Bellator MMA might be the kings of recycling fights with mixed martial artists well past their primes, but Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) can’t be far behind with this one.
According to Brazil’s Combate, 45-year-old Dan Henderson will rematch 37-year-old Lyoto Machida in Tampa Bay, Florida, on April 16, 2016.
Machida won their first contest more than three years ago, a split decision at UFC 157 in Anaheim, California. Amazingly, that was also the UFC debut of Ronda Rousey. My, how time flies.
Machida vs. Henderson was a relatively tedious fight and one I didn’t think beared repeating. But then again, I’m not a UFC matchmaker so what do I know?
Once champions in various organizations, both men are on dreadful declines in their respective careers headed into 2016. “Hendo” is 2-6 since meeting Machida in 2013, suffering three knockouts in that span, all in the first round.
As for the “Dragon”, the so-called Machida Era is long gone, going 4-4 since his fight with Henderson. Granted, things look a little better for Machida, whose recent losses come against the absolute elite at 185 pounds in Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero.
UFC on Fox 19 has not been officially announced by the UFC, but the main event is expected to feature the long anticipated return of Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight contender fight against the dangerous Tony Ferguson.
Meanwhile, Beneil Dariush is slated to outgrapple Michael Chiesa, Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans will attempt to resurrect their careers, Cub Swanson is set to take on Hacran Dias, and Bethe Correia will make her first post-Ronda Rousey fight against Raquel Pennington.
Keep your browser locked to MMAmania.com in the coming days for an official UFC on FOX 19 fight card announcement.