Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson will be the most recent in a string of former Strikeforce champions who are making their move to the UFC this weekend when he fights former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event at UFC 139.
A former multidivisional champion in Pride, “Hendo” has long been regarded as one of the top light heavyweight and middleweight competitors in the world. His unbelievable record speaks for itself, and although he has never held a title in the UFC, at 41 years old, he is as ready as ever to check that feat off his bucket list.
In fact, according to MMAWeekly’s Damon Martin, who interviewed the superstar 205-pounder on MMAWeekly Radio earlier this week, when Henderson signed his new contract with the UFC, he also asked to fight UFC champion Jon Jones immediately.
“I actually would have rather been in a fight for the title,” Henderson told MMAWeekly Radio. “Had Rashad said he was injured two or three weeks earlier, I probably would have had that fight instead of (Lyoto) Machida,” Henderson revealed.
Lyoto Machida will get his shot at Jones at UFC 140 in December, while Henderson is set to fight Shogun this Saturday night at UFC 139.
“This fight excites me too. Shogun’s a tough guy, and it’s gonna be a big challenge,” he said.
Despite being a bit disappointed that he’s not fighting for the UFC title, Henderson is not taking his UFC 139 opponent lightly. A former UFC light heavyweight champion, Shogun has fought some of the best in the world and come out on top.
“I think he’s always been a little bit hot and cold, but when he’s on, he’s a little dangerous and tough,” Henderson explained. “When he’s off, he’s still tough, just not quite as tough as he normally would be. Everybody has those days, but it seems like the last couple of years he’s been hot and cold.”
If Henderson defeats Shogun at UFC 139, it is expected that either he or Rashad Evans will be the No. 1 contender for the UFC light heavyweight title. Henderson is well aware of the current champion in the division and his meteoric rise up the rankings.
“I’m not one to buy into things too quickly. I’ve been doing this for a long time and seen a lot of guys beat a lot of tough guys really quick and then die out,” said Henderson of current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
“I think he’s going to be around a long time. He’s just going to get better. But at this point he’s still got a lot to improve on, and he’s athletic and talented, and he does learn. He’s got a huge future, but I think he’s got a little ways to go.”
In order to prove that theory right, though, Henderson will first have to make it through Shogun this weekend. If he does that, then we may really see the next champion vs. champion angle come to fruition in the UFC.
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