Dan Henderson Wants Michael Bisping Rematch As Final Fight
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.
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…
Speaking with MMA Outsiders, MMA legend Dan Henderson makes his intentions clear; rematch Michael Bisping then call it a day.
“(Fighting Bisping) is definitely something that I would do. But it would definitely be my last fight for sure. Win or lose. I’m obviously confident that I would win, but win or lose I would make that my retirement fight.”
“He’s always been the same way. He’s of course well-rounded, he’s always in shape. He always tries to outpoint people. I think in this last fight with Luke Rockhold, he landed punches right where he needed to. He hasn’t shown big power in the past, so maybe he’s gotten a little bit better with his power but it just seemed like he landed some punches that were right on the button and was able to knock Luke out. I don’t think he’s changed all that much. Obviously he has improved in little ways.
I think Luke kind of went in there a little cocky and just paid the price. Bisping just stayed the course, fighting his fight, and didn’t worry about Luke so much and just worried about what he had to do an he did it and it worked out well for him. I don’t think there was anything other than that that went on.”
“I don’t know how much (longer) I want to fight, it all depends on who they offer me. I’d be interested in maybe one more fight. I’m pretty close to being done though and I asked my fans the other day who do you want me to fight in my last fight and like 99% of them said Bisping. So that’s what I hope happens because that’s who the fans want to see me fight. There was a couple that said Anderson Silva, a couple that said Fedor. But I think the one right now that makes the most sense. Him winning that title has given me the (motivation) to want to fight him again. I didn’t have any reason (before), I wouldn’t be able to knock him out any better or more exciting than I did the first time. Now with him having the belt, that gives me a reason, and gives him reason as far as being able to get some redemption.”
