While Dan Henderson has been resistant towards the idea of returning the middleweight division in recent years, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight changed his tune following a split decision loss to Rashad Evans in the UFC 161 headliner.
Henderson was slightly outpointed by "Suga" over the course of their 15-minute contest at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday night (June 15, 2013) for his second consecutive defeat, leaving his future at 205-pounds very much in the air.
The former Strikeforce and dual division PRIDE champion would not commit to dropping back to middleweight; however, he did admit that the cut to light heavyweight is essentially nonexistent and he could drop the necessary 20 pounds without too many problems.
"Yeah I'd consider it," Henderson said of a cut to middleweight at the UFC 161 post-fight press conference. "I mean I don't feel weak or overpowered at 205, but yeah I would consider it, I weighed in at 204 today and didn't miss a meal."
The 42-year-old has not competed at middleweight since a 2010 loss to Jake Shields under the Strikeforce banner. The last time "Hendo" won a fight in the weight class was his memorable knockout of Michael Bisping at UFC 100 in July 2009.
With several years passed since Henderson had to make a serious weight cut, it's unknown how the drop in weight would affect the former Olympic wrestler.
But with back-to-back losses and his dream of becoming the first man to hold Strikeforce, PRIDE and UFC titles quickly fading, perhaps the future Hall of Fame inductee feels 185-pounds is his most likely route to a title fight, despite already losing to reigning champion Anderson Silva back in 2008.
It would likely take a little bit of time to work his way down in weight if Henderson does opt to make the drop, but that wouldn't be much of a problem seeing as he is planning on taking at least the summer off and plans a return to the cage before year's end.
"I got a couple trips planned with my kids this summer," he said. "I would at least like to have the summer this year and then get back in there before the end of the year."
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