Former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion Dan ‘Hendo’ Henderson (28-8) is set to make his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship next month when he meets former UFC champ Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua in the main event of UFC 139.
Henderson re-signed with the UFC after finishing mma icon Fedor Emelianenko in July by first round knockout, and will meet Rua in a UFC light heavyweight title eliminator match.
One of those helping Henderson prepare for that fight is coach Gustavo Pugliese, who feels that despite the ability of both fighters to finish the fight with their hands, knows that preparing his fighter for five rounds is the ultimate goal. Still though, he knows that Henderson will always go for the knockout and both are working on a “surprise” for ‘Shogun’ when the two meet.
What are your expectations for this fight?
I’m hoping it’s an explosive fight. Both have the ability to finish it via knockout, but it’s a five rounds bout, so we don’t have to rush into it. We don’t wanna get into a situation where Dan is tired for not having got his coups right. So, we’ll take our time during this fight.Henderson comes from great knockout. Is his game plan to go for the knockout against Shogun?
Of course the goal is always the knockout. It’s what Dan is up to, he’s always going for the knockout, but we need to know when to attack and when to counterattack.What is your work with Dan for this fight?
We won’t change Hendo’s style, but we’re working in some details that might surprise Shogun. It ain’t no secret the way Henderson finishes his fights, so my job, along with (Daniel) Woirin, will be to prepare him correctly to use his strongest weapon, his right hand. It becomes dangerous when we use the kicks and his left hands at a time, doing different combinations. So we’ll make him confuse so he forgets about his right hand completely. Obviously, Dan will use his Wrestling when on the clinch, it’ll be important to use different weapons to get Shogun tired.