 -
I have been feeling the same since the announcement, I would not be at all surprised if Chael gets 'injured' prior to the fight and Gus steps in.
Thanks for making me feel a little less crazy for coming up with this theory. Dana, pretty much promised him the shot at Jones, not the title, specifically at Jones with a good performance against Shogun.
Chael wont back down from any man. Injury or not. 
Chael isn't backing down. They simply were never going to fight.
Chareth Cutestory - Chael P. Sonnen has never, and will never back out of a fight.
There is no fight for him to back out of. There is no bout agreement, only a contract to coach on TUF.
Of course I base this on nothing but a gut feeling, but this is what I believe.
I could see that happening... But I could see Chael fighting him too, everyone only recognizes him for his mouth now a days but he is a legitimate fighter. Do I think he deserves the shot? No. Do I think he has just as good of a chance as anyone else in the division of actually beating JBJ. (I mean winning, not lasting longer) yes.
I think you're reading too much into it. DFW looked up down left right for a replacement to fight Jones and everyone backed down except for Sonnen. Sonnen tried to save the show and DFW is rewarding him for it. It sends a message to the locker room to take the opportunities you are offered.
Diazed And Confused - bknumber1 - I think you're reading too much into it. DFW looked up down left right for a replacement to fight Jones and everyone backed down except for Sonnen. Sonnen tried to save the show and DFW is rewarding him for it. It sends a message to the locker room to take the opportunities you are offered.
Love that perspective on it, VU.
That is how the UFC is representing the situation. I don't buy it. It's a fucking hoax!
I can't believe more people can't see this for what it is. I thought the UG was smarter than this. The OG is probably better at identifying conspiracies of this magnitude.