Lyoto Machida focused on UFC on FOX 19 performance, not Dan Henderson's ranking

Sure, a win over Dan Henderson – more precisely, a second win – probably won’t do much to help in the rankings department, but with a good performance, Lyoto Machida knows other big fights are in store.

Machida (22-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC), a former light-heavyweight champion, continues his run at middleweight for Saturday’s UFC on FOX 19 headliner with Henderson (31-14 MMA, 8-8 UFC), which airs on FOX from Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

After his move down to 185 pounds, Machida, who’s No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings, won three of his first four bouts (the defeat came in a title fight with then-champ Chris Weidman). But following recent losses to Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero, Machida is clearly in need of a win.

The fact he’s facing Henderson, an all-time MMA great but one who’s stuck in a 2-6 skid, doesn’t bother Machida, who defeated him via split decision in 2013.

“My fight against Henderson can put me – well, it depends on my performance,” he said. “It depends on my performance, and that fight can put me in front of so many opponents.

“But I don’t care about that. I just care about my next fight. That’s my focus.”

Check out the full interview above.

And for more on UFC on FOX 19, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.