INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Dan Henderson has been fighting professionally for almost 20 years. In recent months, the 45-year-old has seemed increasingly open to the idea of retirement. All it will take to push him there, he said, is a job offer from the UFC.

Before it’s time to think about hanging up the gloves, Henderson (31-14 MMA, 8-8 UFC) has a UFC 199 bout with Hector Lombard (34-5-1 MMA, 3-3 UFC). The two meet on Saturday’s pay-per-view main card at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Lombard, ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings but moving back to middleweight for this bout, is a dangerous fighter in most areas of the sport. Henderson, who holds an honorable mention spot in the middleweight rankings, said he’s aware of the dangers facing him in the fight.

“I think he’s a tough, talented fighter who is well-rounded,” Henderson told MMAjunkie. “He’s got submissions, and he’s got heavy hands, takedowns and takedown defense. He’s got all the makings of what you need to be a tough MMA fighter. But, you know, his gas tank is what it is. I think, when you’re more of a sprinter like he is and throw heavy bombs and put a lot of energy behind that, he runs out of gas. He knows that, and it seems like in some of his fights he tries to pace himself because of it.

“He’s still dangerous in the second and third rounds. It’s somebody I’ve got to be careful of the whole fight but stay in his face and make sure he knows he’s in a fight.”

Henderson has fallen on hard times in recent years. He’s gone 2-6 since 2013 and has been stopped in four of those losses.

The lack of success combined with his advanced age have pushed many to call for Henderson to retire. While he was once resistant to the possibility, he has softened recently.

Speaking with MMAjunkie at UFC 199’s media day, he doubled down on recent comments suggesting contract negotiations following the Lombard bout will determine his future.

“Either way, I’m going to be a part of this sport and be involved,” Henderson said. “I have no idea how many more fights I’ll do. This could be the last one, or I could do five more. I don’t know. I just have to wait and see what my options are after this fight.

“It’s basically what I’m offered after this fight, to fight or not fight. I have to sit down with (UFC President Dana White) and hash things out and see what my options are and make my decision at that point.”

A handful of UFC legends have been offered positions with the UFC following their retirement. Henderson said he would be ready to move on from active competition if given the kind of opportunity afforded to legends like Matt Hughes and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

“I could be talked into not fighting if he offers me a different job,” Henderson said.

Check out the full video above.

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