The Associated Press
Monday, July 20, 2009 | 3:34 p.m.
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Dan Henderson had been awaiting word on whether or not his latest knockout win over Michael Bisping at UFC 100 would be enough to earn him a rematch with Anderson Silva.
On Monday, Henderson found out he would be getting a rematch after all. Although it wasn’t the one he was hoping for.
The UFC has announced that Henderson will fight Rich Franklin at UFC 103 on Sept. 19. Whether the fight will be at middleweight or light heavyweight has yet to be announced.
It will be the second time already this year the two will meet after facing each other at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland on Jan. 17. Henderson landed a somewhat controversial split decision in that light heavyweight meeting, losing all three rounds on one judge’s scorecard. The other two judges scored the contest 29-28 in favor of Henderson.
“I felt like I dominantly won the first two rounds,” said Henderson from the Octagon immediately following the decision. “Third round he did well, I probably would have gave that one to him. But 30-27 for him was a little off.”
After claiming belts in two separate weight classes in Pride, Henderson was given two title shots upon arriving in the UFC in 2007 but lost both – first to light heavyweight Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and then again to the middleweight Silva.
But after stringing together three straight wins since then, Henderson told media following UFC 100 that he felt he had earned the right at another chance at a title.
“It’s a fight that I want, I haven’t asked for it but I’ve let it be known that I would like that rematch,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time. I knew that I had to win some fights and beat some good guys first and I feel like I’ve done that now.”
Franklin, coming off a unanimous decision win over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 in June, also has a history with Anderson Silva. He’s lost to the Brazilian twice since 2006.
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