Just when it looked like Chael Sonnen vs Jon Jones was off the table for good, “The American Gangster” still believes he will fight for the UFC light heavyweight title in the next month.

“Jon Jones has a date on Sept. 22 and right now he’s fighting Vitor Belfort. Vitor never shows up, Vitor has pulled out of way more fights than he has ever shown up for, so if I had to guess, you’ll be seeing me fight Jon Jones on Sept. 22,” Sonnen said on Monday’s edition of ESPN Radio.

Belfort has not fought since submitting Anthony Johnson at UFC 142 in January, pulling out of a rematch with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147 due to a broken hand.

The former two-time middleweight title challenger is currently scheduled to fight Forrest Griffin at UFC 155, scheduled for UFC 155, but hinted in an interview with MMA Junkie on Monday that this fight may be scrapped in favor of a juicier match up for “Uncle Chael.”

Sonnen continued to be critical of Jones, mocking him for not accepting to fight him as a late replacement for Dan Henderson.

“That was still a surprise though. That’s just simply never happened, especially when you’re the champion. This whole short notice routine, that doesn’t apply to a guy that is coming off a 10-week training camp. The short notice routine is for the guy that was sitting at home or had no idea there was a fight coming up.”

“It didn’t make sense. Nothing added up that he pulled out. I don’t know. He doesn’t need to be scared of anybody.”

Henderson was scheduled to fight Jones in the main event of UFC 151 but had to pull out on Thursday due to a knee injury. The event was ultimately scrapped when Jones declined to fight Sonnen in place of “Hendo.”

“The Phenom” got the nod after former champions Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua both turned down a rematch with Jones on short notice.

While Sonnen vs. Jones is still a long ways from materializing in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for UFC 152, Chael delivered a strong message to the champion.

“If I was to tell Jon Jones something, I would tell him I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news. Good news Jon, the first punch that I throw at you might not land. The bad news is there are going to be five more coming right after it.”

Will Belfort’s long history of injuries prevent him from following through on his title shot next month or is Sonnen simply blowing smoke here?