UFC president Dana White usually tells fighters not to wait for title shots, but former two-division Pride champion Dan Henderson plans on waiting for whoever comes out on top in the upcoming middleweight and light-heavyweight title fights, according to White.
Since losing to Jake Shields, Henderson has won four bouts, including those against Fedor Emelianenko, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Rafael Cavalcante and Renato “Babalu” Sobral. His five-round war versus Rua was considered 2011’s fight of the year and one of the best UFC fights of all-time.
One opponent he would like to face is reigning light-heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, who will be facing former champion Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in April. The former teammates have built a grudge against each other, but Jones has been dominant in each of his title fights and is going in as a heavy favorite.
“Rashad says he’s got his [Jones’] number,” White told MMAheavy.com’s Megan Olivi. “He said Jon even knows that he knows how to beat him and all that stuff. I never listen to any of that stuff. I wait for the fight and we’ll see what happens.”
Since losing his title to Lyoto Machida, Evans has gone 4-0 with wins over Phil Davis, Quinton Jackson, Thiago Silva and Tito Ortiz. Jones’ wins include those over Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson, Machida and Ryan Bader.
“Dan Henderson will get the winner of that fight, or the winner of the Anderson Silva fight,” White continued. “Henderson just wants a title shot. There was a lot of talk about the stuff I said. I offered Henderson two fights. Henderson wants this fight. Normally, I don’t do that. Guys don’t sit around and wait or pick their fights.”
In one of the most anticipated rematches at UFC 147, middleweight champion Anderson Silva will take on Chael Sonnen in front of a hometown crowd in Brazil. Silva could be looking at back-to-back rematches if he emerges victorious and fights Henderson, who he submitted with a rear-naked choke at UFC 82.
Whatever happens, Henderson is quickly solidifying himself as one of MMA‘s all-time greats at the age of 41. If his past accomplishments haven’t already earned him that title, his most recent fights have been indicative of just how good of a fighter he really is.
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