Upcoming UFC light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen has bashed 205-pound champ Jon Jones countless times leading up to their UFC 159 showdown this Saturday, but that doesn’t mean “The American Gangster” doesn’t give credit where credit is due.

In a UFC 159 pre-fight conference call, Sonnen praised Jones’ ability and scoffed at the notion that he doesn’t deserve his third title shot inside the Octagon (via MMA Mania).

“As great as Jon Jones is, I don't think he realizes how good he is. He could beat Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson at the same time. News flash buddy, you are the best. Maybe Tito Ortiz had a couple more wins, but he didn't have the competition he's faced,” Sonnen said.

“If I feel pressure, yeah, there's a lot of pressure. This is a tough guy in a tough environment. That's the sport. I don't earn title shots. Title shots earn me. I don't go after main events, main events go after me. Whether I earned or not or if I deserve it, I take what I want and that's it.”

Love him or hate him, Jones, the number 2 fighter on the UFC’s official pound-for-pound top 10 fighters list, has an impressive resume at just 25-years-old.

“Bones” boasts 17-1 record inside the cage, with his only loss coming via a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill for using “12-to-6” elbows in their December 2009 encounter.

Since then, Jones has won eight in a row, including eight finishes and four successful title defenses.

Along the way, the Greg Jackson’s MMA standout has defeated former UFC champions in Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort.

Therefore, it should come as little shock that Sonnen, who is 2-2 in his past four fights and hasn’t fought at light heavyweight in over seven years, enters this match up as a nearly 6-to-1 underdog.

While Sonnen be able to pull the monster upset here or will Jones tie Tito Ortiz’s UFC light heavyweight title defense record with ease?