Jones vs. Sonnen: Lyoto Machida: "Chael Does Not Deserve the Title Shot"

Former UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida has taken Chael Sonnen, and his recently announced title shot against Jon Jones, to task over Twitter, saying the following: 

"

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!!

— Lyoto Machida (@lyotomachidafw) October 17, 2012"

The tweet comes amidst a deluge of barbed opinions ranging from the ecstatic to the execrable. 

While Machida's opinion is based in fact (Sonnen hasn't fought at light heavyweight since a submission loss to Renato "Babalu" Sobral in 2005), it's hard not to smirk when reading the tweet because Machida himself was offered a title shot—albeit on short notice—against Jon Jones at UFC 152 but declined.

The fact that Chael Sonnen stepped up on short notice and offered to fight Jones at UFC 152 seemingly answers Machida's inquiry about what he's done to deserve the title shot.

Twitter commenter Lance Fischel put it a little more bluntly:

"

. @lyotomachidafw well….he didn’t turn down the fight, so he has you there buddy.

— Lance Fischel (@LanceFischel5) October 17, 2012"

Fortunately or unfortunately, that's what it boils down to. When duty called, Sonnen was there and Machida chose not to be. That basic truth won't change no matter how much he wants to complain.

Follow @MattSaccaro