An injury and illness prevented Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White from attending Island Fights 51 Friday at the Pensacola Bay Center.

White sent a video message Thursday to Island Fights CEO Dean Toole explaining he had broken his foot and was sick, thus unable to travel to Pensacola. He promised a return for a later event.

Toole was planning to air the message on the big screen Friday night to let spectators know why White wasn't at ringside.

White was supposed to be commentator for his "Dana White Lookin' for a Fight" reality series that airs on UFC Fight Pass. Six of the fights on the Island Fights 51 card Friday were scheduled to aired on UFC Fight Pass.

The show was taped as planned Friday night.

"Everything is going as scheduled except Dana isn't here," Toole said. "But he was going to watch the show from home and hopefully we can get him back here when the weather will be much better."

White's original plans were for him to be in Destin earlier Friday to fly in an authentic World World II plane and simulate a mock air fight with a company that provides the opportunity out of Destin Executive Airport.

White was to reconnect with Roy Jones Jr. at the Bay Center. The two have known each other since Jones was in the prime of his boxing career.

For more on the Island Fights 51 event, check pnj.com later Friday night and Saturday.

Bill Vilona can be reached at bvilona@pnj.com and 850-435-8532