Hendo: This is the crowning moment of my career

Before his fight with Hector Lombard in the co-main event of UFC 199 in June, Dan Henderson said that that fight might be his last. However in the very next fight, the main event, Michael Bisping defeated Luke Rockhold. Fans called for a rematch between the pair since the first fight between the pair ended with what is widely considered to be the greatest KO in league history.

The wish was granted, and Hendo’s retirement was postponed.

The last fight, I had in my mind that it could be my last fight, said Henderson, as transcribed by Jorge A. Mondaca, managing editor of UFC.com. But given the opportunity at a title I had to say yes. I’m looking forward to the opportunity.

[Knocking out Bisping at UFC 100] has been the one that fans want to talk to the most about. They thank me for that. It’s kind of fun for me, but it’s one of those things that’s just is what it is. I did a good job that night and people like to see him lose. It probably helps that he ran his mouth so much that people wanted to see that happen.

I didn’t have to think about [taking the rematch]. Obviously, if they are going to give me a title shot, something I thought I was a little further away from than that, but I think just because the fans were asking for this fight and Bisping was asking for it also that made it happened. I didn’t expect it, I didn’t ask for it – and I didn’t hesitate either to say yes.

To have an opportunity at a title in my last fight would definitely be the crowning moment of my career, which would be nice. It’s all about the UFC belt at this point. I could care less who it’s against. It’s a title fight and it doesn’t matter if I beat him before or lost to him before. What matters is what happens on Oct. 8. I’m going to make sure I take full advantage of the opportunity to get a belt.

I’ll still be doing my best to put my fist through his face.

Dan Henderson fights Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 205 on Saturday night.