Jones, White take heat for nixing UFC 151

Fallout continues from one of the most bizarre days in Ultimate Fighting Championship history.

Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones issued an apology on social media Saturday, two days after he was blamed by his bosses and many fans for his part in the first event cancellation in UFC history.

"Carrying the cross for my company's decision. 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/fans whose time and money was (wasted). I feel terrible about the way that was handled."

Jones has taken criticism for refusing to take on replacement opponent Chael Sonnen on short notice after original challenger Dan Henderson was injured. UFC president Dana White blasted Jones and his trainer, Greg Jackson, and White also has seen some backlash for his fiery reaction and the company's inability to build a strong enough card to stand on its own. Jones-Henderson was the main event on the card that had been scheduled for Sept. 1 at Mandalay Bay.

Jones was hardly the only fighter to turn down a bout Thursday, however.

When White announced UFC 151 was off, he said Jones would instead fight top contender Lyoto Machida on Sept. 22 at UFC 152 in Toronto. That declaration proved to be a bit hasty. Late Thursday, Machida passed on fighting Jones on about a month's notice.

"Lyoto Machida is eager to get back to training and have another shot at the UFC light heavyweight belt. However, with the proposed fight against champion Jon Jones only four weeks away, Lyoto manifests that the deadline is unfeasible in order to have a training camp that is complete and worthy of his work," the former champion's management team said in a statement Friday. "Lyoto believes the bout could take place in (Brazil) at UFC 153, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro on (Oct. 13), allowing him six weeks to prepare."

That proposal never was going to be considered. A source close to the organization confirmed another former champion, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, also passed on fighting Jones.

So finally, around 10 p.m. Thursday, the UFC 152 main event was finally set with Jones to face yet another former light heavyweight champion, Vitor Belfort, who held the belt in 2004 and has competed at middleweight since 2008.

Belfort took to Twitter to thank White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta for giving him the chance to fight for a belt.

"A lot of guys are acting like divas," he posted. "I will fight Jones....(and) am so happy to deliver a big show for the whole world."

The shakeups didn't end there. Belfort's promotion would have left Alan Belcher without an opponent for UFC 153, but Belcher has since announced he has a fracture in his spine and will be unable to fight until at least November anyway.

Several fighters who had been scheduled for UFC 151 were outspoken about missing out on paychecks, but most of the fights have been rescheduled over the next few events. The welterweight co-main event between Jake Ellenberger and Las Vegan Jay Hieron will take place at UFC on FX 5 in Minneapolis on Oct. 5.

■ MENDES CHARGED - UFC featherweight contender Chad Mendes has been charged with battery stemming from a July 29 bar fight, according to The Sentinel newspaper in Hanford, Calif.

The report says the Kings County District Attorney's office would seek a battery charge against the 27-year-old, which carries a possible $2,000 fine and up to six months in county jail.

Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 19.

■ SYLVIA-ARLOVSKI IV - A fourth fight between former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will finally happen on a ONE Fighting Championship card on Friday in Manila, Philippines.

Arlovski won the title from Sylvia in 2005, but Sylvia earned two victories over Arlovski in 2006. Neither has fought in the UFC since 2008.

The event will stream live at 5:30 a.m. for $9.99 through livesport.tv.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter @adamhilllvrj.