This one ended up being a long, strange trip. First, Hector Lombard was supposed to grapple Gary Tonon at Chael Sonnen’s Submission UnderGround 3. Then Lombard was out, and Sonnen himself stepped up.
The Tonon vs. Sonnen match-up was enthusiastically announced via Tonon on his social network. It was pretty funny.
Good news or bad news first?
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
The Bad news is Hector Lombard pulled out of our match at @SUG_Grappling
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
The Good news……
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
Hector Lombard will be replaced in @SUG_Grappling with a guy that "almost" beat one of the greatest of all time
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
I'll be competing in @SUG_Grappling against a guy who "almost" had all his dreams realized in the Octagon
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
My match in @SUG_Grappling will be with a guy who "almost" held a UFC title
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
A guy who's about to "almost" get paralyzed in a cage at @SUG_Grappling against the real American Gangster, from dirty Jersey @Garry_Tonon
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
The guy who "almost" passed some steroid tests, I'll be submitting none other than Mr. Almost @ChaelSonnen at @SUG_Grappling Jan 29th
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
Ok guys I gotta go train, something that Captain Almost clearly knows nothing about. See y'all soon
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 24, 2017
Heh.
Tonon has beaten the who’s who in the grappling world and will take on any competitor. He is a part of the Danaher Death Squad and has brought some of the most exciting matches to the BJJ scene.
Sonnen told the UG Podcast that he would like to eventually compete on his own card, but was focused on Tito Ortiz at the time.
Now the exceedingly well-connected Ariel Helwani reports that Bellator has pulled Sonnen from the event. Presumably, their contract with him has a clause against competing in combat sports that they chose to invoke.
Update: Bellator has pulled Chael Sonnen from his grappling match this weekend. He won’t be competing after all. https://t.co/3HllhllT0K
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 25, 2017
“>January 25, 2017
I agree. They have way too much invested in him right now. Makes no sense for them. Can’t say I disagree with the decision. https://t.co/clqJWkGYTp
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 25, 2017
“>January 25, 2017
Now in an unexpected turn, while Bellator MMA would not concede to a contracted athlete taking part in a grappling match, the UFC has allowed one of their fighters in.
Again, Tonon did the lively introduction.
My new opponent for @SUG_Grappling is a 185 pound @ufc fighter.
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 25, 2017
My new opponent for @SUG_Grappling was an impressive BJJ resume. He has beaten Bernardo Faria, Leandro Lo, and Romulo Barral….ALL TWICE.
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 25, 2017
My new opponent for @SUG_Grappling is none other than the infamous "Shoe Face" Antonio Carlos Junior! @acjrc_sapato
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 25, 2017
#tononvsshoeface pic.twitter.com/3FXsPvAOyg
— Garry Tonon (@Garry_Tonon) January 25, 2017
SUG3 goes down on Sunday, January 29, from the Roseland Theatre in Portland, Oregon. It will stream live on FloGrappling.
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Author Jeremy Brand is the founder of MMASucka and host of the UnderGround podcast.
