Henderson vs. Machida In The Works

[No More Sorrow]

Sep 14, 2012 - A light heavyweight battle between Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida is in the current UFC plans based on a comment made on Thursday by Dana White at a UFC luncheon.

In discussion of Machida turning down the originally announced shot at champion Jon Jones at UFC 152 on Sept. 22 in Toronto, White mentioned that he felt Machida made the wrong decision. He said that instead of getting the title shot, now Machida (18-3) will be matched up with Henderson (29-8), and would have to win that fight to be back in line for a title shot. Another UFC source confirmed that was the direction the promotion was aiming.


"[Machida] should have taken the fight. We've seen it, history always repeats itself. Look how long it took Rashad (Evans) to fight for the title again. So you wanted to fight Jon Jones, you climbed up to the title fight and you don't take it. Now you're fighting (expletive) Dan Henderson. Now you might not even get to the (expletive) title again. You lose to Dan Henderson you're not anywhere near Jon Jones," White said.


He added, "You jump on opportunities when they're available. You get a shot at the title, the biggest money fight you can be in, the highest profile fight you can be in. And if you win that (expletive) fight, the whole world changes overnight."


White didn't talk about a planned date for the fight. Machida is currently healthy coming off his impressive second-round knockout win over Ryan Bader on Aug. 4 on FOX from Los Angeles. Henderson, who was scheduled to face Jones in the later canceled UFC 151 show on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, suffered a partially torn MCL in early August. He tried to rest the knee for two weeks, but when going back to training on Aug. 18, realized the knee hadn't healed. After being examined by UFC doctors, Henderson pulled out of the fight on Aug. 22. The show was canceled the next day when Jones turned down replacement fighter Chael Sonnen.


Henderson, who didn't need surgery for the injury, has since said he would expect to be ready to fight in December. White at the time was upset with both Henderson and Machida. He was mad at Henderson for keeping the knee injury secret for two weeks, which is against protocol as fighters are supposed to inform UFC of all injuries immediately, and had he not done so, White felt they may have been able to save the show.


"For Dan Henderson, it's the last 30 seconds of the last round on the last day of sparring and (Rameau Thierry) Sokoudjou goes to (expletive) throw him like a Judo throw and pops his knee out. It was almost over. What are you getting out of the last 30 seconds and he goes to throwing him in some crazy judo throw and pops Dan's knee out. It just one of those things," White said.


White then announced Jones vs. Machida as the new main event for UFC 152 before he had signed Machida, feeling since Machida in the past had been so adamant in pressuring him to get another shot, he'd take it. White had announced Machida as the No. 1 contender for a shot at the Jones vs. Henderson match on Aug. 4 due to the Bader win.


But hours after White's announcement of Jones vs. Machida for Toronto, Machida, who had not been in training, said that he would not be ready for Jones in the time frame and asked that the fight take place on a later show. Since UFC had already announced a title match for Toronto, Vitor Belfort ended up taking the match.

With the way everything has gone down the last month, this fight makes perfect sense to happen. Obviously the winner getting a shot at Jones (or Belfort) sometime in 2013.

 

[The Cork]

Interesting, although everything points towards a Machida win.

Good to see Dana basically saying "fuck you, you're not sitting on a title shot" for once.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

If only he'd had the same attitude for Cowardly Condit.

 

[No More Sorrow]

If only he'd had the same attitude for Cowardly Condit.

I wouldn't say Condit is necessarily a coward, i just hate him for clogging up the division.

Another thing is, he's holding out for a fight that's going to be more of a challenge then if he were to have fought Hendricks/Kampmann.

Was reading an article today with Machida, and he's hoping this fight with Hendo is added to UFC 155.

 

[Dod Draper]

Solid fight. Only downside is that if Machida wins (which I expect him to), then we don't get Henderson vs Jones, which would have also been a good fight.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

I wouldn't say Condit is necessarily a coward, i just hate him for clogging up the division.

Another thing is, he's holding out for a fight that's going to be more of a challenge then if he were to have fought Hendricks/Kampmann.

Was reading an article today with Machida, and he's hoping this fight with Hendo is added to UFC 155.

I dont really beleive he's a coward, just a business man, and being a business man in a combat sport doesn't work.

 

[No More Sorrow]

This is true. And i agree with that. Like i understand it and what not, but it's annoying as hell. I'm not a Condit fan, but it would've been nice to see him actually defend the WW title seeing as that's the whole point of the interim belt.

I don't hate Condit for sitting out all this time honestly i just dislike him as a fighter in general, just to clear that up.

Anyways, this thread is off-topic. Henderson-Machida is a top fight to make at 205 with the winner likely getting a shot at whoever is LHW champ. I'd like to see Hendo get his shot back, but honestly i think Machida takes the fight.

 

[Slim]

I honestly don't see how Machida could finish off Hendo. I mean yeah he'd have a speed advantage but Hendo can take abuse better than most and still deliver. Plus Machida seems to have probs with wrestlers. Hendo has dynamite in his right hand still and we know that Machida is prone to being finished on the feet as with his fight with Shogun.

I'd say Hendo could get the win and still get the fight.

 

[The Cork]

Was reading an article today with Machida, and he's hoping this fight with Hendo is added to UFC 155.

Jesus christ, that PPV is stacked as it is, putting this on the bill would be cray.

Could end up with Belcher/Okami on the prelims :Sonnen:

 

[Deezy]

Hendo all the way imo.

Every division needs a tournament imo.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

I honestly don't see how Machida could finish off Hendo. I mean yeah he'd have a speed advantage but Hendo can take abuse better than most and still deliver. Plus Machida seems to have probs with wrestlers. Hendo has dynamite in his right hand still and we know that Machida is prone to being finished on the feet as with his fight with Shogun.

I'd say Hendo could get the win and still get the fight.

Hasn't Machida wrecked every wrestler (minus JBJ) he's ever faced? Rashad, Bader, Couture. I remember after the Bader fight Rashad was talking about how all of Machida's movements make it difficult for a wrestler to utilize their gameplan.

 

[Ryan]

I real hope Hendo beats Machida cause honestly, I don't want to see Jones beat Machida twice which is inevitably what will happen. I think Hendo has a decent chance at winning if he can come back strong. Machida has beaten wrestlers in the past, but Hendo can throw some deadly punches plus Machida's last two wins have been KOs and Hendo has an iron chin.

 

[Slim]

Hasn't Machida wrecked every wrestler (minus JBJ) he's ever faced? Rashad, Bader, Couture. I remember after the Bader fight Rashad was talking about how all of Machida's movements make it difficult for a wrestler to utilize their gameplan.

Hendo has more than wrestling though. Plus... Rampage somehow did defeat Machida so Hendo definitely has a chance.

Bader just rushed in wrecklessly and paid for it. Shad was too arrogant. Couture... well how do you counter the crane kick?

But Hendo got stand up though. So I wouldn't dare count Hendo out.

 

[The Cork]

If Hendo gets that clinch up against the cage it's game over, otherwise Machida will cruise here.

 

[Deezy]

Machida will be more tentative then the Rampage fight and Hendo takes this.

He won't be stupid like Bader.

I would rather see Hendo face Shad.