Lyoto Machida earns UFC light heavyweight title shot

John Morgan, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

ANAHEIM, Calif. — It wan't the most convincing win of Lyoto Machida's career, but the former champion's victory over Dan Henderson at Saturday's UFC 157 event will likely earn him a shot at the UFC's light heavyweight belt.

UFC President Dana White said Machida will likely face the winner of April's UFC 159 bout between current champion Jon Jones and challenger Chael Sonnen later this year.

"He just beat the No. 1 contender, which would make him the No. 1 contender," White said after UFC 157, which aired Saturday on pay-per-from view from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Prior to Machida (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Henderson (29-9 MMA, 6-3 UFC) meeting, which served as the event's co-feature, White had identified the contest as a de facto No. 1 contender affair. But the contest was rather unimpressive after Machida did everything in his power to stay away from Henderson's powerful right hand.

Machida, who landed lunging knees and counter shots throughout the three-rounder, ultimately took a split decision (29-28, 29-28 and 28-29). Fans showered its ending in boos.

Regardless, with a title shot perhaps his (White previously said Alexander Gustafsson also will get a title shot if he beats Gegard Mousasi in April), Machida, who was just 202 pounds at Friday's weigh-ins, shot down one possibility. A smaller light heavyweight, the Brazilian previously teased a potential move down to middleweight.

"Now with this opportunity, I want to stay at 205," said Machida, who held the light-heavyweight title from 2009-10. "I want to fight for the belt."

Although Henderson scoffed as the official scores were read and clearly thought he won the fight, White didn't seem surprised the bout was so close.

"Lyoto took some big shots from Dan, and Dan took some big shots from Lyoto," he told MMAjunkie.com. "It wasn't a barnburner. It wasn't the most exciting fight you've ever seen. You won't be writing stories about this fight until the end of time, but Lyoto won the fight. He beat the No. 1 contender. He beat Dan Henderson."

Prior to the fight, which marked his first in 15 months, Henderson was on a 7-1 run and had already been promised a title shot with Jones, though it ultimately fell apart due to an injury this past September. While rehabbing, Henderson saw title shots granted to Vitor Belfort and then Sonnen.

At 42 years old and with other contenders now surpassing him, Henderson could easily be seen as a potential retiree. But the 16-year vet said he has no plans to call it quits.

"In my mind, I thought I did enough to win the fight, but it was my fault," he said. "I don't place the blame on the judges. I should have been more aggressive. I let him fight his fight a little too much.

"I'm not done by any means. I still have goals I want to reach in this sport, and I want to fight as soon I can. I'm ready to go in June or July. I didn't have the best last few months, but I feel really a lot better, and I want to be really active this next year."

John Morgan writes for MMAjunkie.com, part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow John on Twitter @MMAjunkieJohn.