The Ultimate Fighting Championship has cancelled an event for the first time in the company's history.

UFC 151 was due to be held in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 1, headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Dan Henderson.

Challenger Henderson had to pull out on Thursday after suffering knee ligament damage.

Champion Jones was offered middleweight mainstay Chael Sonnen as a replacement, but refused to take the fight on short notice, according to UFC president Dana White, forcing the card's cancellation.

White pulled no punches in a media conference call held earlier today, placing the blame firmly on Jones.

He said: "As of 8pm last night, we thought we had a fight fans would love to see. Then at about 9pm the one thing I never thought would happen in a million years happened.

"Jones told me he wouldn't fight Sonnen on eight days notice. That has never happened in the history of the UFC, a guy who is a champion, and a guy who is supposed to be one of the best fighters in the world, refuses to fight.

"Jon Jones is a guy a lot of fans don't like, and I don't think this is going to make him any more popular. I am disgusted with Jon Jones and Greg Jackson. His coach Jackson is a sport killer."

Jones will now defend his belt against Lyoto Machida at UFC 152 in Toronto, Canada on Saturday, September 22.