• UFC

White tells Machida to take Henderson fight

ESPN staff
September 15, 2012
Lyoto Machida faces an uphill battle to get another chance at Jon Jones © Getty Images
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UFC president Dana White has told Lyoto Machida to take a fight with Dan Henderson if he wants another title shot against Jon Jones any time soon.

Machida turned down the opportunity for a quick rematch against light-heavyweight champion Jones at UFC 152, after Henderson was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury. And White, unhappy with both fighters after the event had to be cancelled, has now said the two will need to fight each other if they want a chance to face Jones in the near future.

The UFC supremo has warned Machida he faces time in the wilderness if he does not accept the challenge.

"He [Machida] should have taken the fight [against Jones]," White told MMAFighting. "We've seen it, history always repeats itself. Look how long it took Rashad [Evans] to fight for the title again.

"So you wanted to fight Jon Jones, you climbed up to the title fight and you don't take it. Now you're fighting Dan Henderson. Now you might not even get to the title again.

"You lose to Dan Henderson you're not anywhere near Jon Jones."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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