Recently we speculated that Strikeforce likely would roll out the ‘big guns’ (meaning notable fighters; not ‘well proportioned’card girls…although one can hope for both) for the promotion’s next CBS broadcast event. After all, what better way to build the promotion’s brand than by having its top fighters like Jake Shields, Dan Henderson, and Fedor Emelianenko, among others, fight live again on network television.
Well according to a report today from MMA Weekly, Shields has confirmed that he’ll fight Henderson in April, although he couldn’t (or wouldn’t) confirm whether or not the bout will in fact be broadcast on CBS.
“I have a date (and) venue, but they told me to hold that back,” said Shields. “Hopefully CBS. I think it’s CBS. There’s a slight possibility of Showtime because they’re still (working it out). I don’t know the rest of the card or any of that yet. But me and Dan’s on, and I’m hoping it’s on CBS.”
So, clearly a bout between the promotion’s middleweight champ in Shields (and one of the planet’s best 170lb. fighters) and the former Pride champion Henderson (who can also roll dudes at 205), is a great place to start. Will it be enough to bring in the big ratings? Obviously Strikeforce will add more to the card (they didn’t sign the 47 year-old Herschel Walker to sign footballs), but there are rumours floating around that they might not use Fedor in April, meaning Hendo vs. Shields would probably be the top draw. Guess it’s wait and see time.