UFC
WALKER: Bad luck killed UFC 151, not Jon Jones or Greg Jackson
Aug 24, 2012 - 9:25:41 PM WALKER: Bad luck killed UFC 151, not Jon Jones or Greg Jackson

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By: Brad Walker, MMATorch Columnist

At some point in our lives each and every one of us has failed at something. Green Bay has failed in football, Vanilla Ice fails at music, and Rich Hansen fails at funny. However, it is how we all recover from failure that decides whether or not we are relevant moving forward. The Packers lost in the playoffs last year, but they'll be back, Vanilla Ice gave up music for home improvement TV shows, and Rich Hansen is always going to get a laugh at the end of the day. How, though, does a company recover from cancelling its most anticipated main event for months?

I know of only two people outside of Team Quest who expected Dan Henderson to win on September 1, me and my brother-in-law Manny; it seems nobody else was going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Well, we all look silly now no matter who we were betting on, be it Jones or Hendo, because not only is the fight not happening but the entire card is not happening... wait – what? How on God's green earth is Dana White going to get upset and cancel something like 13 fights without taking more time to explore the possibilities?

I understand that people do extremely stupid things when they're upset – hell I do it too - but to cancel an entire pay per view because you're frustrated, and can't think of something else to put together? Words like ludicrous and insane pop into mind alongside phrases like "what's the worst that could happen" and "jumping to conclusions." Sure, we wind up with a better UFC 152 because of the cancellation, but at the expense of having an entire UFC card cancelled? No thank you, I would rather see a card with a less-than stellar headlining fight than see the president of a company publically throw his hands up and go "f*** it." Obviously that's not exactly what Dana White said, but it is certainly the message his actions and words purveyed.

We could have potentially had a 205 lb. bout with Anderson Silva coming to our television sets in just over a week, but instead we get nothing, extended the time without a UFC card to a month. Dana White is supposed to be the man in charge, not the man who charges at his fighters verbally because he doesn't like how a scenario looks. Sure, I think a champion should always be willing to get in the cage with anyone and defend his belt, but I also believe he needs more than eight days to prepare for said challenge. However for the President of the UFC to attack not only his Light Heavyweight Champion but also a man who is one of the best trainers in the entire sport in Greg Jackson was absolutely uncalled for.

Sure, it's a business issue, but it's also up to Jones if he was going to take the fight. If White had proposed it and Jones said 'yes' none of this would be going on, but it is Jones' right to turn down a proposed fight on short notice, and he has every right to not want to battle Chael Sonnen. Well, technically in his spot I'd rather fight Sonnen than Henderson but the fact remains: UFC 151 has been killed, but not by Jon Jones or Greg Jackson, or even (completely) Dana White – it was killed by luck. It is bad luck that Dan Henderson was injured in preparation for his fight, and even worse luck that it was so close to the day of the event. So in the words of so many people who have had to evaluate bad luck "when life gives you lemons – make lemonade."

That's not what Dana White did, though. There is no way Jones, Jackson, or anyone else involved in that half of the equation is going to be a happy camper, so now it is on White to make things right in that sense. He probably won't, but he should do the right thing and for once issue a much needed apology. Jackson and Jones are not in the wrong; they are simply looking out for what is best for their gym and themselves, and it's not all on them that the event was cancelled.


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