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    Cagewriter

    Machida, Jackson or wait: What to do with Dan Henderson?

    By Maggie Hendricks | Cagewriter – Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:27 AM EST

    (Getty Images)Dan Henderson appears to be a man with a world of options. Comfortable at both light heavyweight and middleweight, his winning streak and credentials in both Strikeforce and the UFC qualify him for a title shot. After his epic bout with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Henderson said he wanted to try for a title at whatever weight is first.

    [Related: Y! Sports pound-for-pound rankings]

    Unfortunately for Henderson, the light heavyweight belt will be contested in April, and the middleweight belt is up for grabs in June. He is involved in neither fight. The UFC's solution was to offer him Lyoto Machida, a former champ who most recently lost to Jon Jones in December.

    "He doesn't want to fight Machida," [UFC president Dana] White said following Wednesday's UFC on FUEL event. "He doesn't want to wait. He's going to have to wait. Who does he want to fight? I don't know what to do with Dan. Dan's either going to have to wait for Jones or wait for Silva. Or fight somebody else."

    Except, Henderson says he was never offered that bout. Via his Twitter account, Henderson disputed White's words.

    Was never offered Machida. And even though he has lost 3 out of his last 4, I'm sure it would be entertaining.

    Who to believe between the two? Though, as Henderson says, a bout with Machida could be interesting for fans to watch, it doesn't make any sense for Henderson. Dating back to when he held the belt, Machida has losses to Rua, Jones, and Quinton Jackson. His one win was over a retiring Randy Couture.

    [Video: Watch Jon Jones get attacked by a police dog]

    A win over Machida would get Henderson no closer to the title shot. MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta suggests that Henderson takes on the winner of next week's bout between Ryan Bader and Jackson. Though a win over Jackson would avenge a loss on Henderson's record, it could also jeopardize a chance to win a belt off Silva or Jones.

    As much as it pains Henderson to sit idle, his best bet is to wait. What would you do in Henderson's shoes? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook.

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    Watch Full Count!
     
    • LDK
      LDK  •  New York, New York  •  3 months ago
      He could always fight Bisping again and knock him out for fun. Just a way to keep busy. ;-D
      • Lord Laput
        Lord Laput 3 months ago
        lol..!! that was funny... Knock Bisping again just for fun... lol !!
      • GUNZ
        GUNZ 3 months ago
        plus who doesnt want to watch bisping get killed again?!
    • 415
      415  •  San Francisco, California  •  3 months ago
      I would believe Hendo over Dana any day
    • Bloody Wrath
      Bloody Wrath  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      Rampage should have been fighting Hendo in Japan instead of Bader.
      • Chill
        Chill 3 months ago
        #$%$ straight, that would have made 144 a monster card.
      • Ricky
        Ricky 3 months ago
        great call....should also thrown some funny money at cro cop and fedor to face off one last time for a super old school pride matchup for the over the hill match up of the century!!!!!!
    • William
      William  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
      Hendo is a Beast and I'm a career fan of his, with that being said, I'm with Psyko...SUPER FIGHT IN JAPAN WITH RAMPAGE!!!! Dear Dana...you want fights that make money do this, it is perfect for both Hendo and Rampage. More fans in Japan would rather see this match than Edgar VS Bendo or anyone for that matter. Don't let Dan sit, waiting he's not gettin any younger but despite that He's on a hell of a roll.
    • Drew
      Drew  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 months ago
      Let him have a title shot, Dana.
    • Hendo
      Hendo  •  Minneapolis, Minnesota  •  3 months ago
      Dana White hates on Hendo. Hendo is one of the best fighters in MMA. After Dan knocked out Dana's ''Golden Boy'' Michael Bisping, Dana treats Dan like he's scrub fighter and he's one of the best in the game. If anyone has a shot at defeating Jones or Silva it's Dan Henderson.
      • Michael
        Michael 3 months ago
        I disagree. I Like Dan but he lost to Silva already..and other than fighting The Dragon, he has no other options other than to wait it out. Bisping is hardly a "Golden Boy"..he got robbed and jobbed in his fight against Sonnen. Where Bispings value is, is his fan base across the pond-it's enormous...but Golden Boy? far from it.
    • OGNutcracker
      OGNutcracker  •  3 months ago
      I often bash the ex wrestlers who try to box in MMA, Hendo is one of the few exceptions who has actually developed a decent boxing game. Hendo vs. Jones. Make it happen after he beats Evans..
      • Daniel W
        Daniel W 3 months ago
        Props brother,I knowed you'd come around.
      • Trevin Brooks
        Trevin Brooks 3 months ago
        too bad henderson has never had great stand up, he's got bombs on his hands, and the TDD to keep the fight standing.
      • Ironmonkey
        Ironmonkey 3 months ago
        Have to agree with Brooks. Hendo has power and a great chin, but his technical boxing is not great. It is certainly decent, and above the level of most wrestlers not named Edgar, but I think in terms of context (205 pound weight class), Rashad is actually a better boxer than Hendo.
    • Louis
      Louis  •  Louisville, Kentucky  •  3 months ago
      they should have let Hendo put the smackdown on Rashad and his arrogant #$%$ then let him and Bones go at it Bones will beat Rashad like he owes Jones Money at least Hendo would make it entertaining because Hendo finds a way to get it done
      • Jeff
        Jeff 3 months ago
        Hendo has no shot at beating Jones. He barely beat Rua, and IMO Rua should have got the decision. Jones worked Rua over like a #$%$
      • mahmoud
        mahmoud 3 months ago
        Ouch you guys are brutal.
      • Quit Being Stupid
        Quit Being Stupid 3 months ago
        Bones is the same size as JDS (the HW champ) with much more size reach. How about he man up and fight guys he doesn't dwarf in size.
    • seventh circle
      seventh circle  •  3 months ago
      The fight I really want to see is Hendo vs. Jones. So I'd like him to wait out unless Rashad gets injured. The only other fight that really makes sense would be the winner of Bader/Rampage, but a Machida fight would be fun to watch as well, or maybe a rematch with Franklin, that was a close fight.
    • Beckham
      Beckham  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 months ago
      hendo should have gotten a title shot before rashad. is win against shogun was way more impressive than rashad's win over davis
    • Paul
      Paul  •  Oskaloosa, Iowa  •  3 months ago
      good things come to those who wait
    • John A
      John A  •  Kankakee, Illinois  •  3 months ago
      I say Hendo should call out Sonnen to see who truly is the number one contender for Silva's title. Henderson was on a winning streak in the middleweight division before he went to strikeforce and he should have gotten his chance then before he left! Hendo vs Sonnen would be a huge fight and in my opinion that fight makes the most sense.
    • theriddick
      theriddick  •  Monroe, Louisiana  •  3 months ago
      PAY HIM!!! Dan really wants to win a title, but the whole reason he left the UFC in the first place was for money. Hendo should be getting big money whoever he fights. He's earned it. I think a fight against Machida could be a test for him. It could be entertaining and he should take the fight. In the mean time, he should get himself in top condition in case there is an injury to any participant of the 185 or 205 title fights. With that said, I don't think Hendo can beat Silva at 185, he couldn't even beat Jake Shields (who is no joke), but he's just stronger at 205. Hendo might have 1-3 fights left in him...... DANA, GIVE THE MAN HIS DUE. FORK OUT THE CASH. Heck..... Rematch him with RUA. I'll pay to see that fight again.
    • MJ
      MJ  •  3 months ago
      I think Machida is a real bad matchup for Hendo. Henderson needs to get in close to guys to do damage. but Machida is always moving and doesnt like to get in brawls. Shogun was quick enough to chase down machida, but i dont think Hendo is
    • jason r
      jason r  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 months ago
      it doesn't matter which one of the fighter he will face he will lose to both champions
    • Jo
      Jo  •  Miami, Florida  •  3 months ago
      What would Hendo do?
    • Brian
      Brian  •  3 months ago
      Before he left he made your top people in two divisions look like chumps....after he has returned he has done the same.....keep helping those champs duck him Dana
    • Julian M
      Julian M  •  Hanover, Maryland  •  3 months ago
      Yeah I hate to see great fighters sit...and there really is no right answer..I mean even if Jones and Silva win their fights they could walk out injured and on the shelf for most of the remainder of the year..it's fighting and things happen...I think Hendo will stay competitive and take the next best fight on the table for him...While a fight with Machida would be interesting...if he loses then he loses his shot and then talk about Machida being right back in the mix starts and that's garbage...I have nothing against Machida but I believe people are less confused by his style now and while he will always be a bad matchup for his style and speed he doesn't appear to be able to take a punch if you can catch him...just saying...much respect to all fighters..even the ones I really don't like...go get whoever they throw in front of you Hendo...
    • rudy
      rudy  •  Costa Mesa, California  •  3 months ago
      Im no hendo fan, but I think he has actually gotten better
    • Evan
      Evan  •  Kansas City, Missouri  •  3 months ago
      wait hendo, after Rashad(if Rashad loses) there isn't anyone else in line to face jones... since he would have beaten all four of the top contenders in that division. OR, Why not have a catch weight fight, like was done with Fedor. That way if Hendo loses he still has a chance to get the title fight with Jones. Not sure who that would be, but don't let Dana #$%$ out of a another title shot.
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