Since the UFC acquired Strikeforce in March of this year, we’ve seen a couple defections from the smaller organization. Some were successful (Jake Shields helped us determine that GSP was the best in the world) and some not so successful (N…
Since the UFC acquired Strikeforce in March of this year, we’ve seen a couple defections from the smaller organization. Some were successful (Jake Shields helped us determine that GSP was the best in the world) and some not so successful (Nick Diaz, enough said). Let’s talk about future additions to the roster from other promotions that should shake things up in a good way, and help determine the true world champion.
As it stands, we look at the promotions in this order:
Dan Henderson recently sat down with Spencer Lazara of MMAInterviews.tv, and after coming off a huge victory over Fedor Emelianenko, had plenty to say on what it meant to beat a legend in the sport.”It’s definitely up there, if not the top one, it’s de…
Dan Henderson recently sat down with Spencer Lazara of MMAInterviews.tv, and after coming off a huge victory over Fedor Emelianenko, had plenty to say on what it meant to beat a legend in the sport.
“It’s definitely up there, if not the top one, it’s definitely top two or three (most satisfying wins) just because I’ve been a fan of his: admire how he fights, like, how aggressive and dangerous he is and what he’s done in his career, it’s always sweeter to beat somebody like that.”
Henderson finished Emelianenko in 4:12 in their July bout. The finish was shocking as in a span of five seconds, Henderson went from on his back with Emelianenko dropping bombs to Henderson getting back position, during which, he landed a thunderous right that dropped Emelianenko to the canvas with Henderson following up with a flurry of fists that got him the victory.
The stoppage was criticized for being a little premature, but Henderson thought that “it was definitely a good stoppage from the get go.”
“I think (referee) Herb Dean feels bad because she really should’ve aggressively stopped it, when he first stepped in to stop it, when Fedor was out. He (Dean) kinda barely bumped into me, a little bit, pushing me off the side and I really didn’t know that’s what was going on.”
Henderson also offered comments on another recent performance, one by the UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Although Henderson didn’t get the chance to watch the event, he heard that Silva put on an impressive showing against Yushin Okami. Henderson was happy to hear that the exciting skill that Silva possesses is back in the Octagon.
“That’s the Anderson Silva that a lot of people like to see and are fans of, not when he runs around and doesn’t try to fight. It kind of wastes time throughout the whole fight and it really disrespects the guy he’s fighting and the fans when he does that.”
Henderson has expressed interest in coming back to the UFC and sees himself fighting best in the light-heavyweight division and unify the UFC and Strikeforce titles.
“I think I’m most comfortable at 205, and I think the biggest fight the UFC would make money on and the fans would want to see, I think would be me against the winner of (Jon) Jones and Rampage (Jackson) and that would be a fight to unify the titles.”
He mentioned his status with the UFC and commented on how quickly a deal could come together, possibly for the UFC on FOX card.
“I think (UFC on FOX has) been mentioned but who knows.” said Henderson, “We still have to come up with a deal, there’s only been one talk. Things like that could happen quickly (or) take a couple months.”
Henderson said he would like to fight “somewhere between November and December.”
(“I’ve always wanted your autograph.” Alistair Overeem signs his new UFC contract in Lorenzo Fertitta’s office. Props: bawzzzz)
Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere. E-mail [email protected] for details on how your site can join the MMA Link Club…
– Alistair Overeem Was Offered Immediate Title Shot Before Accepting Brock Lesnar Fight (MMA Fighting)
– UFC 135: Matt Hughes vs Josh Koscheck official for Sept. 24 in Denver (MMA Mania)
– Top 10 Worked Shoot-Fights in Japanese Pro Wrestling (TheFightNerd)
– MMA Comedy Gold: Interviewer ‘Skippy’ (AKA Ed Bassmaster) Discusses UFC 133 Experience, Shouts Out CagePotato (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
– American Top Team Offering a Year of All-Expenses-Paid Training for Middleweights and Above (Five Ounces of Pain)
– Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto Meets Octagon Newbie Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 1 (5thRound)
– Dan Henderson Wants Jones vs. Rampage Winner, Says Rashad Evans Can Wait (LowKick)
– Your Cubicle Desperately Needs a Foot-Tall ‘MMA Alien’ Collectible (MiddleEasy)
– Lorenzo Fertitta on UFC Fighter Salaries: “All These Keyboard Warriors Have no Idea What They’re Talking About” (FightOpinion)
– Book Review: Stitch Duran’s ‘From the Fields to the Garden’ (MMA Convert)
– Ariel Helwani’s Official MMA Rankings (NBC Sports MMA)
(“I’ve always wanted your autograph.” Alistair Overeem signs his new UFC contract in Lorenzo Fertitta’s office. Props: bawzzzz)
Some selected highlights from our friends around the MMA blogosphere. E-mail [email protected] for details on how your site can join the MMA Link Club…
– Alistair Overeem Was Offered Immediate Title Shot Before Accepting Brock Lesnar Fight (MMA Fighting)
– UFC 135: Matt Hughes vs Josh Koscheck official for Sept. 24 in Denver (MMA Mania)
– Top 10 Worked Shoot-Fights in Japanese Pro Wrestling (TheFightNerd)
– MMA Comedy Gold: Interviewer ‘Skippy’ (AKA Ed Bassmaster) Discusses UFC 133 Experience, Shouts Out CagePotato (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
– American Top Team Offering a Year of All-Expenses-Paid Training for Middleweights and Above (Five Ounces of Pain)
– Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto Meets Octagon Newbie Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX 1 (5thRound)
You didn’t really think that “King” Mo Lawal — he of Team GDP, he of Team Thirsty — was going to return to action against Roger Gracie on Saturday’s Strikeforce card without some new nickname at his disposal, did you?
Oh, no. That wouldn’t be Lawal’s style. Not after being out of the cage for over a year. Not when he’s taking on a member of the famed Gracie family. As he told Ariel Helwani on Thursday’s edition of The MMA Hour, he’s come up with the perfect moniker to mark his return: Blackuraba.
As in, the black Sakuraba. “Hell yeah, ‘the Gracie Hunter,’ fool,” Lawal explained.
The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ even has a new team to match his new nickname, but will it be enough to knock off the ring rust and get back in the win column?
The last time we saw Lawal in the cage was August of 2010, when he lost his 205-pound title to Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante via third-round TKO. Since then he’s had surgery, he’s done his rehab, and he’s relocated his training camp to the friendly confines of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., where longtime friend Daniel Cormier makes his home.
The move was “a breath of fresh air,” according to Lawal. What remains to be seen is whether it’s prepared him to deal with Gracie’s submission game, which has accounted for a slew of jiu-jitsu titles as well as all four of the Brazilian’s MMA victories.
“I’m not afraid to go to the ground with him,” Lawal said. “This ain’t Abu Dhabi. This ain’t [the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships]. This is MMA. Wherever the fight goes, I’m prepared to battle.”
And while Lawal, who came to MMA from wrestling, said he still thinks high-level grapplers hold major advantages over most opponents, he doesn’t seem terribly worried about Gracie’s ground skills, saying, “It’s going to be an interesting fight, but I think I’m going to smash him.”
The question Lawal and many other Strikeforce fighters are wondering is, what then?
The current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson, seems poised to make the leap to the UFC, which would leave yet another Strikeforce belt vacant.
“If I’m going to fight for the belt, I want to fight the champ, and that’s Dan,” said Lawal, who insisted he had no interest in owning a title that’s been vacated by the previous champ.
“The thing is, what’s the point? What’s the point of having the belt when it’s been vacated, and the person who vacated it is still fighting somewhere else within the same umbrella, but not the same organization?”
At least for the time being, it’s a conundrum that’s familiar to many fighters on the Strikeforce roster. The welterweight and heavyweight champs have already been removed from the picture by the Zuffa brass, and the same seems likely to happen in Lawal’s division, leaving him wondering what’s really at stake in these fights.
“It feels a little weird, because it’s not the same,” Lawal said. “It’s like a cancer patient, like a dying cancer patient. That’s how I feel like the organization is. We’re just waiting for it to die, to pass. As long as I can get my fights in and they’re still around, I want to get them in.”
After more than a year off, he’ll get his chance to get another one in this Saturday in Cincinnati. Considering the precarious position of the promotion he’s fighting for, he’d better make them count. Who knows how many more there will be under the Strikeforce banner, particularly for the losers.
You didn’t really think that “King” Mo Lawal — he of Team GDP, he of Team Thirsty — was going to return to action against Roger Gracie on Saturday’s Strikeforce card without some new nickname at his disposal, did you?
Oh, no. That wouldn’t be Lawal’s style. Not after being out of the cage for over a year. Not when he’s taking on a member of the famed Gracie family. As he told Ariel Helwani on Thursday’s edition of The MMA Hour, he’s come up with the perfect moniker to mark his return: Blackuraba.
As in, the black Sakuraba. “Hell yeah, ‘the Gracie Hunter,’ fool,” Lawal explained.
The former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ even has a new team to match his new nickname, but will it be enough to knock off the ring rust and get back in the win column?
The last time we saw Lawal in the cage was August of 2010, when he lost his 205-pound title to Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante via third-round TKO. Since then he’s had surgery, he’s done his rehab, and he’s relocated his training camp to the friendly confines of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., where longtime friend Daniel Cormier makes his home.
The move was “a breath of fresh air,” according to Lawal. What remains to be seen is whether it’s prepared him to deal with Gracie’s submission game, which has accounted for a slew of jiu-jitsu titles as well as all four of the Brazilian’s MMA victories.
“I’m not afraid to go to the ground with him,” Lawal said. “This ain’t Abu Dhabi. This ain’t [the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships]. This is MMA. Wherever the fight goes, I’m prepared to battle.”
And while Lawal, who came to MMA from wrestling, said he still thinks high-level grapplers hold major advantages over most opponents, he doesn’t seem terribly worried about Gracie’s ground skills, saying, “It’s going to be an interesting fight, but I think I’m going to smash him.”
The question Lawal and many other Strikeforce fighters are wondering is, what then?
The current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson, seems poised to make the leap to the UFC, which would leave yet another Strikeforce belt vacant.
“If I’m going to fight for the belt, I want to fight the champ, and that’s Dan,” said Lawal, who insisted he had no interest in owning a title that’s been vacated by the previous champ.
“The thing is, what’s the point? What’s the point of having the belt when it’s been vacated, and the person who vacated it is still fighting somewhere else within the same umbrella, but not the same organization?”
At least for the time being, it’s a conundrum that’s familiar to many fighters on the Strikeforce roster. The welterweight and heavyweight champs have already been removed from the picture by the Zuffa brass, and the same seems likely to happen in Lawal’s division, leaving him wondering what’s really at stake in these fights.
“It feels a little weird, because it’s not the same,” Lawal said. “It’s like a cancer patient, like a dying cancer patient. That’s how I feel like the organization is. We’re just waiting for it to die, to pass. As long as I can get my fights in and they’re still around, I want to get them in.”
After more than a year off, he’ll get his chance to get another one in this Saturday in Cincinnati. Considering the precarious position of the promotion he’s fighting for, he’d better make them count. Who knows how many more there will be under the Strikeforce banner, particularly for the losers.
As I watched Dan Henderson fall to the floor from a Fedor Emelianenko right hand, I figured that he was just too small to compete with the former King of MMA.Henderson fighting out of his weight class and losing to a world class fighter has happened mo…
As I watched Dan Henderson fall to the floor from a Fedor Emelianenko right hand, I figured that he was just too small to compete with the former King of MMA.
Henderson fighting out of his weight class and losing to a world class fighter has happened more than once. He’s also 41 years old, so Father Time has been expecting “Hollywood” for a while now. The thing about Dan is he does not fight like he’s a man who is 41. He did not fight like a guy everyone knew was going to lose to “The Last Emperor.”
A bewildered looking Henderson dropped Fedor with an uppercut, and then, ended the fight with some vicious ground-and-pound. Like he has so many times before, Dan lived up to the nickname “Dangerous,” and a world class fighter’s name was added to what may already be the most impressive resume ever compiled in the history of Mixed Martial Arts.
Tell Father Time to wait. Dan’s not done yet.
The mixed martial artist we know as “Hollywood” Dan Henderson was born Daniel Jeffery Henderson, on August 24th, 1970, in tiny Downey, California. Dan grew up in Apple Valley, CA, where he attended Victory Valley High School. He attended Victor Valley High School in Victorville, California, where he would earn medals at the California State Wrestling Championships in 1987 and again in 1988.
He was a member of the 1987 Victor Valley High School wrestling team state champions. Henderson went on to wrestle at both Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State University, participating in the 1993 NCAA championships. He also qualified to represent the United States in both the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling.
His mixed martial arts career began in 1997 as a part of the Real American Wrestling Team, which was run by Rico Chiapparelli, who himself having been a former NCAA national wrestling champion. Dan began his MMA career with a bang.
After winning a couple of fights in Brazil, he entered the illustrious Ultimate Fighting Championship for their 17th tournament. In only his third fight (as per Sherdog Fight Finder), he was matched with former multiple world Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Allan Goes. Henderson would win that fight, and then, defeat future UFC Welterweight Champion, Carlos Newton, to win the tournament.
Dan’s year wasn’t over yet though. In 1999, he entered the RINGS: King of Kings tournament. The tournament held over two events would put the former Victor Valley High School state champion’s name on the map.
After winning both his fights in the first round, Hendo found himself matched against devastating Muay Thai striker Gilbert Yvel. Yvel had already forged a name for himself both in and out of the ring. Dan used his superior wrestling to frustrate the striker en route to a unanimous decision.
The next two fights were tougher contests that Dan would win by split and majority decision respectively. Not too shabby considering the former would be a future Pride and UFC heavyweight champion, and arguably, one of the greatest fighters of all time in Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera. The latter? Future Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and two-time UFC LHW title contender Renato Sobral.
His eighth and ninth straight victories catapulted him to the title of tournament champion and an invite to the rapidly blossoming Pride Fighting Championships, which was carving a name for itself as “the” place to fight for elite MMA talent.
Dan stepped into the PRIDE ring for the first time at PRIDE 12: Cold Fury. It was here, he would suffer his first defeat. A hard fought battle against vicious Muay Thai striker, and MMA legend Wanderlei Silva. Despite the defeat, Dan’s reputation as an elite Mixed Martial Artist had been set. He would become a fixture in the PRIDE organization and one of the promotion’s biggest (and yet surprisingly underrated) stars.
Dan would real off three straight victories, with a vicious knockout of MMA legend Renzo Gracie and a hard-fought split decision victory over rising star Murilo “Ninja” Rua bookending the streak. Dan, however was undersized for PRIDE’s Middleweight (205 lb) division and would lose his next two fights to Ricardo Arona, as well as a rematch to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Despite the setbacks, Dan would continue to be a perennial title contender within the organization. He would win four straight, with victories over former UFC middle weight (185 lb) champion Murilo Bustamante and Japanese standout Yuki Kondo, during that streak.
His performances earned him an invite to PRIDE: Total Elimination 2005. Dan would, unfortunately, see his streak ended by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira—the twin brother of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
The year 2005 would be a banner year for Henderson. PRIDE created a welterweight (183 lb) division, and the champion would be named at the illustrious 2005 Shockwave event. Dan rode to the tournament final on a tear, having knocked out Japanese standouts Ryo Chonan and Akhiro Gono in his previous two bouts.
This set up a rematch against the always tough Murilo Bustamante. Dan would take an arguable split decision to be named the first PRIDE welterweight champion. Dan was once again a champ, and once again, he had earned it by facing the best.
Dan would win his next bout against the always game Kazuo Misaki. However, an uninspired Henderson would lose the title of tournament champion to Misaki only four months later in a rematch. Due to PRIDE’s strange rules on champion bouts, Dan’s would not lose his belt despite the defeat.
Dan ended 2006 on a high note, beating MMA legend VItor Belfort at PRIDE’s first stateside show PRIDE 32. The victory set up a rematch with PRIDE middleweight legend Wanderlei Silva, with “The Axe Murderer’s” LHW strap on the line. Henderson made a statement to all of MMA, when he leveled Wandy with a big left hook.
With that victory, Henderson had taken titles or tournament victories in three different organizations. He possessed both the PRIDE middleweight and welterweight belts—a storybook ending to a storied career, right? Nope. Not the boy from Apple Valley.
He would just peddle his wares elsewhere, with wares being his two PRIDE championship belts, and elsewhere meant of course stepping into the world famous Octagon.
Dan’s return to the UFC was all that was to be expected. Despite losing to the bigger, younger current titlist, the enigmatic Quinton Rampage Jackson, Dan held the fight close and even dominated the first two rounds, before gassing in the third.
Following the loss of his belts, which were at this point useless trinkets following UFC parent company Zuffa’s purchase of PRIDEFC, the UFC set Dan up for a another title fight. This time, the fight was to be against the unstoppable Muay Thai striker known to the masses as Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Henderson started off strong, taking Anderson down, and landed a few shots from Anderson’s guard.
Unfortunately for Dan is that one of his greatest strengths is also one of his greatest weaknesses. Dan possesses legitimate one-punch knockout power. Too often, we have seen him rely on that big overhand right to end the fight, but not tonight, Anderson landed pinpoint shots that had Dan moving backwards. Another shot hurt Henderson bad, It allowed Anderson to sink his hooks in, and force the tap via rear naked choke, with only eight seconds remaining in round 2.
With back to back losses, Henderson found himself firmly straddled to infamous UFC chopping block.
In typical Hollywood style, Dan took the fight the through front of him. Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Rousimar Palhares. Although many thought that Dan had been given a squash match, Palhares used his world class jiu-jitsu to keep the fight more competitive than many though possible.
The win set up a match with highly-regarded former middleweight champion Rich Franklin. Franklin looked tentative early going and ate some big shots. He turned it on a bit towards the end but was unable to sway the judges, losing a split decision. The win also set up Dan Henderson as a household name in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Chosen as of the two coaches on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter. Dan would be matched against Michael Bisping. Bisping insulted Dan several times throughout the show, which led to a fired up Henderson in the series’ finale. Dan shocked the world, and Bisping, when he landed one of his patented overhand rights, dropping Bisping like he’d been shot. Then ol’ Danny Boy added a little controversy when he landed a second shot, and afterwards, told reporter it was to “shut him up.”
Dan’s UFC career ended abruptly when negations between Henderson’s management team and Zuffa could not be reached. This prompted a smaller San-Jose based promoter: Strikeforce, to snag the highly touted free agent off the market. Hendo was dropped smack into a title fight against world-renowned grappler Jake Shields.
Seemingly overweight and unprepared for the fight, Henderson, nearly ended Shield’s night with a vicious right hand, however he missed with the follow up which gave Shields time to recover. Shields fought a smart fight after, constantly taking the visibly tired Henderson to the mat repeatedly.
With the loss to Shields, many wondered if should retire. Had his shelf life truly expired? Not in the next fight. Matched against a previously beaten foe, the ever tough Renato Sobral, Henderson leveled Sobral before unleashing some of his underrated ground and pound on the helpless Brazilian.
The win catapulted Dangerous Dan to yet another title fight. This time against rising star Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante’s light heavyweight strap. In “Feijao,” Dan found a striker that not only wished to go toe to toe with him, he relished the thought. Unfortunately for Rafael, Dan’s a tough nut to crack, and after a punishing back-and-forth beginning, Dangerous Dan, showed why he’s never out of a fight, dropping Cavalcante to the canvas before commencing another Hendo patented beatdown.
The Victory, over “Feijao” earned Hendo a shot at the great Fedor Emelianenko, which he once again passed with flying colors. Dan Henderon has officially take the spot of “Baddest Old Dude” in the UFC. With the UFC looking into a possible rematch with Anderson Silva, we may be looking at a fight between two of the greatest fighters to ever step into the cage or ring.
Regardless of what transpires, know this: Dan Henderson’s career record stands at 28-8, with 15 of those victories were stoppages. The names on his resume should make anyone blush. From the beginning of his career to the day Father Time throws in the towel, you can bet that Dan will have added a couple more legends to his list.
When the greatest fighter in MMA history is mentioned, Dan’s name won’t be at the top. It just shows how unappreciated the simple wrestler from a small town is.
I, for one, think his resume, well, I think it speaks for itself.
Arguably the two biggest superstars fighting outside the UFC right now are Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem.Overeem is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and was recently stripped of his belt and released from the promotion.UFC President Dan…
Arguably the two biggest superstars fighting outside the UFC right now are Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem.
Overeem is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and was recently stripped of his belt and released from the promotion.
UFC President Dana White has gone on record saying that the UFC is in talks with Overeem right now and they are working on signing him.
Henderson is the current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, but isn’t contracted for any more fights with the promotion and has not yet signed a new contract.
White seems more uncertain about whether or not the UFC will sign Henderson given that they have had contract disputes in the past, but has made it known that Henderson is a fighter they would like to get back into the UFC.
Whether or not either of these fighters will sign with the UFC remains to be seen, but it would definitely be a smart move for both men.
Here’s 5 reasons why Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem should sign with the UFC…
You didn’t really think that “King” 
As I watched Dan Henderson fall to the floor from a Fedor Emelianenko right hand, I figured that he was just too small to compete with the former King of MMA.