When UFC president Dana White announced season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter would be coached by arguably the two most controversial athletes in MMA – light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and trash talking contender Chael Sonnen, the revelation crash landed like a meteor bombing in from outer space. After all, Sonnen, coming in off the back of a rather significant TKO loss to the ruler of a lower division, hasn't competed at 205lb in almost eight years. 

However, in practical terms, he has earned the right to this almost career-salvaging position by, as Forrest Griffin put it, “talking his way to the top.” And that is certainly a psychological winning strategy. 

Many seem to believe the decision to match Sonnen with Jones makes little matchmaking sense. However, people may change their minds once the season of the reality show hits TV screens; as the filming weeks the two will spend side by side is a very exciting matchup, from a psychological point of view at least. 

One very likely to create interesting dynamics, and may directly affect not only the TUF season in terms of ratings and the contenders, but also the outcome of the coaches’ finale fight. 

In fact, more than any other previous season of TUF, the 17th edition may present psychological dynamics which may significantly alter the final result, and either help Sonnen solidify his status in MMA, by elevating him to his self-assigned champion status. Or it could legitimately lead to his retirement from the cage. The main three psychological effects this next TUF season presents are:

DEMYSTIFYING THE MYTH

Often the way we see our opponent and the idea that we have of them can influence how we fight in the ring, as far as limiting or enhancing our skills and abilities. There is a fine line between a healthy respect for your opponent and an excessive kind of respect, which instead of making us sharper and more aware tends to lead to freezing.

Until now, Jones has shown amazing skills and dominating performances that allowed him not only to beat but to walk through most of his very worthy opponents. None of his opponents have spent significant time with Jones before the fight. The only one who did was Rashad Evans and even then, the old Jones Rashad once knew was a very different one from the champion he had to face.

For Sonnen, the opportunity to be so close to Jones for a couple of weeks preceding the fight can only be seen as a unique opportunity to get to know the champion, his habits, insecurities, beliefs, routines and drives a little more, and so demystifying the myth.

GET IN THE HEAD

Jones has a very calm aura about himself; he is one of the few athletes who properly understands the importance of mental balance, meditation and positive mental attitude. He knows how to work with his mind to prevent the trash talk from affecting him. However, if there is one fighter who can get in anybody’s mind, it’s Chael Sonnen. And in this case, Sonnen has a number of weeks to get in Jones’ head – and not via the media, but from no more than a couple of meters' distance. 

And not simply once a week through interviews or social media, which Jones can choose to ignore, but right in his face where that choice is taken away. Then it will all come down to Jones’ ability to keep Sonnen out of his head, or possibly even to break into his mind-set instead.

THE REVERSAL THEORY

While Sonnen has definitely won the ‘mind manipulation championship belt,’ it is possible Jones may take that crown from him during the weeks spent together filming TUF. Because, although the odds of Sonnen getting in the champion’s head seem to be higher than the other way round, Jones has demonstrated a good set of ‘mind control’ skills in his own career. 

During the build up to UFC 145 against former friend Rashad Evans, Jones was able to keep a rational approach while causing Evans to become more and more emotional about the fight which, as every fighter should know, is rarely a good thing. 

Also, Sonnen seemed rather phased when Anderson Silva turned into the dark angry spider in the build up to UFC 148, looking intimidated and keen to get out of confrontational situations. So the reversal theory, where Jones is able to use the time in the TUF camp to get in Sonnen’s head actually seems completely plausible.

TUF 17 will inevitably affect both athletes in one way or another, and will create a very different fight than a traditional build-up would have. Sonnen has been outspoken all the way, showing more of himself than Jones has. Right now you would expect the extra air time afforded to TUF coaches in the lead-up to a showdown fight will suit the loose-lipped challenger more than the champion. But Jones has made a career out of surpassing expectations, and he could well have a few surprises in store yet. One thing is for certain: this TUF matchup is an almost certain ratings winner for the UFC.

Postscript: At UFC 159 Jones defeated Sonnen with a first round TKO.