Henderson proposes fight against Bisping and retirement afterwards

Hendo (photo) is the oldest UFC athlete today. Photo: Alexandre Schneider/UFC

At 45 years old and with one of the most successful careers in MMA, the veteran Dan Henderson is currently without fights on his UFC contract and has been living amidst speculation about his retirement. Meanwhile, Henderson has also been campaigning to get a rematch against Michael Bisping, this time for the middleweight belt, and guaranteed: if he wins the fight, he will retire soon after, regardless of the result.

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"Fight against Michael Bisping It's a fight I would definitely do. And it would be my last fight, no matter the result. Of course I'm confident she would win, but win or lose, I would retire after her. If I have the chance to face Michael Bisping, the fight can happen anywhere. Obviously, fighting closer to home would be better – even the UFC’s debut at Madison Square Garden, in New York, would be great,” said Hendo, in an interview with the “MMA Discussion” podcast.

Furthermore, the veteran also said that a good financial proposal could make him swing. “I don't know how much longer I want to fight, it really depends on how much money they would offer me. I would be interested in signing maybe for just one more fight. As I'm very close to retiring, I asked my fans who they would like me to face. The answer from 99% of them was: 'Michael Bisping'. I hope this happens, because it is the fans' will. Some responded “Anderson Silva”, and a few others responded “Fedor Emelianenko”, but I think a rematch with Bisping makes the most sense. Him becoming champion motivated me to want to face him again. I had no reason to fight him before, because I wouldn't have been able to knock him out in a more exciting way than I did at UFC 100. But him owning the belt gave the justification not only for me, but for him, who can try avenge that defeat”, he concluded.

Dan Henderson has a professional record of 32 wins and 14 losses. In his last fight, Hendo knocked out the Cuban Hector Lombard in an exceptional way, with a well-aimed elbow to the temple. If he reaches a title shot, Henderson will have fought for the title in all major organizations, having become PRIDE and Strikeforce champion just before the events were discontinued.