The January 24 UFC on Fox 14 card has its co-main event, and it’s a killer matchup in the middleweight division.
Former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson will drop to 185 pounds to take on No. 8-ranked Gegard Mousasi.
The news was announced Wednesday afternoon via the UFC’s UK Twitter account.
UFC on Fox 14, or UFC Stockholm, also features Swedish superstar Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the main event—and Matt Brown vs. Tarec Saffiedine further down the card—so the addition of Henderson vs. Mousasi makes this a truly can’t-miss event.
Henderson and Mousasi are each coming off devastating submission losses—Henderson to current light heavyweight title challenger Daniel Cormier, and Mousasi to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza—but this fight will serve as a measuring stick for each man.
The UFC’s middleweight division is as stacked as ever, but a win puts either fighter in a nice place. Henderson, who is currently ranked No. 8 at light heavyweight, is always on the cusp of title contention, thanks to his legendary status in the sport and his sledgehammer right hand.
He’s challenged for both the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight strap during his five years with the promotion, ultimately coming up short in each instance.
Mousasi, on the other hand, has alternated wins and losses since coming into the UFC in April of 2013. He’s beaten Ilir Latifi and Mark Munoz, but he’s also fallen to Lyoto Machida and Souza, so this fight with Henderson should help gauge where he stands in the division. Is he a fringe top-five talent, or does he belong more in the 10 to 15 range?
We’ll find out Jan. 24 when these two veterans take the cage in Sweden.
Personally, my bet is on Mousasi. I’ll never belittle what Henderson has done during his time in the sport, but I think he’s all but checked out. Barring a clean connection with his brutal right hand, I see nowhere he can challenge Mousasi in this fight.
What do you think? Leave a comment, and we’ll discuss this matchup.
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