Dana White on Jones-Sonnen: "I Called Every Contender, Only Sonnen Stepped Up"

After everyone else said no, Chael Sonnen was the only fighter who agreed to step up and face UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones.

UFC President Dana White seems to be growing tired of having to defend his decision for offering Sonnen a title shot.

At first glance, the bout doesn't make much sense. Sonnen is already coming off a knockout loss to Anderson Silva in a middleweight title bout that took place in July.

How does a loss warrant an immediate title shot at a heavier weight class?

Top light heavyweight contenders Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson don't believe it does. In a pair of Twitter posts, the former champions were outraged Sonnen received a title shot so soon.

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"I guess I should just quit training to win fights and to be exciting for the fans and just go to sh*t talking school. @danawhite," said Henderson.

"With all respect,but for me Chael does not deserve The title shot,I would like To know What He had done in LHW for deserve," Machida posted.

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During an interview on the Dave and Mahoney radio show, White took the time to address fighters and fans upset with the Jones and Sonnen matchup.

"The reason this fight happened is because Chael Sonnen is the only one who stepped up to fight Jon Jones," said White. "Those type of guys, I'll throw them a fight any day of the week. All of the people that are complaining, 'Oh, what about Machida? What about this guy?' Go right down the list. I called them all."

"Dan Henderson pulled out of the fight. Then I called all of the other guys, and none of them wanted to take the fight. Now, they want to cry that they don't have an opportunity. I offered all of them this fight. Every one of them turned it down. Sonnen took this fight on eight days' notice. I'll go with that guy every time."

Jones and Sonnen are set to coach opposite of one another on The Ultimate Fighter Season 17. After the show, the two are slated to meet for the UFC light heavyweight title in April 2013.

According to Jones, a bout against Sonnen "delegitimizes" the UFC title, but he is willing to look past those feelings to give the fans the fight they want to see.

Whether he deserves a title shot or not, Sonnen is a fantastic business man. Despite losing, he has managed to pull off back-to-back title fights.

Could the third time finally be the charm for the "Oregon Gangster?"