Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2): Jon Jones vs. Dan HendersonDec 11, 2016 by Duane Finley
Dan Henderson: The Song Remains the Same at SUG 2
Dan Henderson: The Song Remains the Same at SUG 2
Former MMA legend Dan Henderson shares his thoughts on facing Jon Jones at SUG 2.
Somethings in life change with time, situation and pressure. Dan Henderson isn’t one of them.
The legendary knockout artist has been performing at the highest level of everything he sets his hand to for the past two decades, and along the way has built one of the most epic resumes ever forged in combat sports.
Simply put: When Henderson’s name is on the ticket he’s going to give everything he has to give because that’s the only way he knows how to compete.
When his storied MMA career came to an official close back in October, fans thought the grizzled veteran would fade off into the sunset. And while that certainly appeared to be the case, just as there is always a third act in Clint Eastwood movies, sure enough Henderson will step into the cage once more.
The 46-year-old former Olympian will face Jon Jones at Submission Underground 2 on Sunday night in Portland, and will be looking to add one last chapter to an incredible career.
“I wasn’t looking to do this,” Henderson admitted. “Chael called me up and presented me an offer about doing this and I thought it’d be fun. And keep me motivated to stay in shape. With the history of the one fight that I had to pull out of in my whole career, it falling through -- it was supposed to be against Jon Jones, I thought it’d be fun to at least grapple against him.”
Henderson has spent the past two decades chasing and acquiring championship gold on stages around the globe, and that has served as his primary motivation for fighting. That said, there will be no belt on the line when he faces Jones at SUG 2, but there’s plenty for Henderson to get up for in regard to the matchup.
“It’s obviously not a fight; it’s not in the UFC for a title, but it’s something that I’ve prepared for and felt really ready for the fight that never got to happen,” Henderson said. “At least we’ll get the grappling part of it handled here, I guess.
“It’s not anything I’ve competed in before. Jon Jones is fairly new to this as well, the grappling part of it, and it’s not fighting, not for a belt and but i still think a lot people want to watch it and want to see who wins this, and I’m definitely out there to win, and I’m sure Jon is as well.
“As far as myself, and what it means, it’ll be a nice thing to accomplish but it’s definitely second or third place to going out there and beating him in the MMA instead. I’m excited about it, I’m happy and I’m going to enjoy it and have fun with it.”
The history between Henderson and Jones goes back several years to when they were set to clash for the light heavyweight title at UFC 151 in 2012. An injury would knock Henderson out of that bout and leave a mark of unfinished business on his overall journey toward greatness.
Henderson and Jones exchanged some heated words in the lead up to their ill-fated date, but the former two-divisional Pride champion doesn’t hold a grudge. He made that clear in the build up to SUG 2, and was adamant there is no hard feelings on his side of the table.
In fact, Henderson wishes nothing but the best for his counterpart.
“I think that might’ve been taken a little out of context but I obviously respect Jon and what he’s done in the cage and I basically said that, in the position he was in, I wish -- my love for the sport and MMA is so great and I helped build it, that makes me upset when guys in his position don’t represent the sport well and screw up,” Henderson said. “I wish and hope that gets back on the horse and goes down the right path and starts representing himself and the sport well.
“That’s what I would like to see. I don’t ever wish bad things to happen to him. It’s not like I dislike him -- I don’t know him personally so I can’t attack that either. I just think that being in the position he was in had a lot of responsibility and one of them is to represent the sport well. I think he has learned the lessons from that. Learned lessons the hard way but I hope that he comes back and does great.
“It would be great to see him. I’m a fan of all the wrestlers out there and it's been tough to get behind him because of the other things that he’s done and not represented my sports very well -- outside of the octagon. Inside of it, he’s done phenomenal things so there’s no ill-will, it’s just a hope and wish that he does better from now on. I think a lot of fans are on the same page with me.”
The legendary knockout artist has been performing at the highest level of everything he sets his hand to for the past two decades, and along the way has built one of the most epic resumes ever forged in combat sports.
Simply put: When Henderson’s name is on the ticket he’s going to give everything he has to give because that’s the only way he knows how to compete.
When his storied MMA career came to an official close back in October, fans thought the grizzled veteran would fade off into the sunset. And while that certainly appeared to be the case, just as there is always a third act in Clint Eastwood movies, sure enough Henderson will step into the cage once more.
The 46-year-old former Olympian will face Jon Jones at Submission Underground 2 on Sunday night in Portland, and will be looking to add one last chapter to an incredible career.
“I wasn’t looking to do this,” Henderson admitted. “Chael called me up and presented me an offer about doing this and I thought it’d be fun. And keep me motivated to stay in shape. With the history of the one fight that I had to pull out of in my whole career, it falling through -- it was supposed to be against Jon Jones, I thought it’d be fun to at least grapple against him.”
Henderson has spent the past two decades chasing and acquiring championship gold on stages around the globe, and that has served as his primary motivation for fighting. That said, there will be no belt on the line when he faces Jones at SUG 2, but there’s plenty for Henderson to get up for in regard to the matchup.
“It’s obviously not a fight; it’s not in the UFC for a title, but it’s something that I’ve prepared for and felt really ready for the fight that never got to happen,” Henderson said. “At least we’ll get the grappling part of it handled here, I guess.
“It’s not anything I’ve competed in before. Jon Jones is fairly new to this as well, the grappling part of it, and it’s not fighting, not for a belt and but i still think a lot people want to watch it and want to see who wins this, and I’m definitely out there to win, and I’m sure Jon is as well.
“As far as myself, and what it means, it’ll be a nice thing to accomplish but it’s definitely second or third place to going out there and beating him in the MMA instead. I’m excited about it, I’m happy and I’m going to enjoy it and have fun with it.”
The history between Henderson and Jones goes back several years to when they were set to clash for the light heavyweight title at UFC 151 in 2012. An injury would knock Henderson out of that bout and leave a mark of unfinished business on his overall journey toward greatness.
Henderson and Jones exchanged some heated words in the lead up to their ill-fated date, but the former two-divisional Pride champion doesn’t hold a grudge. He made that clear in the build up to SUG 2, and was adamant there is no hard feelings on his side of the table.
In fact, Henderson wishes nothing but the best for his counterpart.
“I think that might’ve been taken a little out of context but I obviously respect Jon and what he’s done in the cage and I basically said that, in the position he was in, I wish -- my love for the sport and MMA is so great and I helped build it, that makes me upset when guys in his position don’t represent the sport well and screw up,” Henderson said. “I wish and hope that gets back on the horse and goes down the right path and starts representing himself and the sport well.
“That’s what I would like to see. I don’t ever wish bad things to happen to him. It’s not like I dislike him -- I don’t know him personally so I can’t attack that either. I just think that being in the position he was in had a lot of responsibility and one of them is to represent the sport well. I think he has learned the lessons from that. Learned lessons the hard way but I hope that he comes back and does great.
“It would be great to see him. I’m a fan of all the wrestlers out there and it's been tough to get behind him because of the other things that he’s done and not represented my sports very well -- outside of the octagon. Inside of it, he’s done phenomenal things so there’s no ill-will, it’s just a hope and wish that he does better from now on. I think a lot of fans are on the same page with me.”