 Johnny_Upton
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12-07-09 01:26 PM - Post#1138447
Nice move by Strikeforce. Get ready for Dana saying that Dan sucks and he's washed up...
Former UFC middleweight Dan Henderson signed a four-fight, 16-month deal with Strikeforce on Saturday.
Aaron Crecy, the fighter’s business partner and manager, confirmed that the deal has been inked but would not divulge any further specifics of the agreement. Henderson had been in negotiations with both the UFC and Strikeforce since his UFC contract expired this fall.
“Dan chose to sign with Strikeforce after careful consideration," Crecy told Sherdog.com via e-mail on Monday. "He approached the process with an open mind, and over the course of the past couple months became increasingly impressed with the Strikeforce organization. It was not a decision that Dan took lightly."
Henderson could debut for Strikeforce as early as April on a tentatively planned CBS event, Sherdog.com has learned, and might face the promotion’s middleweight champion, Jake Shields, right out of the gate. Henderson, who also fights at light heavyweight, is being eyed for matchups against Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi and the world’s No. 1 heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko, said a source with knowledge of the deal.
“Dan has always been motivated by the challenge of competing above his natural weight class, and he would certainly be honored to square off with Fedor at some point," said Crecy.
Henderson, who is Sherdog.com’s No. 3 ranked middleweight, and the UFC had stalemated on a new five-fight agreement since late July, following the two-time Olympic wrestler’s second-round knockout of Michael Bisping at UFC 100. (Henderson earned $350,000 for the win, which included a $100,000 performance bonus from the promotion.)
Henderson was first announced to rematch Rich Franklin at UFC 103 last September in Dallas, though he was later replaced by Vitor Belfort as the 39-year-old California native’s renegotiations continued.
During a July 31 teleconference call, UFC President Dana White said Henderson was “next in line” to challenge middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva in a rematch of their March 2008 bout at UFC 82. However, the bout would never come to fruition. Henderson met face-to-face with UFC owners Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta at the end of September in Las Vegas, but could not hash out a new contract.
In November, Strikeforce joined the negotiation table after Henderson’s two-month non-compete period had expired with the UFC. Unlike other standard UFC contracts, Henderson’s did not include a matching period in which the UFC could review and match outside offers, said the source.
Jordan Feagan, Henderson’s lawyer, continued to converse with both promotions as late as Friday, according to the source. The source said that Henderson was even offered a bout on Friday to face top-ranked middleweight Nate Marquardt at UFC 109 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas, a matchup the promotion had previously tried to lock up for November’s UFC 105 in Manchester, England. A bout between Marquardt and Henderson’s former teammate, Chael Sonnen, had already been reported independently for that date, though not officially announced yet by the promotion.
Henderson won the UFC’s under 200-Pound tournament at UFC 17 in 1998, before joining the ranks of RINGS and Pride Fighting Championships in Japan. The only fighter ever to hold two division titles for Pride simultaneously, Henderson owns victories over standouts Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Wanderlei Silva, Murilo Bustamante, and Rich Franklin.
During his second stint with the UFC from 2007-2009, Henderson co-headlined four of the five events that he appeared in.
Crecy said Henderson was “very pleased” with the terms of his new contract and that money was not the fighter’s sole objective in his decision to move to the newer promotion.
“Dan likes to be a maverick, and I think part of the attraction to Strikeforce was to be a part of something that broadens the growth of the sport within the U.S. and globally,” said Crecy. “The fact that Strikeforce offers a network television platform in CBS as well as a premium cable partner in Showtime was particularly appealing to him. It delivers an incredible opportunity for Dan to perform live before an audience of millions of present and future MMA fans. Also, (Strikeforce CEO) Scott Coker treated Dan with a great deal of respect and integrity throughout the negotiations, and that certainly affected his decision. Dan is very excited to be a part of the Strikeforce family."
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InVain316
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12-07-09 01:34 PM - Post#1138448
In response to Johnny_Upton
I'll tell you what, there's some 185 and 205 pound guys in Strikeforce who are about to deal with a big dose of reality... and reality's name is Dan Henderson.
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Giz
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12-07-09 01:35 PM - Post#1138449
In response to Johnny_Upton
good, would love to see him take out Shields and have a war with Mousasi.
i wouldn't be suprised if Dana DOESN'T say much more than what he's already said, that Strikeforce wouldn't come close to paying Henderson what the UFC would. i don't think there is much acrimony there.
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Runnin_Amuk
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12-07-09 02:28 PM - Post#1138481
In response to Giz
Personally I think it sucks...and deletes the talent pool in the UFC. For Hendo, good for him, he probably got a real good contract. But...as an MMA fan I would rather have seen him re sign with the UFC and take on some of the 185 up and comers there.
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playoffbeard
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12-07-09 06:11 PM - Post#1138627
In response to Runnin_Amuk
I'd love to see Hendo take on Mousasi, just to see where Mousasi is at. He's been real impressive lately, but Dan would be a great test to see where he really stands.
No doubt in my mind that he smashes Shields rather easily. I don't think he could take him down very easily, and he would get destroyed standing.
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Cotton
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12-07-09 06:12 PM - Post#1138628
In response to playoffbeard
He'll be back in the UFC anyways when Strikeforce as to sell to them. At some point it will happen. 
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Drunk_24-7
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12-07-09 11:11 PM - Post#1138750
In response to Cotton
Good for Henderson. The UFC were fucking him around, he's getting the title shot, he's not getting the title shot, he's getting the title shot, he's not getting the title shot, he's not with the company. Fuck that. Henderson's not a young dude and he's earned a rematch with Anderson. Vitor comes in, wins one fight and gets the shot. I like Vitor and think he has a better chance of beating Anderson than Henderson does. I don't know that Vitor could beat Hendo though becuase I think Dan would be able to take him down or keep him in the clinch. I'm pumped for Vitor-Silva and I think it makes for the most exciting fight possible at 185 or 205 or wherever they decide to do it but regardless, that move by the UFC is a slap in the face to Hendo. It's the type of slap in the face the UFC's been able to get away with because they're the only show in town that mattered.
Well Fedor and Mosuasi legitimized Strikeforce on National TV last month and the addition of Henderson is Huge for them. This isn't a washed up guy going to Strikeforce for a payday the way Affliction brought in Tim Sylvia and Arlovski. This is a hungry Dan Henderson who's looking to make a statement and looked unstoppable since losing his two titles in wars with Rampage and Silva respectively. Since then he's been winning and winning and now comming off the knockout of the year against Bisping he's on a role and was the number 1 contender to the UFC middleweight title. That's a great addition for Strikeforce.
I just hope they don't feed him to Fedor because he'll get whiped out and it'll be almost a sideshow fight because it's just not a fair matchup for him. I'd like to see him go in and beat Shields. He could defend against Lawler at middleweight and then fight Mousasi at 205 and that would be a war.
Or Hendo being Hendo, he might go right for Mousasi right away. I want to see that fight right now. I think it's just as interesting, awesome and potentially explosive a matchup as Vitor vs. Anderson Silva is, however I think Strikeforce would be best served to have Henderson fight Shields first, get what should be a sure win and a title to represent the company as champion in one division making the matchup with Mousasi more interesting as it would be two champions in neighbouring divisions squaring off.
They just signed Melvin Manhoef as well. Manhoef should fight Mosasi in a rematch from their Dream battle that not alot of North American fans have seen while Hendo wins the Middleweight title and then either defend it against Lawler or step up to face the winner of Manhoef-Mousasi II. If Manhoef beats Mousasi, he could move up to heavyweight and try Fedor and Hendo and Mousasi could still have a great go at 205 that would allow Mousasi to get right back in the saddle with a win or prove that he was merely the best of the rest during his stellar run but that there are some of the best guys in the world out there who can handle him.
If Mousasi beats Hendo, then there's reason to believe he could potentially beat Silva or Machida at 185 or 205 as well. If Hendo wins, especially if he beats Sheilds to take the middleweight title first, then that would legitimize a Fedor fight by him taking his shot at history by winning the world title in three weight classes. (Assuming Fedor gets the belt off of Overeem soon)
We all know Fedor's ready for Lesnar at Heavyweight and even though I don't think Nick Diaz is in GSP's league I do think he's the toughest Welterweight challenge out there for him and he's a free agent and they just signed KJ Noons. That might be enough to make Diaz want to go there and chase down his rematch with Noons giving them a couple of Welterweights that aside from GSP would be probably be just as good as most of the rest of the UFC Welterweight division.
Strikeforce is very close to potentially having a strong and legit argument that they have the best fighters in the world with some serious contenders in the top four divisions. By broadcasting mainstream on network TV it won't take em long to blow up and challenge the UFC. By putting huge events on cable with some recignizable names and some of the most talented but overlooked young guys out there, they're going about competeing with the UFC the right way. One shot pay per views with names that are realitively unknown at this point are not the way to do it, I like the direction Strikeforce is going in.
Henderson could have waited around and maybe gotten the rematch and maybe beaten Anderson Silva. He could have went to war with Marquart and have a huge rematch with Vitor as well, but the UFC have been fucking him around and taking him for granted so I'm glad to see him give them the 'ol fuck you and I think he'll be a huge addition to the popularity and success of Strikeforce to help them to continue to try and be taken seriously as a valid promotion and realistic competition to the UFC. Hendo/Mousasi is a dream match but there's no need to rush it and leave them nowhere to go. Bring Dan in at middleweight, bring in his fans who watched his entire career in the UFC, Pride and the UFC again. Bring in his fans who supported him all along, dispite a pair of tough losses in the two unification bouts, Bring in his fans who watched him coach The Ultimate Fighter on Spike and then knock out Bisping in the "coach's fight" on PPV to earn the number 1 contender spot only to see it taken away from him because Dana didn't think he was marketable enough or whatever the case may be. All those fans along with the ones who are already on the Strikeforce bandwagon but booed the hell out of Shields for laying and praying on Mayham, will enjoy seeing Hendo rip through Shields to win the title. If you want to give him a defence, I think Lawler will probably win his next fight and get a title shot and Lawler/Henderson would be an explosive slugfest. I don't see Lawler winning it, but it'd be a hell of an exciting fight. Then let him move up to middleweight and challenge Mousasi, and if he wins that and has one fight left, fuck it, let him fight Fedor. Chances are he loses and will be easier to renegotiate with comming off a loss than a win, and if he wins, well then fuck it, pay him whatever he wants because he will have just become the greatest fighter of all time and he'll probably stick with Strikeforce because he seems like a pretty loyal dude and by that point would be enjoying sticking it to Dana and the UFC so much I don't think money'd even be the main issue any longer. Anyway you slice it, it's a tough blow to the UFC, a big Score for Strikeforce and in my opinion, a good thing for MMA overall.
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Johnny_Upton
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12-08-09 08:45 AM - Post#1138813
In response to Drunk_24-7
You gotta love Dana's rationalization
White Says He Pushed Henderson to Strikeforce
Monday, December 07, 2009
Sherdog.com Staff
UFC President Dana White told Fanhouse on Monday that he pushed Dan Henderson into signing with Strikeforce.
Henderson, a multi-divisional champion in Pride who had won three straight in the UFC before finishing out his contract, signed a four-fight, 16-month deal with Strikeforce on Saturday rather than return to the UFC.
“He's happy, but the reality is that I pushed him into signing that deal,” White told FanHouse’s Mike Chiappetta. “I told people over the weekend that he'd sign within the next week.”
White said that after realizing he would not come to terms with Henderson following several meetings, he lowered his original offer to force Henderson out of a limbo.
“Here's the reality: If I wanted him, he'd be in the UFC,” White said. “It's not like, 'F---, Strikeforce beat me out.' He's been a free agent for a long time. If I wanted him, I would have signed him by now."
In response to White’s comments, Aaron Crecy, Henderson's business partner and manager, made the following statement to Sherdog.com:
“Dan has nothing but fond memories of his time with the UFC and appreciates the opportunities that were provided to him by Lorenzo, Frank and Dana. He enjoyed three of his five fights being headliners and being on the main card for his other two fights. He also appreciates being awarded 'Knockout of the Night' at the biggest show in UFC history, being a coach on 'The Ultimate Fighter 9' and was grateful that they continued to compete with Strikeforce for his services. Dan is really comfortable with his decision to move forward with Strikeforce and wishes the UFC continued success as well.”
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ImissPJ
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12-08-09 11:24 AM - Post#1138893
In response to Johnny_Upton
I'd love to see Henderson against Fedor and I think it will happen.
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race911
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Posts: 468
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Registered on 10-01-05
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12-08-09 10:13 PM - Post#1139267
In response to ImissPJ
Good for Hendo.. I'll miss him in the UFC but love the memory of him knocking Bisping the fuck out
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