It looks like one of the most unlikely title fights in a long time may actually be coming together. Legit Brazilian MMA news site Combate reports that UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson have verbally agreed to fight sometime in October. This all follows a month of back and forth where both Bisping and Hendo have lobbied publicly and privately for the match.
At UFC 199 on June 4, Michael Bisping shocked the world by beating Luke Rockhold for the middleweight title. On that same night, Dan Henderson also pulled off his own upset by beating the powerful Hector Lombard in an epic back and forth battle. Bisping and Henderson have history together that goes back to UFC 100 in 2009, where Hendo finished the British fighter in one of the most spectacular knockouts of UFC history. It wasn’t long after their victories that both men let it be known that they wanted a rematch.
But Dan Henderson’s recent record compared to other middleweight fighters posed a problem. He’s gone 3-6 since 2013, but those losses are to the very best the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions have to offer – guys like Daniel Cormier, Vitor Belfort, and Gegard Mousasi. If it wasn’t for most of the other guys at 185 pounds nursing injuries, the UFC wouldn’t even be considering this fight.
Fortunately for Hendo, Jacare Souza is out with a knee injury and Chris Weidman is still having issues with his neck. So it seems like the UFC is giving their first British champion the chance for revenge, and the fans a fight that’s guaranteed to deliver fireworks. It may not be the most well deserved title shot ever handed out, but Dan Henderson is still undeniably of the best middleweights in the division. A rematch between him and Bisping with the middleweight title on the line sounds great to us.
