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Jon Jones: “I feel terrible, but it also wasn’t my decision to cancel the whole card

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In the immediate wake created by yesterday’s UFC 151 debacle UFC President Dana White blasted Jon Jones and coach Greg Jackson in a conference call, Dan Henderson ensured fans he would be back after recovering from his knee injury, Chael Sonnen called “Bones” a plethora of names, fighters scheduled for the event complained openly, and countless fans cried out in disappointment. However, one of the key players in the agitating affair remained silent on the matter – Jones himself.
The polarizing pugilist has since spoken up to explain his side of the situation, expressing no remorse for declining what would have been a show-saving scrap with Sonnen while offering an apology to the promotional peers and fans affected by the card’s cancellation.
“I signed a contract a long time ago to fight Dan Henderson. That’s what I studied for, and that’s what I prepared myself for. To take a fight with a different opponent in which I would basically have three days of training before traveling and then starting to cut weight I just thought would be the dumbest idea ever. I wouldn’t have been properly prepared,” said Jones in an interview with MMAJunkie. “Chael is completely different fighter. This is war. This is strategy. You have to go in there prepared and know that you did your homework. I wouldn’t be the same warrior if I just jumped in there blindly and was cutting weight while I was trying to prepare for the fight.”
“I definitely apologize to the other fighters on the card. I feel terrible, but it also wasn’t my decision to cancel the whole card. I don’t make those decisions,” he continued. “I apologize to the people that lost money on tickets and travel and things like that. I don’t apologize for my decision, but I do apologize for the way it affected people. I hope people can understand I was just trying to do the best thing for my career.”
Jones also admitted the angry response regarding his role hasn’t fallen on deaf ears, though he remained comfortable in doing what he felt was the right thing for the people he cares about most.
“The criticism does bother me, but I have to stand by my decision. I have to be the man that I am,” Jones explained. “With such large audiences comes great criticism. There will be a lot of scrutiny, but I’ve got to do what makes me happy and feels right to me. At the end of the day, I have to make the best choice for me and my family.”
The 25-year old champion’s closed things out by saying his focus was now on moving forward and preparing to beat Lyoto Machida on September 22 in a more dominating fashion than he did in their meeting last December.

Fiveouncesofpain

Right now i think Jones is getting way, way too much heat for this. Dana did a very good point and blame job here. The UFC isn't a team sport and it's not his job to put together an event. Jones had been prepared for Hendo for a long time, all the media stuff, weight cutting etc. Try to see it from his point of view. Meanwhile Sonnen had just been TKO'd and offered a title fight in a division he had not competed in 7 years. Props to him for accepting but to say his the man with balls of steel is a tad much. The UFC dropped the ball for running a card with only one fight.

Personally, I think its a cop out.

He is in fight shape and Chael is not. he's had weeks and weeks of a fight camp, preparing for a wrestler. Yeah, a slightly different style of wrestler but there is a reason why so many people are hating on Jones here and personally, whilst I agree, the UFC are partly to blame, I place 90% of the blame at the feet of Jon Jones and Greg Jackson.

Yeah, I agree with Jones. I'm sure, me, and everyone else, would have been happy to see Ellenberger Vs Hieron as the headline for the PPV.

:D

Jones ruined this card. Fighting Chael Sonnen was nothing and as Sonnen said himself, this was the best chance he'll ever have to beat him (although he doesn't really NEED an increased chance). Complete joke. WAR VITOR

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Originally Posted by Killz (Post 1619619)

I'm blaming both parties a bit but not Greg Jackson. He, along with the other guys from the team voiced out their opinion. Everybody knows him so only his opinion was made public. Danas reaction was a bit too harsh for simply giving advice.

I would basically have three days of training before traveling and then starting to cut weight I just thought would be the dumbest idea ever.

Sole reason why I'm now a Chael Sonnen fan, Jones is no damn warrior, Bisping,Chael, even damn Kimbo Slice took a fight on short notice. Not a smart decision on Kimbo's part, however Jones would have murdered Chael regardless of what he thinks.

Imagine had Shogun turned down Jones on the New Jersey night?

"but I’ve got to do what makes me happy and feels right to me. At the end of the day, I have to make the best choice for me and my family.”"

What about being NOT selfish for a second and help your boss out with this? They ask you for a favor and all you think about is me me me me me.

It's Dana's fault for putting together such a shit card with only one fight. Nice scapegoating job too.

Chael and Henderson are completely different fighters. One just dives for takedowns all night, the other likes to stand and bang. The "wrestler" tag is oversimplifying.

Of course Chael took the fight. ANYONE would. It's FOR THE BELT. With NO WORK WHATSOEVER. It's not about balls, he has everything to gain and nothing to lose. If he loses it's because he had no camp. If he wins, he's CHAMP.

It's the other way round for Jones. If he wins, he gets NOTHING except "he just beat a guy without a camp" comments. If he loses he loses everything. And for what? "fans" who would still hate him regardless and dissect everything he says.

Also Chael doesn't need to train specifically for Jones, he does the same damn thing every fight regardless of who he's fighting because that's all he knows how to do, and admittedly is pretty good at it. Jones would need to train COMPLETELY differently for Chael though because he probably wasn't training for a guy double legging him all night.

Why not offer the fight to gustaf, davis, glover or AN ACTUAL LHW instead of some guy with an active twitter? I guarantee you many would jump to accept a freebie title shot.

But no follow the bald demagogue and hate who he tells you to hate.

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Originally Posted by Liddellianenko (Post 1619635)

Objectively if Jones loses to Chael, wouldn't that mean he would lose to Chael again with a full camp? Chael said it best the better man always wins no matter what. It's not like Chael is gonna KO him out, he is gonna beat his ass for 25 minutes for a decision. He fought,Bader,Evans, and I'm sure he was preparing for Henderson's wrestling.

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Originally Posted by Liddellianenko (Post 1619635)

It's Dana's fault for putting together such a shit card with only one fight. Nice scapegoating job too.

Chael and Henderson are completely different fighters. One just dives for takedowns all night, the other likes to stand and bang. The "wrestler" tag is oversimplifying.

Of course Chael took the fight. ANYONE would. It's FOR THE BELT. With NO WORK WHATSOEVER. It's not about balls, he has everything to gain and nothing to lose. If he loses it's because he had no camp. If he wins, he's champ.

It's the other way round for Jones. If he wins, he gets NOTHING except "he just beat a guy without a camp" comments. If he loses he loses everything. And for what? "fans" who would still hate him regardless and dissect everything he says.

Also Chael doesn't need to train specifically for Jones, he does the same damn thing every fight regardless of who he's fighting because that's all he knows how to do, and admittedly is pretty good at it. Jones would need to train COMPLETELY differently for Chael though because he probably wasn't training for a guy double legging him all night.

Why not offer the fight to gustaf, davis, glover or AN ACTUAL LHW instead of some guy with an active twitter? I guarantee you many would jump to accept a freebie title shot.

But no follow your bald demagogue and hate who he tells you to hate.

Jones had nothing to lose? What about the huge portion of Bones fans now cheering for Sonnen?

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Originally Posted by ClydebankBlitz (Post 1619640)

Jones had nothing to lose? What about the huge portion of Bones fans now cheering for Sonnen?

Bones haters you mean. Which bones fan on this forum for example has turned?

These are the same people who nitpicked and dissected every word he says, like using the "normal" for people not in athletic competition etc, and hating him for it.

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Originally Posted by marcthegame (Post 1619638)

No that's not objective at all, you're basically saying training camps and gameplanning are completely useless, which is not logical or supported by what we actually see.