Greg Jackson reacts to Dan White's comments on him, Jon Jones, and UFC 151's cancellation

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"I was asked if it was smart to take a fight on three days notice [because fight week is all media obligations and not training] and I don't think it's smart to do that. Three days to fight a guy that caliber is not a smart thing to do. I'm not trying to ruin the sport or cancel an event. I don't know about that stuff, but thought it wasn't a wise course of action.

[To fight someone of Sonnen's caliber, you] need to have a full training camp. That would seem smart to me. Fighting on three days notice isn't taking [the sport] seriously to me.

I really like Dana and respect him...there is no ill feelings. I'm more confused than anything else. It's a serious fight with serious ramifications. I don't think I need to reach out to Dana. I didn't mean to cancel an event and was asked to give an opinion and I gave it. We all got together and are on the same sheet of music. These guys are professional promoters and that's what they do.

I didn't know they had it all riding on one fight. It's one of those things...as a trainer. I'll give you my opinion. I'm not a yes man...I do what's best for my guy. I'm surprised by the veracity of his response but that's my opinion.

In this case [of the short notice fight], it's a world title fight in the best sport in the world on three days notice. This isn't backyard brawling...it's a professional sport.

I think Chael is brilliant. He circumvented an entire division...went right from Anderson [Silva] to Jon. It's brilliant...he's got nothing to lose and everything to gain. I'm always impressed by him"

-Jon Jones' head trainer Greg Jackson talks to Mauro Ranallo on The MMA Show regarding his advice to Jon Jones about refusing the Chael Sonnen replacement fight next week at UFC 151 (transcribed by BloodyElbow.com)

Penick's Analysis: Jackson added that it was a decision that was discussed with multiple members of Jones' team before they ultimately decided not to take the fight. I don't know how forcefully White went with the "if you don't take this fight the event is canceled" line of discussion, but regardless Jones hasn't made himself any friends with this situation. Jackson's going to get a heavy dose of backlash himself, regardless of how reasonable his stance may or may not be on the issue. Had Jackson known the entire event would be canceled if Jones didn't take the fight maybe he would have counseled differently, but I doubt it. Regardless, the end result is that there is no event next weekend in Las Vegas, the first time the UFC's ever had to outright cancel a show. This is a bad situation right now, for all involved, and Jackson and camp are going to get a heavy dose of the outrage.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_14206.shtml

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