UFC Light Heavyweight Bout: Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida
Odds: ( +190 Henderson / -240 Machida )
Betting Pick: Hendo
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In the semi-main event of the evening, for UFC Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida will square off against former two-division PRIDE FC champion Dan “Hollywood” Henderson. Both of these guys have competed for years at the highest levels of the sport, and this is a very interesting style matchup. Can Machida’s speed, quickness, and technique beat Henderson’s power, strength, and wrestling?
Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida fought his way to the top of the UFC Light Heavyweight division with an elusive counter-punching style that confounded his opponents. While he has looked much more vulnerable in his last few outings, he is nevertheless a very dangerous technical striker who is hard to keep up with and who can make opponents pay for getting too aggressive. Against Henderson, he is definitely going to have to stick and move, because he lacks the physicality to come out ahead in a clinch battle and if he lets Henderson land a huge haymaker he is done for. If he can stay on the outside and test Henderson’s gas tank while landing quick, accurate punches, though, he could very well frustrate and tire his opponent out and take the fight over in the later rounds.
Dan “Hollywood” Henderson is a long-time veteran who has had a very successful career at both 185 and 205 pounds. Originally a wrestler, Henderson possesses one of the most effective clinch games in the sport. He is very adept at using the cage to control position and landing short punches on the inside. Unfortunately for his opponents, he is also very adept at destroying people with huge power shots. Henderson is getting up there in years and has developed a tendency to tire out later into his fights, but when he is pushing you up against the cage or tying you up, there is not a lot to be done about it.
If this were a five round fight, I would give the edge to Machida. He clearly has a superior gas tank and is both quicker and lighter on his feet than Henderson. I could see him using his movement and quick hands to punish Henderson as he tried to initiate a clinch fight. In a three round fight, though, I think Henderson will have energy to make it difficult for Machida to really get his offense going. If Machida is too defensive and backpedals while Henderson stalks him, he could well give away a decision. If he tries to fight more aggressively, I think Henderson will clinch him up, work him over, and control position well enough to earn the nod. Either way it plays out, I think Henderson takes a narrow decision in a competitive fight.
Prediction: Dan Henderson by Unanimous Decision.
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