Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson possible for Strikeforce this year
Posted on March 8, 2011, 11:59 PM by Joey SantosusImmediately following Dan Henderson's destruction of Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante this past Saturday, talks of a possible superfight between the newly crowned Light Heavyweight Champion and Fedor Emelianenko began to spread throughout the MMA community. However, according to sources close to the Russian (via FightersOnly.com), the match-up had already been proposed by Strikeforce prior to last weekend's title bout and it is an idea that Emelianenko is seriously considering.
In his latest effort, Fedor was defeated via TKO (doctor stoppage) by Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. The loss, which eliminated him from the promotion's Heavyweight Grand Prix, marks his second in a row. He suffered the first legitimate defeat of his professional career when he was submitted by Fabricio Werdum several months prior.
Although Emelianenko's success competing at Heavyweight has long made him resistant to the idea of dropping to 205-pounds, the recent losses lend credence to the idea that he may be better suited as a Light Heavyweight. Against Silva, Fedor found himself at a definite size disadvantage, which allowed the Brazilian to easily out-muscle and control him en-route to the doctor stoppage.
In the time since, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has expressed interest in booking Emelianenko against the loser of the upcoming quarterfinal bout between Alistair Overeem and Werdum, however with that fight having been pushed back recently, this would leave one of the promotion's biggest draws shelved indefinitely.
Steven Marrocco of MMAJunkie.com confirmed the reports via Twitter:
Update:
Not so fast. Our good friends at USA Today MMA contacted M-1 Global Spokesman Eric Nicholl, who denied the rumors:
Comments
Can we make this the websites main article because the Jon Jones/Usain Bolt is god awful.....
Anyways, Im going to go with Hendo since he has great submission defense, great wrestling, and that "H Bomb".
yeah the h-bomb is scary, i reckon hell knock fedor out, or out wrestle him to a decision
This is a farce. How can Fedor get a title shot after being finished 2 fights in a row?
Sure they are both legends, but the winner of Mousasi vs Kyle deserves this fight more than Fedor. This is more about the money that would be made than anything else.
i cant imagine FEDOR going down to 205 ! and how good would fedor be for that weight ? if he was too cut down too 205 !
He can get a title shot.... cause he fights in Strikeforce.
Strikeforce hasn't got the luxury of a deep roster in LHW in which to have a logical ranking system.
Besides, even the UFC puts fights on that fans want to see--regardless of rankings.
I think the real question here should be: Do the fans want to see a contest between Hendo and Fedor?
I would answer: Hell Yes!
Strikeforce...where losing streaks get you title shots.
fedor is going to brutalize him
go watch his fights against similar size opponents
This match means nothing to me as it would of 3 years ago.
ohh god people can weak what appeals to me now..... NAZIS!!
So your telling me this match wouldnt of been more interesting 3 years ago you morons?
he also dominated people similar in size to bigfoot and vai cavalo in his prime but the problem is he is no longer at his best...
There has never been a fighter like Bigfoot. Hens actually a legit fitter and not a sideshow act. Unlike choi
@he didnt dominated them, he ktfo them
he cant carry himself against big opponets long because he is small heavyweight
thats why he always look for immediate knockout
hes 1.82 m for christ sake
but yeah he made mistake with bigfoot
for not taking him in the first round
that doesn't mean that he is done
if hendo has "H bomb", fedor has two of them :)
and hes going to throw them rapid SAMBO style
i dont want to talk about the ground game... :)
no moron, people want to see the fight because it would be bad ass
wtf r u talking about??? people wnt too see this fight because both are 2 of the greatest MMA fighters of all time and want too see who wins same reason y ppl wnt Silva/GSP or Shogun/Silva etc and anyways only 2 fights make sense for fedor either the loser of Werdum/Reem or going to 205 n seeing how he does
T666 's opinion blows
just ignore the T666, he probably hit his head when he was young or something
Ah, so here we go again. No, people just want to see a fight between two legendary fighters, I hardly see how that would reek of zuffa-zombiness?
i think one of the big reasons dan signed with strikeforce was cause he can do what he wants. he always wants to fight the toughest guys and strikeforce delivers. if this doesnt happen, it will be because of m1. i know strikeforce will try to make it happen cause it will be huge. mousasi will always be there and its not always about titles. its about good, entertaining matchups.
this didnt happen in pride, cant wait for this to happen in strikeforce. if this happen this will be one of the best match up strikeforce ever made.
Yeah he was seriously undervalued in UFC. He should have gotten another crack at Silva but instead they gave it to Vitor Belfort, who'd never even won a fight a middleweight in the UFC. Anyway, I'm happy that Dan is in SF now, it open up so many potentially awesome matchups between him and guys like Lawal, Mousasi and now perhaps even Fedor!
I think it would be a great fight!
if people are already demanding GSP vs Silva
then Fedor vs Hendo should be no difference
besides Hendo has already fought bigger guys like
Big Nog , Lil Nog and Gilbert Yvel
Besides Fedor is more fit to fight at Light Heavyweight and after his recent losses it just makes sense, hes barely 6' and he could easily drop 20 pounds
so the fight makes sense , even if it is not for the title a catch weight at 210 would still be awesome!
2 Legends of the sport fighting would be amazing!
I would really like to see Fedor at LHW, I know he believes in true martial arts, and doesn't believe in cutting weight. I think he can easily fight another 3-4 years if he does.
If not hes going to have a rude awakening fighting the top HWs that are around right now.
completely agree. The Rogers fight showed that he was beginning struggling against the size and strength advantage that so many hevayweights possess over him. The Silva fight just further confirmed that he's being overwhelmed by the size difference. I think light heavy would be much more comfortable for him and would really allow him to fight on an even keel for once in his career.
How? At what point in the Rogers fight was he struggling? Roger landed a jab, held him against the cage for 30 sec and landed maybe 30 sec of gnp. The rest of the fight Fedor man handled him. Seriously, I respect you and you usually post pretty good stuff but this is off man. It seems like people saw some blood and thought Fedor was getting beat up when he wasn't.
He was getting squashed up against the cage and taking some heavy shots. If Rogers had better control it could have been a different story. I just felt that Fedor was overpowered in the 1st and was struggling. But then obviously he came back and got the KO.
IDK man, Fedor slipped up in the Werdum fight but he won the first round in the fight with Big Foot and was trying to finish at the end of the second. I think it is too soon to say he is incapable of competing with the top HWs. A lot of guys have lost a few in a row and come back.
I can't see Fedor cutting to 205. He's never done it, he's always been at 230ish. If anything this fight is going to happen at catch weight of maybe 225. I don't know what Hendo walks around in at. Something tells me Hendo will take this fight and I can see Fedor taking this fight because Hendo isn't super fast at 205 so the speed isn't a that big of a deal for Fedor. But it all depends at what weight they wish to fight, Fedor isn't going to make 205. I truly believe in skill vs strength, and i think Fedor just didn't seem like himself in his last fight, but weight + skill = advantage over a smaller opponent. Fedor was is truly a 225 - 235 weight class who's been fighting guys are are 20+ pounds bigger then him for pretty much most of his career.
This is an interesting match up, Hendo has the ground game not to get submitted while fedor has IMO one of the greatest chins in MMA currently, i can't see Hendo knocking him out or submitting him. I can see Hendo grinding out a decision but size equality Fedor should be able to get back to his feet or sweep a smaller opponent. Also, Fedor isn't going to be technical in his striking he's not going to wait for the Overhand right, he's going to go for Hendo's chin like a mad man like he did with all his opponents.
If he cut as much as other fighters I'd say he could even make middleweight. I agree however that cutting weight would be very out of character for Fedor and would kind of go against what his outlook on fighting has been for the last ten years. If he does decide to stay at heavyweight then I just hope they don't match him up with anymore giants with a weight advantage of up to 50 pounds on him.
damn this would be a sick fight, but sorry for hendo but this would be a easy fight for fedor, he defeated him already in pride so he would do it again now
joke:)
As long as Fedor avoids the Hendo bomb, he would win by submission when the fight goes to the ground. Hendo is a great wresttler but he is susceptible to submissions, just watch his fight with Anderson Silva.
Either way we are up for a treat with this fight if it materializes. It would be an excellent and technical MMA bout. Both are great...but im rooting for the Last Emperor of course!
I don't see why people are calling for this fight. Fedor has lost 2 and Hendo is the new strikeforce champ. Added to the fact Fedor fights at HW and Hendo LHW and Fedor will be considerably bigger.
I bet some of those calling for it are the same who criticise strikeforce for giving title shots coming off losses. far better match ups for Hendo than Fedor, and not quite sure who Fedor should fight next, but should not be Hendo IMO.
If it does happen though, i will be as eager as ever to watch it.
If I were Hendo I wouldn't want this fight.
Can you imagine Fedor actually cutting weight? I think he like his food too much LOL beside No more excuses for Fedor he either comes out like the champion that he is on his next fight or consider retiring from MMA and concentrate on Sambo.
But yes this would be a great fight..
THIS FIGHT MAKES NO SENSE. FEDOR JUS LOST TWICE IN A ROW AND HE GETS A TITLE SHOT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? SENDO VS. FEDOR IS A SUPER FIGHT? GET THE **** OUTTA HERE WITH THAT MESS. STRIKEFORCE I'D WACK, THEY JUS PULL FIGHTS OUT THEIR ASS AND THEY STINK LIKE SHIT... AND @ DADDYSHORTSTROKES, UR DUMB IF U THINK THIS SHOULD BE THE MAIN ARTICLE, THIS WORTHLESS FIGHT....
PS I HOPE HENDO ENDS THIS GUY, OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW.
Henderson is older than Fedor and has been fighting in MMA longer than Fedor. Your post doesn't even make any sense.
What? You mean out with he old in with the old. Hendo is older than Fedor and been around about as long.
My post makes perfect sense. Fedor doesn't deserve a title shot, point blank period. And about the age thing, ok there both old. Whatever. This fight is no super fight. Both of them should stop. My point is, to me, Strikeforce is trying to live off the name Fedor.
Sometimes guys get title shots based on their names and accomplishments in the sports, especially when the shot comes at a weightclass below their norm (see Hendo vs Anderson Silva).
ya this is kindof a pointless fight for fedor cuase even if he wins, he beat a guy whos naturally 2 wheight classes below him, and i sriously doubt fedor will go to 205. if he didnt do it in his prime what makes people think he gonna do it at age 35?
I don't see why they should fight. I don't see GSP vs Silva. Hendo has to fight Fedor because Fedor is the smallest in the HW division. But Fedor is still one of the best HW. Hendo is barely 205 and Fedor is 230-235. Maybe, Hendo should try Arlovski first or some other HWs, but not Fedor. Hendo has hot cleaned SF LWH division yet, Moussasi, Lawal. Hendo is the man!
The same could be said about GSP, probably, he should try Belford, Mia in MW before jumping on Silva. Silva can fight some other LWH fighters like Rampage or Thiago Silva first before jumping on Shogun.
you make it sound like fedor is the champ, well hes not and theres quite a few better heavywheights in the sf hw division than fedor, so actually it would be some what suitable for hendo to fight him
I would say that SF HW are bigger, stronger, more motivated, but not better then Feod. I like Hendo very much, but I want to see him how he is going to fight Moussasi first. I still think that he has a couple of guys to fight in LWH division.
I also don't like that now a lot of people think that more fighters can handle Fedor after he lost twice. I still think that Fedor is too much for Hendo.
If people want to see Fedor on the floor stoned cold knocked out, sure.
Would be a cool fight just because it's between legends. It should be at HW though, Fedor doesn't cut. People wanted Penn to fight at WW, GSP to fight at MW, Anderson to fight at LHW, so Dan can move up to HW for 1 fight. I see Fedor winning this one pretty easily.
The thing is, if Coker says it's not in June, they still need to get Fedor a fight and not leave him sitting around all year. Give him Sefo or V. Overeem or someone to keep him busy.
Im a Fedor fan but I weaked you because you have the nerves to call another Legend like Henderson a BUM.... are you serious? where you dropped on your head as a child???
it better happen ive been waiting for this since Hendo signed with SF!!!
I'm not gonna lie, that would be an awesome fight.
What a great fight this could be if it happens, both fighters match up well with their styles. Personally I don't feel it will take place, I think it will be over hyped, much like the GSP - Silva idea or the Silva - Shogun idea, but none the less, it's still a great prospect. I think in terms of style's these two match up much better than either of those fights.
However, will Fedor have the commitment to cut weight? Henderson won't be foolish enough to move up to heavyweight when he's naturally a light heavyweight, and not a particularly big one at that. Personally I feel that if Henderson does go up and loses, no one can really blame him, and if Fedor loses, his career will have taken a really significant bump and he will undoubtly be on the recieving end of a ton of critism.
I don't think Fedor has the commitment to cut weight, he never has done in his career, and I don't think he will. I think it should be a catch weight fight, at about 210 lbs as someone else suggested earlier. This would benefit both of them hugely. Fedor wouldn't have to cut anymore than ten pounds (which most fighters can cut in two days prior to the weight ins) and Dan would not be significantly outsized. That's why I feel a catch weight fight makes complete sense to me.
In regards to the fight it's self, I really don't know who will win this one. Fedor seems to have quite a sluggish stand up style. He seems like one who is not afraid to stand and trade, and has a very good chin. Dan Henderson seems to have quite a calculated style, but loves to throw the 'H Bomb'. If this lands, Fedor's chin will be tested. As for Dan's chin, he seems to be able to take a good shot and rebound perfectly fine, although he did seem a bit rocked in his last fight. As for the grappling side, they are both very good in their respective styles and I can't see either having an advantage there either.
The only thing I see stopping this fight from taking places is agreeing on a weight to fight at, and getting Fedor's often hesistant (to say the least) management to agree on a deal. If both of those work out fine, I cannot wait for this war!
Are you being for real right now? You are more obsessed with Zuffa and the UFC than anyone I have ever met in my entire life!! Fedor isn't even a part of the tournament anymore!! Man, get a life already!!
I agree fight life
If this fight happens, I will jizz my pants.
no homo.
Let Fedor redeem his fights with Werdum and Silva first, and have Hendo defend his title too. Build the two fighters a bit more before they fight each other. It's too early to make these two legends fight so soon. If this fight does happen, I see a weak Fedor stepping in the cage. Fedor needs to reclaim his prime first to make this fight epic.
Just watched Fedor vs Silva fight again and I noticed something I didnt notice b4, at the end of the 2nd round, not only did Fedor end the round with a submission attempt, but he got up off of the mat much faster than Silva did? Who was more tired? Im not discrediting Silva's win, but like I said that night, who knows wat could have happened in the 3rd round...
Confidence is a big thing, many fighters hire sports psychologists to help them with this. Maybe Fedor doesn't need confidence, I don't know, nobody knows. Maybe his first loss was a big deal to him. I think Fedor needs an easier opponent to build up his confidence so he can fight top dogs. I was excited to the thought that he was going to compete in a Combat Sambo tournament, If he strung a few wins together he would have the confidence to step into a cage with a top dog again. But again, is it confidence that he's lacking, or something else?
sure why not?
it makes as much sense as most of Sf fights
tho all Fedor can accomplish is show that he can't run with the Big Boys.
Who could SF sell in his first defense?
For Dan a win would be monstrous
but end all mean very little,
he beat a washed up legend.
But
with a win over Fedor
it might open some doors to the younger Russians of M-1
to fight for SF
lol @ "Super fight"...
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