Dan Henderson On UFC Return: You’ve Got To Take What You Can Get Sometimes

Former Pride champion and MMA legend Dan Henderson has definitely seen better days in his fighting career. After losing closely contested split decisions to Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans at UFC 157 and UFC 161, respectively, the 43-year-old power hitter suffered the first knockout of his illustrious career at the hands of the surging Vitor Belfort at last November’s UFC Fight Night 32.

The three-fight skid put “Hendo” in subpar bargaining position with the UFC, who offered him a substantial pay cut that he described as “less than half” of his previous contract. While he was hoping for them to meet him in the middle, ultimately Henderson re-signed and has already been slated to rematch Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event of UFC Fight Night 38 on March 23.

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It may not have been optimal for “Hendo,” but ultimately he bit the bullet and came back to the UFC. When Henderson was on a much better run, he famously left the Octagon to sign with Strikeforce, becoming the promotion’s light heavyweight champion.

Now, however, the alternative options like Bellator and World Series of Fighting aren’t as attractive according to Henderson. He told Bloody Elbow that despite the pay cut, the UFC was the only place he was going to sign:

“I know that Bellator is trying to make it, but they’re spending a lot more money than they’re bringing in. I’m not really sure about the World Series. I do think they’re doing things a little more economically.”

“There’s really no other companies out there that are able to pay what the UFC is paying their top guys. Basically, you’ve got to take what you get sometimes. On the flip side of that, the UFC has built their organization big enough to be able to pay the top guys pretty decent, so you can’t really complain too much about them.”

“You know, I kind of had to swallow my pride a little bit and take a pay cut. It could be worse, but it could be better, as well.”

Henderson will have the opportunity to prove he can still hang with the elite fighters in the world, but at his age, no one would fault him for stepping away from the rigors of the fight game. He’s had a long and accomplished career, and really the only accolade that has eluded him is a UFC title belt. Things haven’t exactly fallen his way since his scheduled UFC 151 title bout with Jon Jones fell apart after he sprained his MCL in training.

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That doesn’t seem to be stopping Henderson from stepping back into the cage with Rua in a rematch of one of the best mixed martial arts bouts of all time. Both men have a lot of wear and tear on their tires, but there’s no doubt they still have the ability to put on a rocking show for the fans.

Like him or not, you have to admire “Hendo’s” upfront attitude about swallowing his pride and taking a pay cut, and his second tilt with “Shogun” should be yet another barnburner.

But where does “Hendo” go if the younger Rua avenges his narrow defeat at UFC 139?