Withdrawal still dogs UFC’s Henderson

TORRANCE, Calif. — The anguish of making the difficult decision to pull out of a title fight outweighed even the physical pain Dan Henderson was feeling in his knee.

The 42-year-old mixed martail artist simply knew it had to be done. He had tried to train through his injury, but he realized just over a week before the biggest fight of his career that he could not fight UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, a decision that triggered a chain of events that culminated in the infamous cancellation of UFC 151.

The decision still weighs on Henderson as he prepares to return to action against Lyoto Machida at UFC 157 in Anaheim on Saturday night.

“That was tough for me because I’ve never had to do that before,” he said of pulling out of a fight. “It was the right decision, but it was tough to do and it took me a little bit to get over.”

The knee didn’t require surgery, and Henderson says he is 100 percent healthy today.

While he might be regaining his form from a physical standpoint, the same cannot be said of his place in the title picture.

Henderson had been scheduled to fight for the belt. Now, he doesn’t have a guaranteed title shot even with a victory over the former champion.

“I halfway expected them to still give me the title shot because of all the promotion they already did for that fight, but that’s not my job to be in charge of that,” he said at an open workout on Wednesday. “My goal is to not lose again in my career, and if I can accomplish that, I’ll have the title at some time or another.

“The guys that I’ll be matched up with over the next year or two will be all top guys. If I beat them all and don’t get a title shot, then something’s a bit off with that.”

It seems a cavalier attitude for a guy who would seem to be fighting against the clock at his advanced age to accomplish the one prize that has eluded him in his legendary career.

Henderson had a Strikeforce title and was a two-division champion in PRIDE. He also won the middleweight tournament at UFC 17 back in 1998 after competing for the United States wrestling team at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

While the UFC belt remains the ultimate goal before he calls it a career, which at this rate could be well down the road, Henderson says he will be at peace if it never happens.

“I don’t feel like I have to do anything, but obviously it’s one of my goals I want to accomplish,” he said. “I’m just working hard and hoping to accomplish my goals just like everyone else, but I don’t need it to be able to retire.”

Henderson could go a long way toward making sure he at least gets a chance with a win on Saturday. Henderson has won four straight, including his return bout to the UFC in November 2011 against former champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

The back-and-forth thriller was widely considered the best fight of the year and had earned Henderson the title shot that he eventually had to give up.

Machida knows Henderson can be dangerous, particularly with his elite wrestling and dangerous right hand.

“He’s old, but he’s still so strong,” Machida said. “He’d beat a lot of (top) guys. He still can compete at a high level. Saturday will be a great show.”

Both fighters feel the winner deserves the next chance at Jones should he retain the belt against Chael Sonnen in April. UFC president Dana White has said Alexander Gustafsson probably is the next challenger should he beat Gegard Mousasi.

Henderson shrugged off that statement.

“He says that no matter what 205-pounder is getting close to the title shot. I think he’s going to say that to promote that event and it’s kind of his job,” Henderson said of White. “I think he’s promised just about everybody the title shot. I have no control over what happens next, other than Saturday night. I have control of that, and I’m going to make sure I win that fight.”

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.