Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante (10-2) will defend his title for the first time in just under a months time against former PRIDE champ Dan Henderson.
Both men are scheduled to meet in the main event of Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson on March 5th at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The event also features another title bout as women’s welterweight champ (135 lbs) Marloes Coenen will also defend her title for the first time against Miesha Tate.
“Feijão” earned the Strikeforce belt last summer by beating Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal at a Strikeforc: Houston event. It was the tenth win of the Brazilian’s career and the third in a row for him.
When he meets Henderson next month, Cavalcante will look to finish his opponent like he’s finished all ten of his past adversaries, with his fists. He has 9 wins via (T)KO and one by submission, with the submission being to punches.
Speaking to Tatame.com, Cavalcante said he is aware of how dangerous Henderson can be with his wrestling, but he’ll rely on his fists to finish the fight and is currently focused on his boxing with less than a month to go.
How you’re preparing yourself for the Wrestling game he’ll try to bring you to?
This training is not specific for this fight, usually do this training of attacking and defending on the grid. I don’t train much Wrestling… I train some specific Wrestling positions and I take classes once in a while, but I can’t play Wrestling a lot. I’ve trained for four months, but when it’s close to the fight you can get injured and I rather focus on what I’m best: Boxing, Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu.He’s also a good striker too, his right hand has taken many down, including on his last fight, against Babalu. How do you see his striking skills?
Exactly. I consider him to be a very dangerous guy, for me it’s an honor to be fighting a guy of his level. I’m living my dream, step by step, without disrespecting anyone. Thanks God I’m making some space for myself. I’ll be much prepared for this fight, he’s a tough fighter, I’ve watched all his fights, he’s a complete athlete, dangerous, much experienced on the octagon, he know how to move in there, he know how to get rid of bad situations, so it’s the right time for me to win this fight.