Dan Henderson says he'll give it one more go early this summer before taking time off to be with his family. Then it's back to the gym in the fall and a possible fight at the end of the year, if all goes well. Who's next on his list? Henderson today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) that a fight with the winner of Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle is logical. But the new champ said he's also open to a future meeting with his favorite fighter, Fedor Emelianenko. "Obviously, he's still one of the top guys out there in the world, and it would be a huge challenge," Henderson said. "It would interest me to go up." The superfight popped onto the radar almost immediately after Henderson (27-8 MMA, 2-1 SF) demolished Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante with a flurry of punches this past Saturday at "Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson" to become the promotion's new light heavyweight champion. Henderson said that while his first priority is defending his new belt, he's open to fighting at middleweight or heavyweight if the right opportunity is presented. Emelianenko could present just such an opportunity should Strikeforce be interested in making the superfight. The former PRIDE heavyweight champ appears to have put retirement on hold following a loss to Antonio Silva this past month in the first round of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix, and there's a possibility he may re-enter the competition as an alternate, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. It's been nine years since Henderson took a fight with a bigger man. At PRIDE 24, he was submitted by heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a rematch of a February 2000 bout which he won by decision en route to clinching the open-weight Rings King of Kings tournament. Henderson cornered his former Team Quest teammate Matt Lindland when Lindland went up in weight in April 2007 to fight Emelianenko in the now-defunct BodogFIGHT promotion. Emelianenko won by armbar in the first round. At this point, though, a Henderson vs. Emelianeko fight is purely speculative. If Henderson returns in June, the frontrunner to fight him is the winner of Mousasi vs. Kyle, which takes place next month in San Diego at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley." "That would probably make the most sense," Henderson said. The second quarterfinal event of Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix is slated for June 18 in Dallas. Meanwhile, "Hendo" has added another belt to his mantle. "It's got to be right up there at the top," Henderson said of his recent accomplishment. "The most recent, which always feels the best to you. But it had a lot of added pleasure, I should say, knowing that I'm 40 and can still compete at the top level. That definitely means a lot." For complete coverage of "Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson," check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com. MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino's Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
A Fedor bout makes no sense. The only possible fight is the Kyle-Mousasi winner. Henderson should beat Mousasi and retire. The guy could go out a serious legend without ever having been beaten up.
Yeah, that makes sense since he's coming off two big wins. I just wish he would. I'm not saying he can't continue to win, but I would like to see someone with the sense to go out while they still have their sense(s). But I do like watching the guy fight so I can't lose either way. But if he beats Mousasi, there isn't anyone immediately waiting in the wings. I do like the idea of a future showdown with Roger Gracie.
I wouldn't doubt it. Anything that his greedy mgmt can do to sponge off of him. Hes an idiot if he does it.
Fedor himself is basically a LHW. He weighs in what 230 pounds for his fights ? And I bet you he's the same weight during fight time. 205 pounders weigh in @205 and then they're back to 220-225 fight time...Same thing.
Except the whole 10lbs and the whole dehydration thing. Dan isn't 220lbs either. He's more like barely 205.
