UFC 151 event poster
On days like this when I’m stuck working late, it really makes me wish that I could win the lottery so I can bring you news like this when it happens.
On Thursday, UFC president Dana White called a conference call to announce the cancellation of UFC 151 which was scheduled to take place in just eight days.
White explained to the media that No. 1 contender Dan Henderson had suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee and had to withdraw from the fight.
The UFC president also explained that an alternate for Henderson was found in two-time middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who was willing to take the fight on short notice.
Problem solved right?
Not so, apparently UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones turned down the match with Sonnen so White felt he was forced to simply cancel the entire event.
From today’s release on the event cancellation.
“This is probably one of my all-time lows as being president of UFC,” White said. “Dan Henderson tried to train, he continued to work out and saw a doctor, but there was nothing we could do to save that fight.
“But Chael Sonnen stepped up accepted the fight with Jon Jones last night. As of 8pm last night, we thought we had a fight fans would love to see. Then at about 9pm the one thing I never thought would happen in a million years happened. Jon Jones said, “I won’t fight Chael Sonnen on eight days notice’. That has never happened in the history of the UFC, a guy who is a champion, and a guy who is supposed to be one of the best fighters in the world, pound-for-pound, refuses to fight.
“Chael is just coming up from 185pounds. He said that not only would he face Jones in eight days, he’d jump in a plane to Vegas and fight him that night if he was asked to. Jon Jones said ‘I’m not fighting Chael Sonnen with eight days’ notice. Jones’s trainer, Greg Jackson, told Jon that taking the fight with Chael would be the biggest mistake of his life. That’s what he told Jon Jones. Let me tell you, this guy (Greg Jackson) is a sport killer.
“When you are a champion, much less one of the guys who is supposed to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, you are supposed to step up. Jon Jones is a guy a lot of fans don’t like, and I don’t think this is going to make him any more popular. Lorenzo Fertitta (UFC chairman and CEO) and I are disgusted with Jon Jones and Greg Jackson.”
During the media call, White goes on to talk about the fall-out for the fans as well as the twenty-other fighters who were set to compete on the card who will not get paid now.
“We lose a lot of money, money that’s already been spent. We’re eight days out. We’ve spent tons of money on this fight. How long and how far it goes and how bad it hurts I don’t know because it’s the first time we’ve done it.
“One thing that you really have to think about are the fighters on the undercard. Sure, Jon Jones is rich what does he care if he cancels the fight? But 20 other fighters on the card added up to almost a half a million dollars in purse money that Jones and Greg Jackson’s decision stole from them. No champion or headliner in UFC history has ever done that. As difficult as Tito Ortiz could be… even Tito never bailed on a fight.”
“Many people, from fans to PPV distributors, TV networks, sponsors, and more importantly fighters who are working hard to support their families and build their careers are hurt badly by this selfish decision.”
Jones will now face Lyoto Machida at UFC 152 in Toronto, Canada and will co-headline the show alongside UFC flyweights Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson who battle for the UFC’s inaugural 125-lbs title.