Michael Bisping should not be defending his middleweight title against Dan Henderson.
Bisping knows it. Henderson knows it. Almost everyone out there knows it.
But the idea of avenging a loss that he calls one of the worst of his career is someth…
Michael Bisping should not be defending his middleweight title against Dan Henderson.
Bisping knows it. Henderson knows it. Almost everyone out there knows it.
But the idea of avenging a loss that he calls one of the worst of his career is something “The Count” cannot ignore.
So, Bisping and Henderson will square off for a second time at UFC 204 later this year in England. Back at UFC 100, Henderson knocked the Brit out following a long feud between the two on The Ultimate Fighter.
How is Bisping preparing for this meeting? With nothing but revenge on his mind:
Revenge is a dish best served stone god damn cold, like 7 years in the fridge cold.
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
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.
This probably won’t earn Michael Bisping any new fans. The polarizing UFC middleweight champion, who has the MMA world at his proverbial fingertips following his shocking knockout win over Luke Rockhold in the main event of June 4’s UFC 199, has been linked to a rematch with longtime rival Dan Henderson in the main event of
This probably won’t earn Michael Bisping any new fans.
The polarizing UFC middleweight champion, who has the MMA world at his proverbial fingertips following his shocking knockout win over Luke Rockhold in the main event of June 4’s UFC 199, has been linked to a rematch with longtime rival Dan Henderson in the main event of October’s rumored UFC 204 from Manchester, England.
It’s a rematch he’s understandably wanted since ‘Hendo’ infamously starched him with arguably the most iconic knockout in UFC history at 2009’s UFC 100, but apparently he turned down an absolute massive fight to get it.
All-time great former UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is reportedly closer than ever to returning to the octagon, ‘GSP’s’ famed boxing coach Freddie Roach recently met up with Fight Hub TV to reveal that ‘The Count’ actually turned down the high-profile bout:
St. Pierre recently unveiled his desire to face Bisping on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, citing only a need to hammer out his contract situation with the UFC, as he’s sponsored by athletic apparel giant Under Armor while the UFC obviously has a long-term deal with Reebok.
But Roach said the fight most likely won’t happen because Bisping said no (quotes transcribed by Bloody Elbow):
“Yeah, I do like that fight, but Bisping said no. I know that that fight’s not going to happen.”
Roach added that even though that fight may be off, St. Pierre will continue to negotiate with the UFC, although it may be with the new owners after talent group WME-IMG bought the UFC earlier this week for a record $4 billion:
“He’s negotiating with the — well, he was negotiating with the Fertitta brothers. But I heard a rumor the company just got sold and bought by Ari Emanuel or someone. Maybe more than one person is involved is what I heard, but I don’t know exactly who owns UFC right now. He’ll negotiate with somebody, I’m sure.”
As for St. Pierre’s readiness to truly come back to fighting, Roach said he’s looked fantastic in training. All he needs is an opponent, and no names have surfaced as of late:
“He looked really good in training. He did really well. But the thing is, there are no names out there yet. We haven’t picked anyone or we don’t have a favorite at this point.”
With Bisping seemingly angering his divisional rivals Chris Weidman, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, and Rockhold with his decision to face No. 13-ranked Henderson in order to settle a grudge, the decision to reportedly also turn down a blockbuster bout with St. Pierre is guaranteed to ruffle more feathers.
Did ‘The Count’ miss the boat on what could have been his biggest-ever payday, or will it still come to fruition?
UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping capitalized on the opportunity to take Chris Weidman’s place in the title fight with Luke Rockhold at UFC 199, doing so on just two weeks notice. Many believed Luke Rockhold would retain his belt, especially given the dominant win he held over ‘The Count’ in their first fight, but the
UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping capitalized on the opportunity to take Chris Weidman’s place in the title fight with Luke Rockhold at UFC 199, doing so on just two weeks notice. Many believed Luke Rockhold would retain his belt, especially given the dominant win he held over ‘The Count’ in their first fight, but the Englishman made good on his promises to finish ‘Rocky’ on June 4. A flurry of clean punches to the chin cleaned out Rockhold in the first round, and Bisping had finally captured a title after 10 years of hard work.
With the storming victory came a stream of challenges from a line of contenders. Jacare Souza, Dan Henderson, Rockhold, Chris Weidman and even Georges St-Pierre wanted a crack. ‘GSP’ claimed a return fight with Bisping was ‘close,’ Henderson and ‘The Count engaged in an all new war of words that has fans clamouring for a rematch of their classic UFC 100 meeting. ‘Hendo’ scored an iconic knockout over Bisping that night and it seems somewhat fitting to have Henderson retire after a rematch, although the rankings would argue otherwise.
But through all of this the former champ and number one contender Chris Weidman hasn’t really had his name thrown in the mix all that much. ‘The All American’ pulled out of the UFC 199 main event after a neck injury, later undergoing successful surgery to fix the issue. Now he’s clearly trying to drum up some hype for the most realist fight that’s been suggested since Bisping took over the division.
.@bisping or is it because maybe u have the belt and I’m the number 1 contender. You forget who’s title shot you took? #runningman
It’s certainly a strange spot for the 185-pound division to be in right now. The unfinished business with a soon to be retired Henderson could well overshadow the official rankings in this scenario, and leave matchmakers with a tall task regarding the rest of the middleweight contenders. Should ‘Hendo’ have to fight his way back up or just retire, or does his epic KO over Bisping hold enough weight to have the ageing legend skip the queue?
The former champion Chris Weidman could fight Luke Rockhold in the meantime, but what would Jacare do? Throw in St-Pierre, who’s never even fought at middleweight, and you have an even more entertaining but also troublesome mix.
The only man smiling here is Bisping, who apparently hasn’t changed a bit.
One of the most decorated MMA fighters of all time, former Pride FC two weight champion and UFC veteran Dan Henderson notched another massive win at UFC 199. Facing the much younger Hector Lombard on the June 4 pay-per-view in California, the 45-year old mixed martial arts legend scored a come-from-behind knockout that could’ve essentially
One of the most decorated MMA fighters of all time, former Pride FC two weight champion and UFC veteran Dan Henderson notched another massive win at UFC 199. Facing the much younger Hector Lombard on the June 4 pay-per-view in California, the 45-year old mixed martial arts legend scored a come-from-behind knockout that could’ve essentially wrapped up his amazing career. As it turned out though, ‘Hendo’s’ nemesis Michael Bisping fought at UFC 199 too, and ended up walking home with the belt that night.
‘The Count’ took on Luke Rockhold on just two weeks notice and starched his man in the first round. A flurry of clean shots landed to the jaw of ‘Rocky,’ sending the former champ to the ground with his eyeballs rolling as his English foe celebrated the win. The start of Bisping’s reign as UFC champion after 10 years in the UFC could ironically extend Henderson’s fighting career by one more fight.
As we heard earlier today, Michael Bisping trashed Dan Henderson and said he wants a rematch with the ‘old man.’ The two first met at UFC 100 where Henderson destroyed ‘The Count’s’ jaw before putting a stamping end to their rivalry with a now iconic flying forearm to the jaw. The stars never really aligned for a rematch between the two until now seven years later, where Bisping is the champion and ‘Hendo’ is counting down the days to the golf course time he deserves.
Dan Henderson, left, knocks out Michael Bisping during UFC 100 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 11, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Francis Specker
So what does Dan Henderson think of a rematch with Michael Bisping? It’s hard to think that the ageing legend could have much more than one fight left in him at this stage, but of course the feud with Bisping before UFC 100 and the subsequent highlight reel finish gives weight to the possibility of this fight happening.
Skip to page 2 for Henderson’s plans for his last fight…
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