UFC
Dana White: UFC still eying Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida bout
Sep 27, 2012 - 6:25:44 PM Dana White: UFC still eying Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida bout

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

With Jon Jones defeating Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 last weekend, a rescheduling of his fight with Dan Henderson seemed like a sensible next fight for the Champ. However, it appears the UFC has other plans for Henderson at the moment.

UFC President Dana White, speaking in the UK ahead of Saturday's UFC on Fuel event in Nottingham, said on Thursday that the organization is still targeting a fight between Henderson and Lyoto Machida for later this year.

The bout is one he discussed in the wake of the UFC 151 and UFC 152 changes. With Machida turning down the fight against Jones, White said he'd have to get through Henderson. As that bout isn't likely until December at the earliest, it leaves questions as to who the UFC will book against Jones.

Penick's Analysis: With Henderson out until at least December, I don't understand why they are looking at this fight over Jones-Henderson. That fight still makes sense, and there isn't another fight that makes as much sense, nor that really works out from a timing standpoint. They're likely going to need to keep Jones out of action longer into the new year if it's not Henderson, and even then it means a quick turnaround for a challenger. Machida-Henderson just isn't necessarily the sensible matchup at this point. Of course, perhaps they've got something else in mind for Jones, something we just haven't seen as of yet.

[Dan Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]