This past Sunday night, Chael Sonnen made a surprise appearance as a late replacement for Gable Steveson at the highly anticipated Craig Jones Invitational 2 held in Las Vegas. The event showcased some of the best grappling talents, and Sonnen, a former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger, stepped up to face the formidable Craig Jones.
Scheduled for three five-minute rounds, the match quickly turned into an intense grappling showdown. Sonnen, eager to assert his dominance, took the fight directly to the ground. However, he was soon caught in a tight buggy choke by Jones, a move that left Sonnen seemingly unconscious. The crowd watched in suspense as the former fighter appeared to go to sleep, showcasing the high stakes of submission grappling.
After regaining his senses, Sonnen and Jones agreed to continue the match. Once again, Sonnen attempted to take Jones down, this time going for a leg lock. Despite his efforts, it became evident that Jones posed no real threat from such positions, given his exceptional grappling skills. It wasn't long before Jones capitalized on the moment, executing the buggy choke once more, leading to Sonnen losing consciousness again.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, with renowned commentator Big John McCarthy chuckling at Sonnen's determination to make it a best three out of five. The audience joined in, chanting for the two grapplers to continue their display of skill and resilience. However, the referee ultimately called an end to the contest, declaring Craig Jones victorious via a double buggy choke.
Fans of grappling and MMA can catch the thrilling highlights of this unique matchup by watching the footage of the second finish below. Sonnen's willingness to step into the ring against a grappling powerhouse like Jones demonstrates the spirit and unpredictability of the sport.
