Current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping spoke to journalist Luke Thomas on ‘The Luke Thomas Show’ this week and declared the Dan Henderson rematch will be taking place in the early hours of the morning.
“What I’m led to believe – and again I can’t confirm this – is the fight will be happening in the UK,” said Bisping. “It will be a pay-per-view event and we will be doing it at around four o’clock in the morning to cater to the US audience,”.
During the UFC 200 FS1 post show Dana White confirmed the rematch was on and the promotion was trying to get it done in Manchester, England. Bisping believes the late night fight wouldn’t be a problem for the locals.
“Ricky Hatton fought a boxer called Kostya Tszyu back in the day”, said Bisping. “That was at the Manchester Evening News Arena, and it was the same idea then. They did it for the American audience. The Manchester people, they don’t mind staying up late and drinking plenty of booze. The arena was sold out and there was a great atmosphere.”
Bisping’s knockout loss to Henderson at UFC 100 is one of the most watched highlight reel KO’s in UFC history and it’s something that’s bothered the UFC middleweight champion over the past 7 years.
“At UFC 100 I lost in good style – well done to him,” said Bisping. “Since then that’s bothered me. I’m not very happy. But I get to get my revenge on an even playing field.”
The even playing field Bisping is referring to is the use of testosterone replacement therapy which Henderson openly used when it was legal and allowed.
“He used to be ‘Decision Dan Henderson’ until he discovered testosterone replacement therapy and then he became ‘Knockout Dan Henderson’ and he knocked me out,” said Bisping. “Here we are, seven years later, and he’s still competing in the UFC when TRT has been banned. So the guy is an absolute hypocrite.”
An official announcement on the event, location and timing should be imminent. What we know for now is that Michael Bisping vs Dan Henderson for the UFC middleweight championship will take place and sometime in October in the UK.
