Middleweight may not be the strongest division in the UFC, but Saturday’s bout between champion Michael Bisping and challenger Dan Henderson is one of the most-anticipated in a long time. That has a lot to do with their first meeting, all the way back at UFC 100 in 2009, when they fought at the end of a season coaching The Ultimate Fighter.
That meeting was expected to be a technical showcase, with Bisping generally favored due to his youth and speed. Instead, Bisping circled right into Henderson’s power, and was therefore at the receiving end of one of the most brutal and decisive knockouts in mixed martial arts history.
Now they’re set to fight again on Saturday, and this time Bisping has the belt. Bisping has been on an impressive run, owning wins over Luke Rockhold and Anderson Silva as well as being on a four-fight winning streak. His last loss came to Rockhold in November 2014, a loss that he avenged to earn the title in June of this year.
Henderson is coming off a spectacular knockout of dangerous striker Hector Lombard, also in June. But he’s also gone 2-2 in his last four matches, with losses to Vitor Belfort and Gegard Mousasi.
Therefore, it’s significant that Henderson is fighting for the title because Belfort and Mousasi are actually also fighting on the card, in the penultimate bout. Belfort and Mousasi have never faced each other despite it being a long-awaited matchup.
Belfort is coming off a disappointing loss to Ronaldo Souza, a fighter he also went a long time without fighting. Mousasi is riding a two-fight winning streak.
Saturday’s UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2 fight card begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with the Fight Pass prelims, transitions to FOX Sports 1 for the second portion of the preliminary card at 8 p.m., and ultimately kicks off its pay-per-view main card at 10 p.m. ET, as usual.
Below is all you need to know to watch, including the full UFC 204 fight card.
All times Eastern
Main Card (PPV, 10 p.m.)
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson
Vitor Belfort vs. Gegard Mousasi
Jimi Manuwa vs. Ovince Saint Preux
Daniel Omielanczuk vs. Stefan Struve
Mirsad Bektic vs. Russell Doane
Preliminary Card (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m.)
Iuri Alcantara vs. Brad Pickett
Davey Grant vs. Damian Stasiak
Leon Edwards vs. Albert Tumenov
Marc Diakiese vs. Lukasz Sajewski
Preliminary Card (Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m.)
Danny Roberts vs. Mike Perry
Adriano Martins vs. Leonardo Santos
UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson 2 schedule and coverage for Saturday
Time: Prelims 1 - 6:30 p.m., Prelims 2 - 8 p.m., Main Card - 10 p.m.
Location: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Prelims 2), PPV (Main Card)
Online Stream: UFC Fight Pass, UFC.TV, UFC YouTube
