The Doggy Bag: The Jon and Chael Edition

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It is dumb to me that so many media members and fans care if Chael Sonnen "deserves" a title shot. How can people care about something like that when it is clear the UFC doesn't care? Its business is making money off of fights. I think the real injustice is that Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida are being hung out to dry. UFC President Dana White even talked about them fighting each other. Henderson was a legacy fight for Jones, and Machida is the only rematch people care about. I can't see us getting both fights now; maybe one or the other after Jones destroys Sonnen. -- Quentin from Maine

TJ De Santis, Sherdog Radio Network program director: This is the debate that Jeff Sherwood and I have week-in and week-out on "Beatdown.” Is MMA a sport or is it entertainment?

The outcomes are 100 percent influenced by skill and ability. However, actual matchups seem to be more and more influenced by potential pay-per-view rates, fan interest and marketability. Should we fault the UFC for wanting to make matches that improve its bottom line? No, I don't think so, but I do feel we should cry foul if it stops deserving title challengers from getting their due.

I don't have a huge issue with Sonnen fighting Jon Jones simply because the other options are not that enticing to me. The two names you mentioned -- Machida and Henderson -- are nice fights, but Machida already had his chance once and Henderson is barely 1-0 in the UFC's light heavyweight division. If we were talking about this matchup following an Alexander Gustafsson victory in a high-profile title eliminator, I would be singing a completely different tune.

I have always felt that this sport is designed to show us who are the best fighters in the world; finding the answers to that question is entertainment enough to me. Still, in this game, for better or worse, you can earn opportunities inside and outside of the cage. Sonnen did talk himself in to a title shot, and if anyone doesn't believe that, look at their upper lip for Kool-Aid stains. If I have to sit through a few nonsensical fights a year, so long as we are still getting to see the best fight the best for the most part, I am happy.

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