Dan Henderson’s final fight will be for UFC middleweight belt
Dan Henderson’s lengthy tour of duty in mixed martial arts has earned him the medal of a title shot in what he says will be his final bout.
Now, the UFC middleweight from Temecula has the more powerful opportunity to land a final punch that wins him a belt.
The UFC formally announced Friday at MGM Grand that Henderson will fight fellow veteran and new middleweight champion Michael Bisping Oct. 8 at UFC 204 in Manchester, England.
“Win or lose, this is my fight. I’m very stuck on that,” Henderson said. “Obviously, I’d like to finish with the belt. That’d be ideal for me.”
Henderson, 46, has fought since UFC 17, later standing as a PRIDE Fighting Championships belt-holder before returning to the UFC, losing title shots against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at light-heavyweight and Anderson Silva at middleweight.
But Henderson showed to devastating effect why he’s a perennial threat. At UFC 100 in 2009, he viciously knocked out Bisping with a right hand that hammered Bisping’s jaw, following that with a controversial elbow toward the head as Bisping was sprawled on the canvas.
When Bisping seized the middleweight belt by knocking out Luke Rockhold at the Forum on June 4, thoughts – both his and those of UFC President Dana White – turned to Henderson.
Henderson won impressively against Cuban Hector Lombard on the same card, staving off retirement talk at least for one more fight.
“This was the perfect storm. You’re talking about the new champion from Manchester, England, against a fighter he’s wanted to avenge a loss against for a long time,” UFC spokesman Dave Sholler said. “Dan’s an icon in this sport. And any time there’s bad blood, it sells.”
Bisping vividly recalls his showing in UFC 100, but said he’s approaching the rematch as “business.”
“He got me good. I’ve got a chance for revenge. … I’ve got no ill will for Dan Henderson,” Bisping said. “Dan Henderson is not going to win this fight. He’s a one-trick pony. He’s got a right hand. He’s old, he’s slow. I’m too fast. I’m a better fight. God bless him, he’s had a good career.”
Follow Lance Pugmire on Twitter @latimespugmire
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