Jon Jones remorseful for UFC 151

Two days removed from his decision that forced the cancellation of UFC 151, light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones expressed regret for refusing to fight former top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen with just eight days to prepare.

Sonnen accepted an offer from UFC chairman Lorenzo Fertitta and president Dana White on Wednesday to fight Jones when original challenger Dan Henderson withdrew because of a partially torn MCL.

But Jones and his handlers rejected Sonnen as a late replacement for Henderson, and Thursday afternoon White pulled the plug on the event which was scheduled for Sept. 1 in Las Vegas.

It marked the first time since Fertitta and White took control of the promotion -- 11 years ago -- that UFC cancelled an event.

"Carrying the cross for my company's decision," Jones tweeted. "If someone has to take the blame, I will accept full responsibility for the way UFC 151 was canceled. I want to sincerely apologize to all the other athletes (and) fans whose time and money was wasted.

"I feel terrible about the way that was handled."

The 25-year-old Jones, who is now scheduled to make the fourth defense of his 205-pound title Sept. 22 at UFC 152 in Toronto against Vitor Belfort, has a professional record of 16-1.

Belfort, who has competed at middleweight the past few years, is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion. He has a pro mark of 21-9.

I think he's going to lose a lot of fans over this whole fiasco

My buddy who is a UFC fight too got into a pretty heated discussion about it. He is like most fans who say Jones should fight because everyone on the card loses out on money and fans are disappointed.

I looked at it as a business decision. You train months to prepare to fight that particular person and view his films and all of a sudden you fight someone who wasn't even a possible opponent. So if he goes and fough Sonen, who gave Sylva (possibly the greatest UFC fight in history) a run for his money and loses what then? How much money does Jones lose out on winning than actually just touching gloves? I remember when my other buddy fought Jones, they used broom sticks with gloves at the end so he can get use to someone with that reach advantage. UFC isn't the UFC where you just show up and brawl until the last man stands like in the old days, it is a business and that's what the UFC and it's fans push every time UFC gets called barbaric or too violent.

I think he has too much at stake to just fight anyone and risk losing. I know the UFC doesn't want to cancel an event, but Sonnen didn't deserve the fight and Jones was wise to decline.

I couldnt disagree more, but i do agree they should have found someone other then sonnen!!!

I think when you have the reputation and record like Jones does you do have to be careful with fights you pick but, had Jones stepped up he would have made a hell of a statement about who he claims to be and truly is in the MMA world. I think he is top knock and we'll reserve my judgments on him based on his performances, but I think Mohammad Ali have taken the fight.... just saying.

I don't care about someone's record, or what they have to lose or gain from a single fight. If he's truly the best fighter in that division he should be able to beat anyone on any day of the week hands down.

I think he showed that he's scared to fight just anyone and "has to prepare" before he fights anyone. And I understand his mentality, but you are the champ, PROVE IT

rarely do you see a "champ" back out when someone else is put in on short notice. I think the 'short notice' fighter is at the disadvantage.
I actually cant think of any that have backed out for this in boxing or MMA. Just saying.......

I know what you're saying, but we're talking about fighting, if you're the better fighter then it shouldn't matter as long as you're in shape and he obviously is since he's had the fight scheduled all along. The short notice is typically a disadvantage if you're not quite in the shape you'd normally be in

I can see both sides here as well.. I guess you can also look at it like Sonnen only had 8 days to prep for Jones as well...So on that note, if he agreed, then should have been a no-brainer.

I understand the business side of it nowadays too, so not sure I can blame Jones, because a loss to Sonnen may have dropped his value, more so then cancelling the fight?? Not sure...

I personally loved UFC when it first came out, back when everyone fought each other and had to fight several times.

I can compare this to my sport, many guys in Strongman will "scout" certain contests to find events which are best suitable to them to winning..If there are too many events they are not good at, they will not enter. I for one am different, I will show up to any contest and not give a shit, change the events day of (which happens), or do whatever you want...I will jump through any hoop. If I am the most rounded and strongest that day, I win...If not I work harder and come back stronger.

I think when you are an athlete you have to be able to adapt to situations and if you can do that and still come out on top, it makes your more prestigous. Nowadays, everything is money based it seems though and character just doesn't mean what it used to.

WesleyInman said:

I can see both sides here as well.. I guess you can also look at it like Sonnen only had 8 days to prep for Jones as well...So on that note, if he agreed, then should have been a no-brainer.

I understand the business side of it nowadays too, so not sure I can blame Jones, because a loss to Sonnen may have dropped his value, more so then cancelling the fight?? Not sure...

I personally loved UFC when it first came out, back when everyone fought each other and had to fight several times.

I can compare this to my sport, many guys in Strongman will "scout" certain contests to find events which are best suitable to them to winning..If there are too many events they are not good at, they will not enter. I for one am different, I will show up to any contest and not give a shit, change the events day of (which happens), or do whatever you want...I will jump through any hoop. If I am the most rounded and strongest that day, I win...If not I work harder and come back stronger.

I think when you are an athlete you have to be able to adapt to situations and if you can do that and still come out on top, it makes your more prestigous. Nowadays, everything is money based it seems though and character just doesn't mean what it used to.

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Amen to that brutha! If he had of took the fight and won it would have elevated his status, and a loss wouldnt have hurt him as bad as fucking other fighters out of their pay days did

Presser said:

Amen to that brutha! If he had of took the fight and won it would have elevated his status, and a loss wouldnt have hurt him as bad as fucking other fighters out of their pay days did

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That's something I didn't even think of, some of the lower level guys missed out on the chance to get a stoppage pay or even fight of the night or sumbmission/knockout of the night. That's another thing to be upset about if you're a fighter

WesleyInman said:

I can see both sides here as well.. I guess you can also look at it like Sonnen only had 8 days to prep for Jones as well...So on that note, if he agreed, then should have been a no-brainer.

I understand the business side of it nowadays too, so not sure I can blame Jones, because a loss to Sonnen may have dropped his value, more so then cancelling the fight?? Not sure...

I personally loved UFC when it first came out, back when everyone fought each other and had to fight several times.

I can compare this to my sport, many guys in Strongman will "scout" certain contests to find events which are best suitable to them to winning..If there are too many events they are not good at, they will not enter. I for one am different, I will show up to any contest and not give a shit, change the events day of (which happens), or do whatever you want...I will jump through any hoop. If I am the most rounded and strongest that day, I win...If not I work harder and come back stronger.

I think when you are an athlete you have to be able to adapt to situations and if you can do that and still come out on top, it makes your more prestigous. Nowadays, everything is money based it seems though and character just doesn't mean what it used to.

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That's another good point, Sonnen wouldn't have had any advantage in this fight because it's not like he had been training to specifically to fight Jones. But I do like that he was willing to step up and fight a great fighter

big n wv said:

That's something I didn't even think of, some of the lower level guys missed out on the chance to get a stoppage pay or even fight of the night or sumbmission/knockout of the night. That's another thing to be upset about if you're a fighter

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thats not to mention all the money they spent on trainers, diet and prep for the fight that they thought they would be able to recoop., pretty fucked up

I'm sure the sponsors can't be too happy either, but then again they have plenty of money to throw around. It's just the point though