Over the years, Dana White has had a somewhat rocky relationship with some of the greatest stars of the UFC.
Although the UFC President always quickly calls the current heavyweight champion of the promotion the greatest of all time, things have rarely just sailed between them.
As much as White Jon Jones praises, they have had their problems from time to time, even if this has not prevented them from doing business.
The MMA world is currently waiting to find out whether Jones opposite Tom Aspinall will be confronted in a huge title Unification Clash for the heavyweight division.
During the light heavyweight days of Jones, his decision not to fill a fight Forced White and the UFC to do something they had never done before.
Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Dana White called Jon Jones and his coach after they have rejected UFC 151 fight
Jon Jones was planned to defend his title in the main event of UFC 151 in Las Vegas, where he would be confronted with the former two-division proud champion, than Henderson.
The rest of the card was not completely stacked, but the plans suffered a big hit when Henderson sustained an MCL injury that would force him out of the fight.
Fortunately, the UFC was able to find a replacement for just eight days of a cancellation period in which Chael Sonen agreed to perform and face Jones.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
'Bones' was not so enthusiastic about this idea and refused the matchup and chose to fight on UFC 152 instead of giving Sonnen a few weeks later instead.
Although the will of Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman had made offers to save the card by going to light weight, the UFC called on to completely cancel the event.
The promotion renamed their next PPV event as a result, which means that UFC 151 simply does not exist.
Dana White blamed for the event that was canceled on both Jones and his coach Greg Jackson who had tried him to take the Sonen fight in the short term.
SEP1.2012
11 years ago,
UFC 151 with Jon Jones vs. Then Henderson would take place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This was the first canceled event in the promotional history. pic.twitter.com/lyugdcjhiz
– MMA History Today (@mmahistorytoday) 2 September 2023
View tweet
A few weeks later, Jones would be confronted to Vitor Belfort on UFC 152 before he stopped Sonnen in the first round in the next April on UFC 159.
White gave his reaction to the situation during a media call where he made the news officer.
“So this is probably one of my low points of all time. For the first time in 11 years we are going to cancel an event. The only thing I had never thought would happen in a million years. Jon Jones said:” I don't fight Chael Sonnen on a cancellation period of eight days. “
White started criticizing Jackson because he was a “sports murderer” before he stated that this would not do good things for the public perception of Jones.
“He has been a champion that has not been very popular. I don't think this will do wonders for his popularity. In terms of relationship with us, Me and Lorenzo (Fertitta) are both disgusting.”
Jon Jones is central to a number of really chaotic combat weeks
Specifically in his first light heavyweight title run, whatever controversy Jon Jones caused, he usually made up for his performances in the Octagon.
'Bones' has stored both Vorror Belfort and Chael Sonnen to place UFC 151 behind him for his classic war with Alexander Gustafsson on UFC 165.
Together with this, the cancellation of the UFC 200 Main Event and the Moving of UFC 232, Jones has given the UFC a lot of headaches over the years in the course of the years.
A caution for fans who want to see him fight against Tom Aspinall in the near future: Jones's combat weeks are known to have a lot of drama in the past.