mma UFC 151: Jones vs. Hendo

quote MMAFighting

Aug 23, 2012 - An injury to Dan Henderson has forced an unprecedented cancellation of a major UFC event.

UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday that because Henderson, who was set to challenge Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 151 on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, suffered a partially torn MCL, the event would be canceled.

Jones will instead fight former champion Lyoto Machida on Sept. 22 in Toronto.

"This is one of my all-time lows as a president," said White. "For the first time, in 11 years we're gonna cancel an event.

During the teleconference, White said that when he found out about Henderson's injury, former middleweight contender Chael Sonnen was offered the bout with Jones and accepted, but Jones refused to accept the fight. White also said that Machida was offered to take the spot on Sept. 1, but was in flight to Brazil and the couldn't make the circumstances work. "I can accept why Machida didn't take the fight," White said.

With a weak undercard and no other viable main-event alternatives worth asking customers to spend $50 on, White pulled the plug on the event.

The UFC president clearly placed the blame for the fight cancellation on the champion.

"Chael Sonnen accepted the fight with Jon Jones last night," White said. "At 8 or 9 last night the one thing I never thought would happen in a million years happen. Jon Jones said, I won't fight Chael Sonnen on eight days notice. That has never happened either."

White said that the company has not yet figured out what will happen to the remainder of the fights scheduled for the card. Fans who purchased tickets for the event will be able to get refunds at the point of purchase.

While a planned March event in Montreal was canceled, this marks the first time a UFC event will be canceled with a full card announced. White acknowledged the company doesn't know how much of a hit it will take for the cancellation.

"It’s major, major deal," said White. "We lose [expletive] of money, money that’s already been spent. We’re eight days out. We’ve spent [expletive] of money on this fight. How long, how far it goes and how bad it hurts. I don’t know because it’s the first time we’ve done it."

White's anger level didn't subside as the teleconference went on, if anything, he got angrier. The majority of his wrath was vented at Jones' coach, Greg Jackson, whom White said counseled Jones not to take the bout.

"The guys a [expletive] sport killer," said White. Later, he added. "Greg Jackson should never be interviewed by anyone again, except a psychiatrist."

quote The Blode

152 is now 151 etc.

quote Lesley Pro_04

If anything, Jon "Bones" Jones just gave Vince McMahon more ammo to blast UFC with, because even if WWE's biggest draw couldn't compete due to injury, the show would go on.