‘Jacare’ Souza, Chris Weidman, Luke Rockhold, Yoel Romero – take a breather.
It’s looking like none of the top contenders at 185 lbs, who are admittedly either injured or suspended at present, are going to get the next shot at Michael Bisping’s middleweight crown.
Arguments can be made for all four of the above names being Bisping’s first defence towards the end of the year but, according to reports in Brazil, it’s the number-13 ranked middleweight who will be taking on ‘The Count.’
Combate report that an agreement is in place for a rematch between Bisping and Dan Henderson, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks.
Bisping claimed the middleweight strap by knocking out heavy favourite Rockhold in the main event of UFC 199 last month.
On that same card, a 45-year-old Henderson stopped Hector Lombard in the second round, opening some hopeful discussions of a potential Bisping vs. Henderson II.
Henderson is the owner of one of the most famous knockouts in UFC history, a stunning overhand right followed by an unnecessary forearm smash that finished Bisping at UFC 100 in 2009.
A second bout, as undeniably sellable as it is, does not make an awful lot of sense when you consider the credentials of the above contenders.
Hendo has gone 3-6 in his last nine fights and many had been crying out for him to retire prior to his victory over Lombard in June.
UFC president Dana White has claimed that Henderson has told him that he’d hang up his gloves regardless of the result of the title fight with Bisping.
“He’s saying win, lose or draw, if he fought Bisping in a title fight he would retire,” White recently said on UFC Unfiltered. “But if he wins the belt I highly doubt he would retire. I don’t know it’s a tough one.
“I’ve questioned over the last year whether Henderson should still be fighting at 45, but it’s hard to deny the guy when he’s taking people out the way that he is.”
