UFC News: Dan Henderson Says He’s Fighting Lyoto Machida at UFC 156

The UFC’s annual Super Bowl weekend card has just gotten bigger, pitting Dan Henderson against former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, according to none other than “Hendo” himself. Henderson, a former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion, m…

The UFC’s annual Super Bowl weekend card has just gotten bigger, pitting Dan Henderson against former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, according to none other than “Hendo” himself. 

Henderson, a former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion, made the announcement on Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live (via MMA Junkie) on Thursday night. 

The former Olympic-level wrestler was originally scheduled to face current UFC 205-pound title holder Jon Jones at UFC 151, but Henderson withdrew from the event on eight days notice due to a knee injury. 

“Bones” was offered a last-minute replacement fight with Hendo‘s long-time friend and training partner, Chael Sonnen, but he declined the bout and the card was ultimately cancelled

At that point, UFC president Dana White made it clear that he planned on having Machida rematch Jones at UFC 152. Jones choked out “The Dragon” with a standing guillotine choke in the second round of their UFC 140 encounter. 

However, Machida declined the opportunity and the title shot at UFC 152 went to Vitor Belfort. Jones won via a keylock submission in Round 4, though “The Phenom” gave him an early scare with an armbar

After the smoke settled, Sonnen ended up the biggest winner. He earned a coaching slot opposite Jones for the next season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” culminating in a title shot on April 27.

If Henderson vs. Machida does materialize, it will be Hendo‘s first fight in about 14 months, last winning a unanimous decision over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139. The back and forth battle earned 2011 “Fight of the Year” honors from multiple MMA outlets. 

Machida last competed at UFC on FOX 4 in August, earning “Knockout of the Night” honors against Ryan Bader

UFC 156 is scheduled for Feb. 2 at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a featherweight title match between Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo confirmed as the headlining bout.

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Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar Confirmed for UFC 156, Super Bowl Weekend in Las Vegas


(Hey Frankie, you should invite Sanchez and Tebow to the fight. I’m pretty sure they’ll be free that weekend.)

The UFC’s traditional Super Bowl weekend blowout will feature at least one title belt up for grabs, as the featherweight championship match between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar has been officially confirmed for UFC 156. Though the event was previously rumored to take place in Brazil in January, UFC 156 will actually be held February 2nd in Las Vegas, at a venue to be named later.

When the two fighters meet, it’ll be Aldo’s first Octagon appearance in more than year, as a pair of injuries have kept him out of the cage since his last title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 142. It’ll also be Edgar’s first-ever UFC fight at featherweight. Will the former lightweight champ look stronger against an opponent closer to his own size, or will he be sacrificing the speed advantage that served him so well during his long stint at 155 pounds?

No other matchups have been formally announced for the UFC 156 card yet, though Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been reported, while Josh Koscheck and Nick Diaz are apparently jockeying for a spot on the lineup as well.


(Hey Frankie, you should invite Sanchez and Tebow to the fight. I’m pretty sure they’ll be free that weekend.)

The UFC’s traditional Super Bowl weekend blowout will feature at least one title belt up for grabs, as the featherweight championship match between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar has been officially confirmed for UFC 156. Though the event was previously rumored to take place in Brazil in January, UFC 156 will actually be held February 2nd in Las Vegas, at a venue to be named later.

When the two fighters meet, it’ll be Aldo’s first Octagon appearance in more than year, as a pair of injuries have kept him out of the cage since his last title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 142. It’ll also be Edgar’s first-ever UFC fight at featherweight. Will the former lightweight champ look stronger against an opponent closer to his own size, or will he be sacrificing the speed advantage that served him so well during his long stint at 155 pounds?

No other matchups have been formally announced for the UFC 156 card yet, though Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira has been reported, while Josh Koscheck and Nick Diaz are apparently jockeying for a spot on the lineup as well.

UFC 156: Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar to Fight in February at Las Vegas

The UFC has delivered a legitimate super fight for Super Bowl weekend. Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will attempt to defend his title for the fourth time under the UFC banner, and he’s guaranteed his toughest test to date against Frankie Edgar…

The UFC has delivered a legitimate super fight for Super Bowl weekend.

Featherweight champion Jose Aldo will attempt to defend his title for the fourth time under the UFC banner, and he’s guaranteed his toughest test to date against Frankie Edgar.

Edgar is a former UFC lightweight champion in his own right, and is making the cut down to 145 for the first time in his career to attempt to strap a UFC belt back around his waist.

UFC 156: Aldo vs. Edgar will take place in Las Vegas on February 2nd, as announced Tuesday on UFC Tonight. 

This fight was originally set to take place at UFC 153 earlier this month, but an injury to Aldo forced the bout to be postponed.

Aldo has dominated each of the fighters the Zuffa brass have put in front of him, and the reigning featherweight champion has gone undefeated during his time in the WEC and UFC with an 11-0 record. 

After dispatching Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian in back to back grueling decision wins, Aldo earned the highlight moment of his career in his last bout when he knocked out Chad Mendes with a huge knee as time expired in the first round.

The ensuing celebration that saw Aldo race out of the cage and into his hometown crowd was one of the most memorable moments of the year.

Edgar’s featherweight debut comes on the heels of back to back decision losses to Benson Henderson in February and August of this year. The first loss to Henderson ended Edgar’s lightweight title reign—which featured two straight wins over future Hall of Famer BJ Penn and a couple of barn burners with Gray Maynard (the first of which earned Fight of the Years honors from the World MMA Awards). 

UFC 156 will serve as the first numbered PPV event of 2013, and it looks like the UFC is kicking things off in a big way.

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Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar Rumored for UFC 156 Featherweight Title Fight in Brazil


(Edgar might not have a gold belt anymore, but the black eye and bonus-check will always be part of his ensemble.)

FightLine passes along a report from No Mundo Das Lutas claiming that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is set to face former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 in Brazil (January 19th, city/venue TBA). Edgar had planned to drop down in weight to replace the injured Erik Koch against Aldo in a featherweight title fight in Rio at UFC 153 but then Aldo himself had to pull out due to injury.

Right now this is still a rumor, but it’s clearly a fight that both Aldo and Edgar still want, and we figured it was only a matter of time before their title bout was rescheduled. Aldo has not lost in nearly seven years and has a fourteen fight win streak. Most recently he knocked Chad Mendes out with one second left in the first round of their UFC 142 main event.

Edgar has lost two fights in a row, both close decisions to current lightweight champ Benson Henderson. It has been reported that Edgar walked around at around 160 pounds for years as he fought at 155 pounds, whereas opponents like Henderson and Gray Maynard were upwards of 180 pounds. Given his frame and walking weight, it isn’t inconceivable that Edgar could fight at 135 pounds but Dana White and fans have clamored for years for Edgar to at least give featherweight a shot.

Edgar was loathe to drop down in weight but the opportunity to fight for another world title despite being on a two-fight losing streak was too good for him to pass up. Is this the fight you want to see, taters? And if it happens, who do you have in it?

“Scarface” and “Answer” highlight videos await you after the jump.


(Edgar might not have a gold belt anymore, but the black eye and bonus-check will always be part of his ensemble.)

FightLine passes along a report from No Mundo Das Lutas claiming that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo is set to face former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 in Brazil (January 19th, city/venue TBA). Edgar had planned to drop down in weight to replace the injured Erik Koch against Aldo in a featherweight title fight in Rio at UFC 153 but then Aldo himself had to pull out due to injury.

Right now this is still a rumor, but it’s clearly a fight that both Aldo and Edgar still want, and we figured it was only a matter of time before their title bout was rescheduled. Aldo has not lost in nearly seven years and has a fourteen fight win streak. Most recently he knocked Chad Mendes out with one second left in the first round of their UFC 142 main event.

Edgar has lost two fights in a row, both close decisions to current lightweight champ Benson Henderson. It has been reported that Edgar walked around at around 160 pounds for years as he fought at 155 pounds, whereas opponents like Henderson and Gray Maynard were upwards of 180 pounds. Given his frame and walking weight, it isn’t inconceivable that Edgar could fight at 135 pounds but Dana White and fans have clamored for years for Edgar to at least give featherweight a shot.

Edgar was loathe to drop down in weight but the opportunity to fight for another world title despite being on a two-fight losing streak was too good for him to pass up. Is this the fight you want to see, taters? And if it happens, who do you have in it?

“Scarface” and “Answer” highlight videos await you after the jump.

Jose Aldo Highlight:

Frankie Edgar Highlight:

Elias Cepeda

Fights We Need to See at UFC 156 in Toronto

Even though the UFC’s third trip to Toronto, UFC 156, doesn’t go down until Sept. 22, the fight possibilities are swirling in my head.Granted, many things will happen between now and then to make it way too early to set any of this in stone.&…

Even though the UFC’s third trip to Toronto, UFC 156, doesn’t go down until Sept. 22, the fight possibilities are swirling in my head.

Granted, many things will happen between now and then to make it way too early to set any of this in stone. 

I am always annoyed by lists that reach for orbits unseen in listing possible fights and dreaming up cards, like “duh Jones vs Anderson Silva for both titles in Toronto, Dana!” I prefer to keep my lists realistic.

Here are some intriguing and possible matchups for the UFC’s next invasion of Ontario in September and I’ll try to convince you why.

I am not saying all of these fights should make the card—it is only an idea of possible fights for the card.

Here are some fights that need to happen at UFC 156 in Toronto

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