Quote: I Don’t Respect Jon Jones, He’s Not Very Genuine
UFC light-heavyweight and middleweight contender Dan Henderson has been there and see it in the world of MMA. Having fought for 18 years in the world’s largest organizations, and winning titles in Pride FC, the UFC (tournament), and Strikeforce, you won’t find many other more decorated fighters that are still active.
Since re-joining the UFC back in 2007 following the death of Pride, the road has been tough for Hendo; more recently, the ageing legend has gone 1-4 in his recent outings. Prior to his recent run of bad results, Dan Henderson was meant to face current UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones at UFC 151. The bout never came to be when injury forced Hendo off the card, and it was cancelled all together when “Bones” refused to fight Chael Sonnen.
Leading up to the champion’s recent win at UFC 182, he had used Henderson’s name in mocking Daniel Cormier. Discrediting “DC” for beating up a’60 year old Hendo’, a comment that the former Pride FC welterweight and middleweight champion did not find funny. Check out what Henderson said to The MMA Hour last night:
“He is who he is and it doesn’t reflect good upon him when he does things like that. doesn’t bother me at all. I know who I am and I know how I portray myself. I don’t have a whole lot of respect for him as a person. “He’s just not very genuine. He portrays himself differently than what he really is and I think that’s where people have the problem with him. If he didn’t act like someone he wasn’t, I don’t think anybody would have a problem.”
Jones’ antics and apparent ‘bad attitude’ have become part of his image as heel, and probably won’t be going away any time soon. Regardless of how arrogant the champ comes across, it’s hard to deny how talented he is. Henderson continued:
“I’ve always respected him as a fighter,” Henderson said. “I think that he’s got great skills in every part of the game. I thought DC’s wrestling would make a difference in that fight and he didn’t really utilize it the way he’s capable of. Jones did a great job defending it and putting DC on his back a couple of times.”
On to the subject of Henderson’s next fight, and the 44-year old will look to take n fellow Strikeforce veteran Gegard Mousasi in a middleweight bout. The bout goes down at UFC on FOX 14 on January 24th, and Hendo says he knows what needs to be done:
“I never put that kind of pressure on myself,” Henderson said. “Knowing that no matter what, win or lose, I’m not going anywhere. I don’t think that. I don’t ever think I’m gonna lose either. I’m perfectly capable of winning this fight and know what I need to do to get it done. Training is right on track to make that possible.”
Will “The Dreamcatcher” put to rest any minor possibility that is left of a title run for Dan Henderson, or will the American wrestling legend pull anther one out the bag?
