Despite the fact that UFC president Dana White recently announced a title eliminator bout between light heavyweights Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson, “Hendo” still wants the champion next.
In responding to a fan on his Twitter page, the former PRIDE and Strikeforce superstar made it clear that he still wants 205-pound kingpin Jon “Bones” Jones in his next fight.
Im sure that fight will still happen. I’d love to be able to put that kid in his place.RT (cont) tl.gd/jaft1s
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) September 16, 2012
Henderson finally had the opportunity to add a UFC title to his mantle when he was booked to face Jones at UFC 151. However, Henderson had to withdraw from the fight just eight days beforehand due to a knee injury.
Jones then declined a fight with Henderson’s long-time friend and training partner Chael Sonnen, and the event was ultimately cancelled as a result.
White has went off (via MMA Fighting) on Jones and his head trainer Greg Jackson for the event’s cancellation, blasting them for not accepting the fight with Sonnen and saving the event.
Jones, despite apologizing for UFC 151 crashing and burning, the youngest champ in UFC history went on to later blame Henderson for the event not taking place, arguing that the challenger should’ve disclosed his knee injury sooner.
White eventually agreed that Henderson deserved some accountability for UFC 151 never seeing the light of day.
Jones now defends his belt against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 on Sept. 22, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Meanwhile, Henderson has been on the shelf since a “Fight of the Year” performance against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 in Nov. 2011. The 42-year-old came away with a close unanimous decision victory.
Does a Henderson-Machida bout to determine the No. 1 contender at light heavyweight make sense, or should Henderson get a shot at the winner of Jones-Belfort?
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