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Jones surprised by White criticism

ESPN staff
September 16, 2012
Jon Jones' decision not to fight Chael Sonnen prompted UFC 151 to be scrapped © Getty Images
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Jon Jones admits he was shocked by the attack he received from UFC president Dana White after the cancellation of UFC 151.

Jones declined the chance to meet Chael Sonnen as a late injury replacement for Dan Henderson - and the entire card, scheduled for September 1, was scrapped.

At the time, White said: "Good for you Jon Jones. You're rich and you've got some money. You don't need to take this fight, but there are a bunch of guys on the undercard and this is how they feed their family. This is how they make their living."

Jones has admitted he was startled by those comments: "Was I surprised by the way he talked about me and he kind of belittled me? I was surprised by it. But at the same time, you know, I'm educated by it, forever better by it and I'm over it."

Meanwhile, Jones has said he is not revelling in the role of villain after he was blamed for the demise of UFC 151. "I am not ever going to embrace a villain role," Jones said to the Boston Herald.

"That is not who I am as a person. I love people, I love strangers, but at the same time, yes, I am going to start making comments and saying things that I feel are true and just being more comfortable with myself."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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