What is next for Dan Henderson?
- Thread starter Nastycrow
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Apparently Hendo-Shogun II was being targeted for the July 21st card, but Hendo declined the fight.
Dan Henderson has clarified exactly where he stands with regards to his next fight, amidst endless rumours that he has turned down multiple opponents.
Henderson has rejected one fight, against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, but it has also been claimed that he flat-lined offers to take on Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Shogun Rua - the latter of which would have been a rematch.
UFC president Dana White recently said: "Yeah, I was trying to put together Dan Henderson vs Shogun II and Henderson doesn't want to do the fight. Henderson wants to wait for the winner of either Jonny Jones or Anderson Silva. He wants Anderson Silva, if Silva wins [against Chael Sonnen], he will make that cut. Otherwise, he wants to fight the winner of Rashad [Evans] and Jones."
The truth is Henderson believes he should have been handed the next crack at light-heavyweight champion Jones following his Fight of the Year win over Shogun. The fact that the UFC gave the fight to Evans simply means he has to wait for the winner of that fight.
"I guess Dana promised Rashad he was next for the title shot," Henderson told ESPN. "But timing wise, it would have been better for me to fight Jones, and then have Rashad fight the winner.
"That would have been better than having Rashad come right back after fighting Phil Davis, and it's probably going to be pushed again if Rashad wins because he's going to have to fight me pretty quickly as well.
"Dana hasn't publicly stated that I'm next but that's the word. We'll see."
Henderson's name has endlessly been bandied about in connection with other rivals, as well as a proposed move to middleweight. There is no complication around the issue as far as Hendo is concerned though, who insists he is in a queue, and only one man is ahead of him.
"The only fight that makes sense is a title shot, I was hoping to jump the line in front of Rashad, but I've got to wait until Rashad fights Jon Jones and then I'll fight the winner."
Henderson is one of many UFC stars to be attending The MMA Show Live on May 12/13 at the NEC in Birmingham, a ground-breaking event featuring more top level MMA fighters than any other show of its kind in Europe. The interactive expo has sold over 14,000 tickets already, with 30,000 fans expected across the whole weekend.
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If he wants,why not give him Bonner as a tune up fight as Stefan hasn't got any one to face,and the fact that he called him out would give Dan another reason to stay active and sharp for the winner of bones v sugar,I don't blame him for waiting for that fight or the winner of Silva v Sonnen cos of his age but if Silva did win I would prefer him to face him at 205 rather than 185 were he looks vulnerable due to the tough weight cut.
Jones/Rashad would probably be ready to fight end of August 4 months if not earlier so why would he take a fight mid july when the other 2 barring injury would be getting close to being able to fight again. if he was offered it in say April/May I could see it but not July or later when a month after he could be fighting for the belt instead.
DeMo said:
Jones/Rashad would probably be ready to fight end of August 4 months if not earlier so why would he take a fight mid july when the other 2 barring injury would be getting close to being able to fight again. if he was offered it in say April/May I could see it but not July or later when a month after he could be fighting for the belt instead.
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Yeah good point,but it might seem a bit silly of Dan to refuse a tune up fight cos if and when he faces the winner it might be close to a year out of action and bones Rashad and Silva are not fights that you should come in rusty,considerering his age,however it could be a good thing for him and not halter his cardio at all,I still wish he took a fight in the meantime thou,but see your reasoning.
MMAFTM13 said:
DeMo said:
Jones/Rashad would probably be ready to fight end of August 4 months if not earlier so why would he take a fight mid july when the other 2 barring injury would be getting close to being able to fight again. if he was offered it in say April/May I could see it but not July or later when a month after he could be fighting for the belt instead.
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Yeah good point,but it might seem a bit silly of Dan to refuse a tune up fight cos if and when he faces the winner it might be close to a year out of action and bones Rashad and Silva are not fights that you should come in rusty,considerering his age,however it could be a good thing for him and not halter his cardio at all,I still wish he took a fight in the meantime thou,but see your reasoning.
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Said this before but he is waiting for Titleshot only... He might take a fight, but thats the word from D.W. in talking to Hendo.
There's no point at all Dan wanting to fight at 185,he's not the biggest middleweight but he just seems to struggle at the weight ie AS and Shields, where it impaired his cardio(badly),if he did however wanted to fight Ando then it should be fairly at either 205 or catchweight of 190,if not wait for the winner of Bones v Sugar and see how it goes or the UFC get Hendo v Fedor,in a deserved rematch,which will get a lot of attention,business wise for the UFC I think.
ChrisminaL said:
I'd rather see Hendo v Rashad than Hendo v JBJ. But I think JBJ is keeping his belt sooo.
Whatever happens, I hope he'll stay around until a rematch with Shogun before he (they) retire(s).
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Yeah,I would love to see Hendo v Shogun again as I thought it was a draw,and deserves a rematch,I thought that Dan won the first 3 rounds 10-9 and Rua won the fourth 10-9 And the fifth 10-8,and before people start saying that Hendo should of had a 10-8 round in the first due to a big knockdown,I don't believe he did enough for a 10-8 round as Rua came back at him and if that was the case then the last round should of been a 10-7 or a 10-6 cos that round was pure domination to Shogun.
MMAFTM13 said:
ChrisminaL said:
I'd rather see Hendo v Rashad than Hendo v JBJ. But I think JBJ is keeping his belt sooo.
Whatever happens, I hope he'll stay around until a rematch with Shogun before he (they) retire(s).
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Yeah,I would love to see Hendo v Shogun again as I thought it was a draw,and deserves a rematch,I thought that Dan won the first 3 rounds 10-9 and Rua won the fourth 10-9 And the fifth 10-8,and before people start saying that Hendo should of had a 10-8 round in the first due to a big knockdown,I don't believe he did enough for a 10-8 round as Rua came back at him and if that was the case then the last round should of been a 10-7 or a 10-6 cos that round was pure domination to Shogun.
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I agree, I had it a draw too. Anyway, Shogun deserves a rematch !
It's setteled he fighting the winner of Shad VS JBJ although he should not have to wait as looking at 2011 we see Fejia ( SF title), Fedor and Shogun VS Tito! :?
To others, really it's so stupid talking about the Shields fight as he had back and neck issues going in, and was forced into a crazy weight cut due to a medication (his only loss in the last eight fights).
Further RD. 3 VS Shogun was a 10-8 EASY in my book too. Whatever Shogun did just prevented a 10-7 as the fight was almost stopped 3X. He beat the living crap out of Shogun untill he gasssed PERIOD.
Whichever way you look at it,Hendo looks so much better at 205,and if he was battling injuries or not,bottom line is he gassed versus Shields when he had him out on his feet,and he gassed in the second round against AS when he was doin ok(both fights he had both the first rounds),and since then he has looked so much better despite his age.
Hendo had Rua in all kinds of trouble in that first round and if Shogun hadn't come back in that round and scored some points himself,I would have no hesitation in rewarding him with a 10-8 round, I'm sorry but getting taken down in seconds,fully mounted,for more or less the whole round,with no offence at all,with constant ground and pound for the entire round(even though Rua was tired he just didn't have the energy for a mounted arm bar) Does not mean that Hendo had a equal round in the first round.No Way!