UFC legend Chael Sonnen has told Jake Paul he should cancel yet another fight with Tommy Fury and bring in MMA star Mike Perry - before it's too late.
Perry is the back-up opponent should Fury pull out of their meeting for a third time, and has been sent out on a number of media calls to help promote the event. The Brit has already pulled out of two fights with Paul in the past, and has twice skipped major media obligations in the build-up to this one.
He skipped yesterday's official launch press conference in Riyadh, after previously opting out of speaking to the media after Anthony Yarde vs Artur Beterbiev in London. He had attended a small media day and faced off with Paul prior to the bout, but didn't stick around post-fight for a press conference and head-to-head interview with Josh Denzel.
And after two cancellations already, with a number of issues in the lead-up to this bout, Sonnen reckons Paul's promotional outfit Most Valuable Promotions must take a stand and get rid of the Brit once and for all. He has insisted he will arrive in Riyadh shortly and participate in a lot of promotion, but fans are wary of his commitment given his history.
“They’ve got to kick Tommy Fury, and they’ve got to do it now,” Sonnen said during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour . “They cannot wait until the last minute. They cannot wait until the weigh-ins. They can’t let Fury keep calling all the shots. What he did did to them is [irredeemable]. But nope, he gets another $2million, and he gets to go to an even nicer location. It’s really weird.
"But at some point they have to take control if they want to be respected, and it’s a hard thing that MVP’s had. MVP is new and boy have they had to pay for an education. They’ve gotten a rougher go of anyone else ever, but at some point they have to make it clear that they are in charge.
"And today when he skipped the press conference, his second time, you cut him, you bring Perry in, and that is it. It’s a mistake that MVP is making... I would have done it an hour ago. They get to the press conference, and he’s not there, and the world’s watching, that’s when you make the reveal. That’s when you bring in Mike Perry, to try and bring it in after.
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"They’re in a little bit more difficult spot. But they had to see that coming. He’s already done it to them once. They had to see, ‘Hey, there’s a slight possibility that when we get here he’s not here.’ Somewhere he missed his flight, somewhere he didn’t check into the hotel room. They should have had word and had enough time to scramble, and had Mike Perry there. They should have moved on with it.”
Paul had confirmed last week Fury wouldn't be attending, telling fans over Twitter that he had once again opted against showing up for a promotional obligation. " Tommy Fury is scared," he posted. "Told my team he can’t make the kick-off press conference next week in Saudi Arabia because he needs more time to train. Thought you said you wouldn’t even have to train to fight me? You and your papa [John Fury] are scared."
The Brit replied a few hours later, insisting that he wouldn't be skipping the fight and that he simply wanted a later press conference. "The press conference can wait until I get to Saudi Arabia you fool," he wrote. "I’ll be there on the 16th. 3 weeks and it’s over you big stiff sweaty goth." Paul then replied: "Show a little respect for our hosts you blighter. Saudi Arabia I will see you this coming week inshallah."
