• UFC 145

If Evans rocked Jones, imagine what I can do - Hendo

Dan Henderson was heartened by Jon Jones' performance against Rashad Evans on Saturday, pointing out that the champion can be hit.

Henderson has been confirmed as Jones' next challenger for the UFC light-heavyweight belt after Evans was defeated by unanimous decision at UFC 145.

The champion has now defeated former champions in Mauricio Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans in his young career, adding to his seemingly invincible aura.

Henderson does not buy into the myth though, speaking confidently on Fuel TV about his forthcoming title shot after seeing Evans rock Jones in round one.

"Well, he got hit a few times," Henderson said. "It looked like Rashad rocked him a little bit, and that was [while] playing Jones' game. I'm a totally different-style fighter than Rashad is.

"I feel, out of the two of them, I match up better with Jones, anyway. I love to fight on the inside and get in the clinch and Jones does that as well.

"It's just a matter of figuring out his unorthodox striking and staying outside of his reach and then getting inside - getting past where he's most dangerous."

Henderson will no doubt be asked countless times between now and the fight about how he plans to cope with Jones' unorthodox strikes. On Saturday there were flying knees, shortened elbows and shoulder strikes from the clinch, but the 41-year-old insisted he will not focus too much on the champion.

"You watch some film and you see what guys have tendencies of, but when it comes down to it, you need to focus on your game plan and what you're going to do to the other guy," Henderson said.

"I don't want to stay on the outside, get picked apart and let him think about what goofy stuff he's gonna throw at me or kick at me. I want to go out there and make sure I'm getting in tight."

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