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Dan Henderson believes that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is being very careful in selecting his opponents as he winds down his career.

Henderson, who faces Lyoto Machida this Saturday night at UFC 157, recently told MMA Interviews that he hasn’t been all that impressed by “The Spider” in recent years.

“I think Anderson, for the last five years, tried to pick and choose who he fights and manipulates the UFC a little bit. He kind of tries to stay away from guys that are dangerous or have a dangerous style for him, especially because he’s looking toward the end of his career and he wants to retire without losing again.”

Henderson lost to Silva back in 2008 via second round submission. It was rumored that he might face him again last year, but “Hendo” selected a bout with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones instead.

Before he could face Jones, though, Henderson went down with a knee injury. This upcoming fight with Machida will be his first since November 2011.

Photo credit: MMA Weekly

Dan Henderson suggests a win over Lyoto Machida may not secure him a crack at UFC Champion Jon Jones’ title. Given the odd situations Henderson has been put in twice now, I think The UFC would have to give it to him in a measure to maintain its integrity, but we’ll see. Crazier things have happened.

Lyoto Machida takes time out of his preparations for Dan Henderson to answer a few media questions. He calls this fight camp “special”, and he makes no question about the fact that Dan’s wrestling threatens him. Machida also agrees with Henderson in that a 5 round fight favors Machida, and a 3 rounder favors Henderson.

Lyoto Machida has taken note of the UFC’s first set of official rankings.

Machida, who will face Dan Henderson in the co-main event of UFC 157 next week, stated during a recent conference call that he feels the winner of his match should be the next contender to Jon Jones’ title belt.

“We are ranked No. 1 and 2,” Machida said. “I believe the winner of this fight should be next in line for the title.”

Jones will face Chael Sonnen this April for the belt. “Bones” has defeated Machida once before, and was scheduled to face Henderson before “Hendo” suffered a knee injury.

Machida was originally asked to step in and meet Jones last September, but declined the opportunity.

“I wanted the title (shot), but I didn’t have enough time (to prepare),” Machida said. “Everything happens for a reason.”

Henderson, a former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion, is ranked No. 1 by the UFC, while Machida – a former UFC light heavyweight champ – is second. Alexander Gustafsson, who many feel is the rightful top contender, is third.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Lyoto Machida prepares for his UFC 157 match with Dan Henderson. Machida plans to get back into championship form, but he must get past Dan Henderson first. The two will be the co-main event for UFC 157 which takes place on February 23rd, and it’s only on pay-per-view.

UFC 157 Takes place on February 23rd from The Honda Center from Anaheim, California. Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson, Liz Carmouche, and Champion Ronda Rousey take the helm and answer the media’s questions.

Dan Henderson is thankful that Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche are the main event for UFC 157 later this month.

That means Henderson doesn’t have to prepare for a five-round war with former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. Instead, he just needs to worry about three.

And, knowing Henderson and how focused he is on earning a finish each time he steps inside the Octagon, the veteran doesn’t plan on fighting for a whole 15 minutes.

“I’m glad I only have to fight him for three rounds, not five,” said Henderson, during an interview with MMAFighting.com. “There’s no secrets to what Machida does. The game plan’s to go in there and get the knockout and not let it go to the judges.”

Henderson (29-8) is on a four-fight win streak and was scheduled to compete for the UFC light heavyweight title last year before suffering an injury in training. He will likely become the top contender to the title with a win over Machida.

The Henderson-Machida bout will be the co-main event from the Honda Center, as Rousey defends her UFC bantamweight title against Carmouche in the main event.

Photo credit: James Law/MMA Fighting

Dan Henderson plans on nothing short of a fantastic KO win at UFC 157; he says he will not wait around for a title shot either. If a victory over Lyoto Machida doesn’t get him a title shot, he plans to fight another top contender.

Dan Henderson has been recovering from his knee injury, and he says it’s all going well. He briefly touches on UFC 151. Despite Henderson’s injury and time off, he does feel confident going into UFC 157. Also In the unlikely event Chael Sonnen does beat Jon Jones, Henderson says he’d have no problem fighting Sonnen despite their friendship.

Dan Henderson has plenty of confidence in his own skills, and feels he likely would already be UFC light heavyweight champion if not for a knee injury.

Instead, Henderson is preparing for a February meeting with Lyoto Machida at UFC 157.

While nothing has been promised to the winner of the fight, whoever has their hand raised inside the Honda Center will likely earn themselves a future meeting with either Jon Jones or Chael Sonnen for the belt. That, though, is of little concern to Henderson right now.

“If the timing’s right (to fight for the title), I’d do it,” said Henderson, during a recent interview with MMAjunkie.com Radio. “If not, I’ll beat the next top guy.”

Henderson sat on the sidelines for all of 2012 waiting to cash in his title shot. Then, “Hendo” was hit with the injury and forced to miss the remainder of the year in August.

Despite being 42 years old, and feeling like retirement is likely coming in the next year or two, that hasn’t stopped Henderson from believing in his own abilities.

“I feel that I’m probably the best guy in the weight class,” Henderson said. “I know that if I fought Jones, I’d knock him on his ass. But if I don’t get that opportunity, I’m not going to sit and dwell on it and wait for it. I waited last year, and I’m not going to do it this year.”