Dana White: Dan Henderson doesn't want to fight Lyoto Machida, doesn't want to wait for title shot [UPDATE]

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Dan Henderson entered 2012 eying a potential title shot in one of two divisions, but with nothing falling in place for him in order for that to happen, he's left with little options at the moment.

UFC President Dana White said on Wednesday that Henderson may have been lined up for a Middleweight Title shot against Anderson Silva had Chael Sonnen lost to Michael Bisping, and would have gotten a shot at the Light Heavyweight Title against Jon Jones had Rashad Evans lost to Phil Davis. With neither of those happening, Henderson was presented with a bout against Lyoto Machida, but that's not happening, either.

"He doesn't want to fight Machida," White said (transcribed by MMAJunkie.com). "He doesn't want to wait [either]. He's going to have to wait. Who does he want to fight? I mean, I don't know what to do with Dan."

"Dan's either going to have to wait for Jones and Evans or wait for Silva - or fight somebody else. It's pretty simple."

Henderson had said recently that he wanted to fight again instead of waiting for the winner of Jones-Evans, but he himself wasn't sure what options there were or what fights would make sense. For now, there's simply nothing set on that front, and he'll be on the sidelines until further notice.

Penick's Analysis: I continue to think a fight between Henderson and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson would make the most sense if "Rampage" defeats Ryan Bader later this month at UFC 144. It would be a rematch of an epic fight for the title that Henderson actually lost, and a win would further cement his status as a deserving title challenger. If he wants to fight before a guaranteed title shot, that's the only fight that really makes sense for him, otherwise he'd be much better off waiting to fight the winner of Jones-Evans by the end of the summer or early fall.

UPDATE: Henderson refuted White's comments on Twitter this morning, saying he hadn't turned down a fight with Machida because it hadn't even been offered. Here's the comment:

"Was never offered Machida. And even though he has lost 3 out of his last 4, I'm sure it would be entertaining."

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

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_12527.shtml

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