Ronda Rousey retained her Strikeforce women's bantamweight title last Saturday © Getty Images Enlarge

Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey has told ESPN she "doesn't understand" why Jon Jones turned down the opportunity to fight Chael Sonnen on short notice at UFC 151.

Sonnen had offered to step in for the injured Dan Henderson in the light-heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas next Saturday, but Jones rejected, causing the first cancellation of an entire card in the UFC in 11 years.

Rousey, who says she classes herself as a friend of Jon Jones, was mystified by the decision. She told ESPN: "Mostly, I'd be more bummed with my coach, if I had that situation come up and my coach said anything else other than 'you're the world champion, you could beat anyone, anytime. Go do it', I would think 'why doesn't my coach have any confidence in me?' I don't know what Jon Jones' reasoning is, but I'd have made a different decision."

Rousey, who retained her title last weekend by beating Sarah Kaufman inside a minute with her trademark armbar finish, echoed the sentiments of Chael Sonnen and said she was sympathetic for the other fighters on the card who are no longer being paid to fight next weekend.

"I don't have any kids to provide for, if I come home with a bruised up face and a loss all I have to worry about is my own pride and my cable bill," she added. "When I was first starting out, when I really needed the money, the main event fell through and the whole event was cancelled and I know how that feels. I wouldn't want to do that to anybody else."

Rousey admitted that had she been aware the card was going to be cancelled she would have told UFC president Dana White that she wanted to fight instead.

"If Dana said he wanted me to fight Chris 'Cyborg' Santos with a 40lbs weight disadvantage or wrap our hands with Duck Tape and be there in 40 minutes, I'd say I'd be there in 10 minutes just so I could stretch first. It doesn't matter to me, I consider myself the best in the world. I think if you have that title, you have a responsibility to defend it at anytime against anyone."

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