Michael Bisping to make first UFC title defense against Dan Henderson
By Michael Kelleher
Last Updated: 10/07/16 5:40pm
UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping’s first title defence will be against Dan Henderson.
UFC president Dana White revealed the news following UFC 200 and said the promotion are targeting Manchester as the venue for the fight.
White told Fox Sports: "We are going to do Dan Henderson versus Michael Bisping. It is a fight that the champ wants and a fight that the fans want.
"We are thinking about doing it in Manchester, but that is not etched in stone yet."
Bisping shocked the mixed martial arts world last month when he captured the 185-pound belt with a first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold at UFC 199, after taking the fight with just 12 days' notice following an injury to No 1 contender Chris Weidman.
Henderson also picked up a victory on that card, knocking out Hector Lombard in the second round.
Bisping will be seeking to gain revenge on Henderson, who defeated the champion at UFC 100 in July 2009 with one of the most memorable knockouts in the sport's history.
"I promise revenge on Dan Henderson on behalf of the people of England, don't you worry," Bisping said.
The title opportunity comes at a strange time for Henderson who is ranked as the UFC's No 13 middleweight and has won just three of his past nine fights.
The 45-year-old openly contemplated retirement following his win over Lombard but White has since confirmed he has signed a new UFC contract.
Many were expecting either Weidman or Jacare Souza to be next in line for a title shot but the UFC has acceded to Bisping's wishes and granted him the opportunity to avenge his defeat to Henderson.
Former champion Weidman to Twitter on Sunday to express his dismay at being overlooked: "End of the day I feel I'm best in world and will get my belt back by beating whoever it takes but this is a joke of a system."
