Michael Bisping expects “ridiculous” atmosphere for UFC bout with Dan Henderson

Michael Bisping has labelled old-time rival Dan Henderson a “dangerous guy” ahead of his first UFC middleweight title defence in Manchester this weekend.

“I was pretty happy to hear that’s the fight he wanted and especially knowing that the fans wanted it, I think that’s why Dana White said “all right, we’ll make it happen”, Henderson told the Fight Society podcast recently.

Fitter, sharper and mentally bulletproof, the resurrection of “The Count” has saw him finally ascend to middleweight glory.

It doesn’t take much to get Bisping riled up, and that defeat still does the trick.

“I suffered a rib injury in training and I apologize to the fans in Manila who were expecting to watch me compete”, Penn said.

“I probably should give more thought to it being my last fight than I do”, he said.

“He’s a little slower”. Nobody talks about retirement, saying “this is my last one”, unless they are struggling.

The list of accolades is almost endless, but Henderson admits capping it all off with a UFC title would definitely be the flawless way to finish his career. He’s a legend of the sport and he still has that knockout power.

“He’ll come forward and he’ll swing, he has nothing to lose in this fight and that makes him very unsafe”.

The fight sees the two veteran MMA fighters collide more than seven years after their initial encounter, which Henderson claimed with a devastating overhand right and sickening follow-up elbow in the second round.

‘But you know with being offered this fight that I was happy about it so one last fight for you guys’. “The shoe will be on the other foot this time”.

The early United Kingdom start time will accommodate a primetime pay-per-view airing in North America.

“Obviously, it’s the last goal I’ve set for myself in the sport”, Henderson said. “Ricky Hatton is a national treasure”. I’ve been full of energy around that time of night.

“I was a bit younger then and an aspiring fighter. Of course, I’m looking for the knockout, though”. Bisping’s defense will be heavily focused on that right hand though, and his feints have the ability to remove an opponent’s weapons by virtually not even giving them the opportunity to comfortably throw them.

‘And I’m really excited about it. Mousasi is one of the toughest fighters in the division.

Of course, the western comparison is ridiculous – Bisping is an outrageous moustache away from being a vaudeville villain, at least to United States audiences, and the showdown isn’t set for the western plains but rather Bisping’s hometown of Manchester.

“It hit me. It was like a slap. I want to beat him up the whole fight and win each round along the way”. I don’t really have too many emotions about it.

“If he wants to do it, then just call Dana White”. It’s kind of fun for me, but it’s one of those things that’s just is what it is.