Dan Henderson returned to the middleweight ranks at UFC on Fox 14, his first UFC fight at that weight since 2009 and his legendary eradication of Michael Bisping. Unfortunately for the 44-year-old legend, this time didn’t play out so favorably.
Gegard Mousasi reminded the world why he’s one of the best at 185 pounds, stopping Henderson with a nasty right hook and leaving him with no clear path going forward. It was the fourth straight fight where Hendo was put in some type of serious trouble or badly outclassed—the type of pattern that’s cause for concern in a combat sport.
Here’s what we learned Saturday night.
What We’ll Remember About This Fight
We’ll remember Henderson on his back with Mousasi swarming him. Henderson tried to push off the cage and score a single-leg takedown, but then the referee called off the bout. Henderson tried to challenge the stoppage when he came back around, but he was badly shaken up in the moment.
Some would call it controversial, but it’s in the books either way.
What We Learned About Dan Henderson
There’s nowhere left for him to go from here. He had to leave light heavyweight because the guys were too big, fast and young. It doesn’t look like he’ll find any respite at 185.
Mousasi convincingly dropped him on the feet and finished him as soon as he had the chance. The H-Bomb is only so dangerous, and it’s slowly gone from a major threat to an indicator of a one-dimensional athlete. That doesn’t bode well in a sport that evolves as quickly as MMA.
What We Learned About Gegard Mousasi
His UFC record is not truly evident of his UFC caliber.
Since jumping to the sport’s top promotion, Mousasi has been middling statistically, holding wins over Ilir Latifi and Mark Munoz but getting stifled by the best in Lyoto Machida and Ronaldo Souza.
His impressive win over Henderson showed that he’s much closer to the top than the bottom, and his blend of kickboxing and grappling prowess is one of the more unique talent combinations in the game. If he can get some momentum in one of the UFC’s true shark tanks, there’s nothing stopping him from challenging for a title at some point in the fairly near future.
What’s Next for Henderson
He should stay at 185, where his frame holds weight more naturally and bigger men are less likely to bully him.
Would he be willing to give Bisping a chance at redemption? There are worse options out there. The lead-up to the fight alone would probably be worth it.
What’s Next for Mousasi
Mousasi needs to be in there with the top of the division as a means of staying both active and motivated. If Vitor Belfort is unsuccessful in his title bid at UFC 184, he’d be a great option. If he ends up champion, Mousasi will still need a fight, so maybe Tim Kennedy could work.
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