A matchup pitting a former PRIDE champ vs. a former UFC champ has been added to UFC 161, as Dan Henderson has been cleared to fight Rashad Evans at the event.
The UFC confirmed the matchup on Tuesday night.
It had been discussed for days, but required Henderson’s medical clearance, a hurdle which has apparently been bypassed.
Both fighters will be looking to rebound into the win column.
At UFC 157, “Hendo” returned after more than a year away to a knee injury but lost a split-decision to Lyoto Machida. The defeat not only snapped his four-fight win streak, but also took him out of the running for the division’s top contender spot. Meanwhile, Evans (17-3-1) is looking to snap a two-fight losing skid, with decision defeats to current 205-pound champion Jon Jones, and more recently, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
The two light-heavyweights are among two other matches that have been officially announced by the promotion. One is another light-heavyweight fight that will pit Mauricio “Shogun” Rua against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and the other is a heavyweight matchup of Stipe Miocic against newly signed Soa Palelei.
UFC 161 will mark the promotion’s first-ever trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The event will take place on June 15 at the MTS Centre.