Hooray For Hollywood: Dan Henderson’s Future
Taking a look at Dan Henderson's MMA future with Strikeforce
Dan “Hollywood” Henderson recently signed to the upstart American MMA promotion Strikeforce, piloted by CEO Scott Coker. Henderson, reminiscent of his UFC debut, is challenging the current champ for the middleweight belt on the Strikeforce Nashville April 17 fight card. That champion is Jake Shields.
This move begs a couple of questions: why did Henderson leave the UFC? Also, what is in store for him in his new MMA digs?
Henderson has been fighting in MMA since 1997, as long as Randy Couture and longer than Chuck Liddell (though Henderson and Liddell made their UFC debut together at UFC 17, where they both won). “ Hollywood” truly cut his teeth, however, in PRIDE, Japan’s former elite MMA league, where epic and recognizable fighters like Fedor Emilianenko, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Wanderlei Silva carved their legacies into MMA history.
Some of those men went elsewhere. Some entered the UFC stables, only to falter. A select few carved a path of brutality through their respective weight classes within the UFC. Only one, though, carried two belts into the UFC, lost two consecutive title fights at two different weight classes, and shortly thereafter left the world’s premier MMA organization. Namely, Dan “ Hollywood” Henderson.
Henderson’s recent run in the UFC was 3-2, although technically he is 5-2 in the promotion. He left on seemingly good terms after Dana White, UFC President, claimed Henderson was asking for more money than any fighter in the UFC had ever been paid.
So, why did Dan Henderson really leave the UFC?
1. He already has a legacy. Henderson is the first fighter to hold concurrent titles in a major MMA promotion (middleweight and light heavyweight in PRIDE). He has fought and beaten some of the best middleweights ever, including Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin. He competed in the Olympics (Greco-Roman wrestling). He can still hold his own in two weight classes with his grinding style and devastating right hand. He even got to be a coach on the Ultimate Fighter, which gave him the much-relished opportunity to punch motormouth Michael Bisping in the face. He doesn’t need to start over.
2. Money. Henderson is 39, an age when most guys are contemplating their 401(k) and confused by an expanding midsection. If Strikeforce lured him away by offering more money to face (let’s face it) easier opponents...who wouldn’t leave the UFC with all the trophies and laurels Henderson has already amassed?
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3. On that note – and this is not an accusation of cowardice – “ Hollywood” probably doesn’t want to face Anderson Silva again. To get there, he’d had to face Nate Marquardt, another very tough fight for him. Of course, in a Choose Your Own Adventure book the easiest-looking choice often leads to dire consequences. In this case...
...and this is the last rhetorical question, I promise: what if Henderson loses to Shields? It is unlikely, since Henderson out-masses Shields, a natural welterweight, and has better standup and wrestling credentials. However, Shields’ fighting prowess is on the ground. Henderson’s few losses have been submissions or decisions. If Henderson loses, his stock as a fighter drops dramatically. As they say, you are only as good as your last fight.
Should Henderson lose to Shields, that legacy is tarnished. Should he win, his legacy frankly gains little, as the anemic Strikeforce middleweight division offers him little: developing talent, or veteran, if mid-level talent with respect to the cream of the UFC 185-pound roster, soon-to-be bolstered by a crop of Ultimate Fighter veterans.
The best of the division – and the best opportunity to win over some of the UFC’s fans – might be vaunted strikers Nick Diaz, who is small for a middleweight (and fights best at 170), Scott Smith, Robbie Lawler, or Cung Le. Grapplers like Matt Lindland (who he trains with) and Jason “Mayhem” Miller also toe the line at 185.
Up-and-coming Joey Villasenor and the aging Frank Shamrock are distant possibilities – although if Strikeforce wanted to co-promote with Cialis, the latter would be a sure thing.
Either way, expect Henderson to win the Strikeforce middleweight belt and probably challenge for the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt soon thereafter, currently held by part-time Tasmanian Devil, Gegard Mousasi.
4. Heck, maybe that’s the real reason Henderson left all along: he sees a chance to hold two belts in a top MMA promotion again. He’s going to pummel his way into a new legacy.
By Roy Kok
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer