Dan Henderson has been competing inside the mixed martial arts (MMA) cage since 1997 when he took on Crezio de Souza at the Brazil Open ’97, and competed again for the second time in his career that same night against Eric Smith to win the organization’s lightweight tournament.
Fast-forward nearly twenty years later, and at 45-years of age, ‘Hendo’ is still going strong as he is coming off of a highlight reel knockout of Cuban powerhouse Hector Lombard at UFC 199.
The knockout earned the future Hall of Famer a shot at UFC middleweight gold, against longtime foe, and newly crowned 185-pound champ, Michael Bisping.
In a recent interview with Talking Brawls Podcast on SevereMMA, ‘Hendo’ confirmed he will be stepping into the Octagon against Bisping for the middleweight throne, and also revealed that ‘win or lose’ he is prepared to hang up his gloves for good following the contest:
“That is my plan, win or lose I’m ready mentally to retire,” said Henderson. “I think it will definitely happen and I’m excited to get in there and hopefully do the same thing I did to him the last time.
I’m pretty sure it will be a pay-per-view and I’d expect that it happens relatively soon, possibly in the next couple of days. We should be able to get it figured out.”
While a title bout has been confirmed between the two rivals Henderson admits he is still waiting on a date for the contest, and claims that despite the fact that he is ready to walk away from the sport following his clash with ‘The Count’, he still feels he can go ‘another two, three years more.’
“I’m waiting to hear the exact date, and where but I’m almost positive it will happen, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t at this point.
My body could still probably go another two, three years more. I’ve put it through enough. I’m ready to take it a little bit easier, but still be involved in MMA doing something a little bit different than fighting.
I think I’ve heard a number of things but I believe it could be in a stadium over there in Manchester.”
Bisping and Henderson first met at UFC 100 in which the American delivered one of the most vicious knockout in the sport’s recent memory, and Bisping has been clamoring for an opportunity at vengeance ever since. Henderson has heard Bisping’s campaigns for another shot at him, and responded to him in one chilling sentence:
“Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it.”
While no date has yet been set on a meeting between the two 185-pounders, stay with LowKick for the latest on the location, date, and time for the epic showdown.
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