Why Dan Henderson should be next to fight Michael Bisping
With the UFC middleweight title around his waist, Michael Bisping is in position to call the shots.
If he wants to do what's best for business, he'll call for a rematch with Dan Henderson.
Before we get to explaining why this matchup is so appealing, let's look back at what happened in their first meeting.
After serving as opposing coaches on Season 9 of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2009, there was plenty of animosity brewing between the stoic Henderson and the mouthy Bisping.
They met at UFC 100, a bout that ended with Bisping on the receiving end of one of the most devastating knockouts in MMA history:
On paper, a second meeting between two of the UFC's longest-tenured employees doesn't make the most sense. Henderson's big win over Hector Lombard at UFC 199 only bumped him up to No. 13 in the company's official rankings and there are a number of worthy contenders ahead of him.
However, none of those contenders have an airtight case.
Chris Weidman is coming off of a loss to Luke Rockhold, the man who Bisping just knocked out to become champion. Brazilian star Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza is close to a shot after taking out Vitor Belfort at UFC 198, but he also has a recent loss to Yoel Romero.
As for Romero, his suspension for a drug test violation ended in June, putting him on shaky ground with the matchmakers.
The other ranked fighters don't quite have the resume needed for a championship opportunity, leaving the experienced Henderson as the most entertaining choice.
Much time has passed since UFC 100, but that hasn't softened their adversarial relationship, at least as far as Bisping is concerned. He's openly criticized Henderson for undergoing testosterone replacement therapy, a procedure that was once legal despite its potential for performance enhancement.
The fact stands that several of Bisping's losses came against opponents who were either on TRT or were involved in drug testing controversies. A successful title defense against Henderson would only support the narrative that he is the best middleweight in the world on a level playing field.
On the other side, Henderson's career is winding down and there wouldn't be a more fitting way for it to end than with a chance to earn the one MMA accolade that has eluded him thus far, a UFC championship. Win or lose, he could walk away from the sport with no regrets.
Before UFC 199, most fans had Bisping and Henderson pegged for retirement, and not a world title match. But two spectacular finishes later, the UFC has been handed a glorious grudge match that it couldn't have manufactured had it tried.