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Michael Bisping remembers Dan Henderson's failed attempt to become a UFC champion

michael bisping
Image: Michael Bisping puts his middleweight title on the line in Manchester

Michael Bisping has reminded Dan Henderson of his failure to win a UFC championship against mutual opponent Anderson Silva.

Dan Henderson exclusive
Dan Henderson exclusive

"I've had bigger challenges than him that mean more to me"

Henderson had told Sky Sports that his 2009 knockout of Bisping was a mere footnote in his storied career, but Britain's middleweight champion has hit back by remembering his upcoming opponent's most notable failure.

Eight years ago Henderson lost his first UFC middleweight title opportunity to Silva, the brilliant Brazilian champion that Bisping defeated earlier this year before claiming the world title in his next fight against Luke Rockhold.

He could not beat Anderson Silva, and I did that. He could not win a UFC belt, I have done that. He wasn't good enough on the night, whereas I was.
Michael Bisping

"Listen, I have achieved two things that he could never achieve," Bisping told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview.

"He could not beat Anderson Silva, and I did that. He could not win a UFC belt, I have done that. He wasn't good enough on the night, whereas I was.

INGLEWOOD, CA - JUNE 04: Michael Bisping (blue gloves) and Luke Rockhold (red gloves) during their middleweight championship bout at UFC 199 at The Forum o
Image: Michael Bisping (left) stepped in on short-notice to beat Luke Rockhold for the middleweight title

"Henderson is famous for one thing only - knocking me out at UFC 100. That is the highlight of his career, and it will be eradicated when I destroy him at UFC 204."

Bisping wants GSP in Canada
Bisping wants GSP in Canada

Exclusive: British champ challenges Georges St-Pierre

Henderson - who also failed to beat Quinton Jackson for a UFC title - is now 46-years-old and will retire after rematching Bisping in his 47th fight of a career that has yielded three world championships in other organisations.

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Bisping accepts that his former conqueror deserves to be recognised as an all-time great but warns that he won't be granted a fairy-tale retirement.

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Michael Bisping tells Sky Sports about why he favoured Dan Henderson as his first challenger
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"He's been around a long time, he was a two-division PRIDE champion, and he's been involved in amazing fights," he said. "So I have no problem with him being regarded as a legend, but he won't be retiring in legendary fashion.

"Henderson is a one-trick pony. He's got that right hand with a lot of power in it, but I'm too fast for him and he won't be able to land it. If he can't, he's got no back-up plan.

"I will be making a mockery of him and proving that he's no longer cut out for this sport."

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