With a Win Over Julie Kedzie, Alexis Davis Now Ready to Move Up Strikeforce Food Chain

    Pictured: Alexis Davis with Dave Dayboll

After four years of working her way up the ranks, women’s 135-pound fighter Alexis Davis finally got her shot at in a major MMA promotion when she took on Julie Kedzie at last week’s Strikeforce and M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson event.
And for a fighter who has always had to work for everything she’s gotten, her win over fellow Kedzie wasn’t easy.
“I’m the type of fighter that I’m always moving forward and trying to push the pace, and she was able to control that by keeping the space and distance,” said Davis. “When we did clinch, she has a strong enough wrestling background that it was difficult to take her down.
“I was stronger in the clinch and tried to stay aggressive and keep moving. I was actually a little bit surprised that I was as strong as I was, and I think that’s what won it for me.”
Davis told MMAWeekly.com that the win represents the biggest step forward of her career to date.
“This is fantastic for me to have a win in my first fight for Strikeforce,” she said. “I feel like they’re really trying to push the 135-pound division and I’m really glad to be part of that. Hopefully I can work my way up through the food chain within the next year and get a title shot.”
Fighting on the undercard allowed Davis the opportunity to watch the evening’s 135-pound women’s title fight between Marloes Coenen and Miesha Tate. Having seen them both in action, and having fought former champion Sarah Kaufman (who is next in line for Tate’s title), Davis feels she can match up well with the top in the division.
“I would be happy to fight either one of them,” she said. “Even if it wasn’t for a title shot, I’d fight Miesha anyway, she’s a great competitor.
“I think I can match up pretty well with them. Being that I have fought some of the top women in the sport like Tara (LaRosa) and Shayna (Baszler) – and while maybe not having victories over everyone – I’ve been able to hold my ground.”
Regardless of whom she faces next, Davis hopes she’s impressed Zuffa enough to take on a top level fighter in her next Strikeforce bout.
“That’s the reason why so many women want to sign with them, because you’ll get those quality bouts and get the opportunity to fight the highest-ranked people,” she said. “Hopefully in my next fight, I wouldn’t be surprised if I got a good name (opponent).
“I’m looking to go out there and prove myself, just like everyone else.”
Having seen others get their opportunity before she did, Davis remained stalwart in her quest to get to the top of the woman’s 135-pound weight class, and is now seeing that hard work pay off with her win this past Friday.
She intends to make a name for herself in division and be someone fans can look to for good things coming from her in the future.

“I’m a little disappointed with the way my fight went this weekend, but I hope I get another chance to prove myself out there soon,” she said in closing. “You never know what’s going to happen in the future, but I’m going to be there, and have my gloves on and ready to go.”

Anthony Gervich:No Country for Old Men

Last Saturday, Fedor Emelianenko was defeated again.
This time, it was Dan Henderson's H-Bomb that left "The Last Emperor" with his face down on the canvas, as Herb Dean rushed in to stop the action 4:12 minutes into Round 1. Early stoppage or not, it was an amazing victory for Dan Henderson, who once again proved that he's one of the all-time greats, just like his opponent that night, Fedor Emelianenko.
Maybe Fedor looked better than in his previous bouts against Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum, but it was not enough to "crack" the 6 years older, and 15lbs lighter Dan Henderson.
All three of Fedor's previous opponents beat him at his own game.
Fedor's elite SAMBO skills turned him into one of the most dangerous grapplers on the planet. Yet, he was trapped inside Fabricio Werdum's triangle, and eventually forced to tap out after just 69 seconds. Against Antonio Silva, Fedor faced a giant, and we all know that "The Last Emperor" made a career out of slaying bigger and stronger men. Not anymore. "Bigfoot" brutally pummeled Fedor out of the first round of Strikeforce Heavyweight GP.
Finally, Henderson had Fedor in the clinch for several minutes, but the much heavier Emelianenko was unable to use his legendary Judo throws to put the "All-American" on his back. Henderson later used a sweep Fedor would see from miles away in PRIDE; in what was a beginning of the end at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
For me, as a fan of Mixed Martial Arts, it was painful to watch. Fedor Emelianenko represents so many people, not only Eastern Europeans, and I'm sure that many fans around the world wanted to see him bouncing back from what would have been simply "bad luck" against Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum. But it wasn't.
Mixed Martial Arts evolved, and left Fedor behind. "The Last Emperor" stayed the same fighter he was in PRIDE, minus the age factor and the natural drop in motivation, while Dan Henderson, who has exactly the same amount of fights and is, like I mentioned before, 6 (7 this August) years older, evolved his game to the point he's still considered one of the best fighters on the planet. Training camps, training partners, nutrition, pharmacology… it's hard to point a finger at something specific. The bottom line is still out there, written in bold – Fedor will struggle against anyone out of today's Top 10 fighters, from Light Heavyweight to Heavyweight. It's a new era with different rules.
Like I said many times before, there are a lot of people trying to re-write history by dismissing Fedor Emelianenko's legacy and his impact on Mixed Martial Arts. Like it or not, Fedor is one of the most influential figures in the history of this sport. His place in history as one of the greatest fighters (any type of combat sports) in history is set in stone.
The question is, what does Fedor want to do now? If Fedor wants to continue fighting, he has to face the facts and change his routine as a fighter by 180 degrees, and of course drop down to Light Heavyweight. You can't be a successful fighter in today's MMA with a tire around your waist. In case of retirement, Emelianenko can continue his work as a member of Belgorod Regional Parliament, coach young Russian up-and-coming MMA fighters or go full time into religion.
This way or another, whatever Fedor's decision is, MMA fans around the world will still watch his fights in PRIDE, and remember Emelianenko Fedor as "The Last Emperor".

Ben Fowlkes:Falling Action: Best and Worst of Strikeforce -- Fedor vs. Henderson

In what might have been the biggest Strikeforce bout of all time, one legend fell while another continued to ride the crest of an ageless wave. What does it all mean, and where do we go from here?

To find out, let's break down the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between from Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson

Biggest Winner: Dan Henderson
A little less than a month out from his 41st birthday, a 207-pound Hendo knocked out the man who had once been the world's best heavyweight, thus guaranteeing that he can pretty much do whatever he wants with the rest of his career and still be regarded as a legend from a bygone era. From the Pride days to the UFC to Strikeforce, Henderson has built a reputation as the guy who'll fight whoever you've got as long as the money's right. The question is, now that the lucrative contract he left the UFC for is up, will Zuffa change its mind about how much Henderson is worth? He did just tear through the Strikeforce light heavyweight division and then polish off Fedor, so come on, pay this man his money. After everything he's done with his career, it'd be a real shame if he didn't get the chance to see what else he can squeeze out of it, all because Zuffa wants to do a little bargain shopping.

Biggest Loser: Fedor Emelianenko
You've got to say this for "The Last Emperor": he knows how to maintain a streak. First he went a decade without a legitimate loss, now he's gone three fights without a win. He's also lost in a variety of ways, from submission to doctor's stoppage to TKO via punches. You can argue that Herb Dean's stoppage was a little quick, but Hendo seemed poised to continue that assault on a groggy Fedor, so the end result probably wouldn't have changed. It's impossible to tell if Fedor has lost his fire for competition, since he never showed any outward signs of such a fire even when he was dominating. What is clear is that he's nowhere near the force he used to be in MMA. It's as if the clock struck midnight and he turned back into a mortal man. That happens to every fighter eventually. It's just that, as with his reign at the top, Fedor does everything so much more thoroughly and consistently than any other fighter. Even his decline is a thing to behold.

Most Impressive in Defeat: Paul Daley
While I'm sick of hearing people praise his "maturity" and poise just because he didn't sucker punch anyone after the bell -- the guy is not competing in the Special Olympics of sportsmanship here, so let's raise the bar a little -- his overall game does seem to be improving. A couple of years ago a wrestler like Woodley would have had much less difficulty getting him down and keeping him there. Now, at least it's a struggle. If that fight would have gone one more round or maybe even one more minute, Daley might have been able to pull it out. He has to know that since his striking is so dangerous and his grappling so much less so, nearly every opponent he faces is going to look to exploit that weakness. He's getting better at closing that gap in his game, and if/when he does he could be trouble for a lot of people. Up next, a battle of the troubled souls with Nate Marquardt in BAMMA? Sure, why not.

Least Impressive in Victory: Tyron Woodley
He's learning and growing, but his performance against Daley showed that he's still a wrestler first and everything else second. That's fine, but if you're going to depend on a steady stream of takedowns and top control to win fights, at least have the cardio to make it happen. As much as people complain about Jon Fitch's style, at least he doesn't get so tired that he can't keep it up. Woodley faded hard near the end, and from doing exactly what he came there to do. He's still a tremendous talent with a lot of potential, but that was not the dominant win he needed in order to get the fans fully behind him. Winning that way is still better than losing that way, but it won't have anybody lining up for tickets to see you get a crack at the title.

Most Baffling Performance: Robbie Lawler
When they started the third round, it seemed like it was Lawler's chance to pounce on a wounded and slightly winded Tim Kennedy. He'd bloodied him up in the second, made him wary of his punching power, and now Kennedy was laying back a bit, perhaps looking to protect his lead without diving for another takedown and eating another uppercut for his trouble. But instead of attacking, Lawler stood still. Instead of putting the pressure on, he waited for counter-punching opportunities. It's enough to make you wonder, did he somehow think he wasn't losing this fight on the scorecards? I'm not sure what was going through Lawler's head in those final five minutes, but it wasn't the appropriate sense of urgency.

Most (and also Least) Surprising: Miesha Tate
It's not just that she won -- that seemed perfectly plausible, if not likely before the fight. But few of us predicted Tate would submit the submission-happy Marloes Coenen. Judging by Coenen's delayed reaction to Tate's obvious efforts to set up the arm triangle choke, she didn't think it was terribly likely either. Still, what wasn't all that surprising was Tate's performance up until the finish. She rushed in for the clinch like she had a magnet in her sports bra, and she made it clear that her primary goal was to put Coenen down and keep her there all night. That didn't make for the most exciting fight, which was a shame, since women's MMA could really use a few right now to make Zuffa sit up and take notice. You can't fault Tate for fighting smart, especially since it resulted in a championship belt around her waist. At the same time, this was an opportunity to sell a larger segment of fans on women's MMA, and it didn't happen. Let's hope that in winning her own individual battle, Tate didn't lose the war.

Best Prospect: Tarec Saffiedine
The Belgian fighter seemed like he could do anything he wanted to do to Scott Smith except finish him. Not that anyone should blame him for exercising a bit of caution, considering Smith's track record for comebacks. The bloodier that guy gets, the more dangerous he becomes, so it's understandable that Saffiedine chose to ride out the clear decision rather than go all out for a finish. Smith had no answers for his diverse and deceptive striking attack, and the result was a showcase win for one of Strikeforce's most exciting young talents. With that performance he should be off the Challengers circuit for good. Though in these tumultuous times for the Strikeforce brand, it's hardly clear where he'll graduate to, or how long he'll have to stay there.

Most in Need of a UFC Contract: Tim Kennedy
While I know Kennedy wouldn't mind another crack at Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, the Army Ranger seems like he could really benefit from some fresh competition. Strikeforce has simply not been able to find him enough fights to keep him busy, and he's at the point now where the only decent options are rematches that few people are really dying to see. Kennedy could inject some life into the UFC's 185-pound division, and my guess is the UFC wouldn't mind having another war hero on the roster. It's simple: Kennedy needs new opponents and more fights, and the UFC needs new middleweight blood. Now it's just a matter of making it happen, preferably sooner rather than later.

Alexis Davis Feels 'Fantastic' After First Strikeforce Win

HOFFMAN ESTATES -- MMA Fighting spoke to Alexis Davis following her win over Julie Kedzie to talk about her Strikeforce debut, her performance overall, where she thinks she ranks in the 135-pound division and more.

Tim Kennedy Fights for a Bigger Prize than the Strikeforce World Title

Most fighters have a calling to do something special. And for most, that calling is to achieve the pinnacle of their sport, becoming a world champion.
Make no mistake about it, Strikeforce fighter Tim Kennedy wants a world title belt, but his calling as a fighter goes well beyond the tangible assets that the sport itself can provide.
Kennedy won an Extreme Challenge eight-man middleweight tournament in the early part of his career, defeating the likes of Ryan Narte, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, and Cruz Chacon, all in one night. The victory earned him a shot at a bigger tournament at Super Brawl in Hawaii, an event that would be attended by UFC president Dana White.
It was a huge opportunity for sure.
Kennedy passed on it. He had something, quite literally, more important to do.
He headed off to the Army, where he would become part of the elite Special Forces and serve tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Though he’s not currently serving active duty overseas, Kennedy still has a more important calling than winning a title belt. He uses his fight career to help promote causes that are near and dear to him, charitable causes that have to do with the brothers and sisters he served alongside, and many that he didn’t, in the Middle East.
“I’m not joking, it is why I fight,” Kennedy stated recently on MMAWeekly Radio. “If I didn’t think I could represent the military and the military community the way that I do and the way that I have, I’d be done fighting.”
Lucky for MMA fans, he can and does represent the military and the military community the way that he wants. And being able to do that has lead us to his middleweight showdown with Robbie Lawler at Saturday night’s Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson event in Chicago.
With such a strong military background, it’s no surprise that Kennedy thinks deeply about tactics when he approaches his fights.
“Robbie is such a talented and gifted wrestler, for me to do what I did against Melvin (Manhoef), which was stay on the outside, feint shots, and then actually shooting shots, scoring a takedown after the first or second try, that’s not going to work against Robbie,” Kennedy explained when comparing his last opponent to his next.

Tim Kennedy submits Melvin Manhoef at Strikeforce.

“I actually have to get in there and work for the clinch, work to close the distance, try to do damage in the clinch, try to do damage when I’m coming inside, try to make him respect my hands, so that I can actually score a takedown.”
But then there are some tactics that just aren’t, well, all that tactical. Like avoiding Lawler’s infamous one-punch knockout power.
“Keep your chin down and your hands up,” Kennedy answers bluntly when talking about avoiding Lawler’s big finishing move.
That’s not to say that he hasn’t prepared for the southpaw’s power shot.
He’s had some of the best strikers in the business to train alongside at Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn’s camp in New Mexico. Count Jorge Rivera, Joey Villasenor, Keith Jardine, Donald Cerrone, Brian Stann, and others among his sparring partners at his “home away from home.”
Kennedy is taking nothing for granted against Lawler. In fact, he thinks Lawler is the most dangerous fighter in the Strikeforce middleweight division, aside from middleweight champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, whom Lawler and Kennedy both lost too.
But that is precisely why Kennedy wants to fight him. Though he has a more important reason for fighting than winning belts, that doesn’t mean that a world title isn’t a goal.
“(Lawler) is consistently in the Top 10 and I just want to fight the best guys right now,” Kennedy stated.
“Strikeforce is signing a lot of really talented guys right now, a lot of guys from Brazil, a lot of guys from Japan. I would really like to welcome a lot of those guys to the United States, into my cage.
“If (Strikeforce feels) they want to put me in another fight before I can hop in there for a title fight, fine, I’ll take it. But if they’re ready for me to have another title shot, I’m hungry. I want to be in there. I want to fight for five rounds. I want to beat the champ.”
And rest assured, if he does one day become champ, Kennedy’s victory would resonate all the way to the Middle East.

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Got something to say? Weigh in with a thought of your own in the comments section below.

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Ken Pishna is the managing editor of MMAWeekly.com.
Follow @KenPishna on Twitter or e-mail Ken a question or comment

REPLAY – MMAmadhouse LIVE RADIO with Alexis Davis

MMA News - Alexis Davis

Don’t miss tonight’s episode of MMAmadhouse.com’s LIVE RADIO at 8pm PST as 135lb WMMA superstar Alexis Davis (9-4) will be calling in to talk about her upcoming bout with Julie Kedzie (16-8)
Both fighters are making their Strikeforce debuts on the July 30th Fedor vs. Henderson event at the Sears Centre Arena in Chicago, IL

Click [HERE] for the fight card!

Listen to internet radio with MMAmadhouse LIVE on Blog Talk Radio

 

Thomas Gerbasi: Fedor Emelianenko – Not Ready to Back Down

Winning is a habit. You do it long enough, and there is seemingly no other option. And that’s not just for the athlete. As the victories pile up, family and friends just take it for granted that your hand raised at the end of the night is the natural order of the universe.
The athlete knows better of course, especially if he chooses to compete in mixed martial arts. Unbeaten records are rare and nearly non-existent at the elite level, and with so many variables at play, it takes of mix of not only skill, conditioning, and determination to win consistently, but luck as well.
So for Russia’s Fedor Emelianenko to go unbeaten in 28 fights from 2001 to 2009 (and if you discount his fluke 17 second cut-induced loss to Tsuyoshi Kosaka in 2000 you can add another year and four more wins), it almost defied description. Winning wasn’t a habit for “The Last Emperor,” it was an addiction.
All the time though, Emelianenko, like any fighter, knew that one day, his time could come. In June of 2010, Fabricio Werdum knocked down the wall of invincibility with a first round submission win over Emelianenko. Eight months later, Antonio Silva repeated the feat, forcing a doctor’s stoppage after two rounds in February.
The defeats shocked the world, Emelianenko’s fans, and likely his close circle of family and friends, many of whom had never seen him leave a fight without his hand raised. Yet not surprisingly, the stoic 34-year old quickly put things into perspective.
“This is the nature of the sport, and I never felt there was such a thing as being unbeatable,” said Fedor through translator Igor Golubchik. “And during each fight, I was being real and I understood that there could be a time when it (a loss) happened. And I look at it very simply – it’s just a sport, things happen, and that’s how I present it to my close friends and family.”
And that’s what fighters do. You fight to win, but if you don’t, you take it as part of the game, brush it off, and move forward. Emelianenko’s opponent in the Strikeforce main event on Saturday night, Dan Henderson, has eight defeats. Pound for pound king and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has four, his counterpart at welterweight, Georges St-Pierre, has lost just as many times as Emelianenko, and GSP’s opponent later this year, Strikeforce welterweight boss Nick Diaz, has fallen seven times. So you get the picture.
Yet if you see and hear some fans and pundits, it’s as if the sky is falling and crashing directly onto the head of the former PRIDE heavyweight champion from Stary Oskol. But if Emelianenko is worried that he is reaching the end of his storied career, he’s certainly not showing it. Not even close. And while he is known for keeping things close to his vest, when you ask him what makes him still do this when his legacy is already secure as one of the greatest fighters to ever put on the gloves, he does reveal – in his own unique way – that the hunger is still there.
“There’s still a lot to do, there’s still a lot to teach other people, and a lot to learn and to grow personally,” he said.
The first lesson Emelianenko may want to deliver is that he is far from done as a top-level heavyweight. Class begins on Saturday against Henderson, a former UFC standout, two division PRIDE champion, and current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion. It’s a fight that won’t put Emelianenko any closer to a title shot, but it’s one of those dream matchups fans have always speculated about coming to fruition.
It’s also a nice style matchup for the 6-0, 230 pound Emelianenko, who won’t have to worry about getting caught in a submission by “Hendo” like he was by Werdum, or getting physically overwhelmed by the 6-4, 264 pound Silva. Henderson won’t be hard to find, he will likely want to keep the fight standing, and if Fedor can avoid his opponent’s concussive right hand, he should be able to settle into the fight and get back into the win column for the first time since he knocked out Brett Rogers in November of 2009.
That’s a long time to wait for a win, and Emelianenko’s getting impatient.
“Victory is important because I’m not just representing myself, I’m also representing my country and my people,” he said. “So I always think about victory and that I need to achieve that. I’m feeling really good right now, I’m very comfortable, and I feel very strong.”
If you’re a fan of mixed martial arts, it’s almost impossible to not like Emelianenko. Accomplishments aside (and for the record, those accomplishments include his PRIDE title and wins over Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, Mark Hunt, Mark Coleman, Mirko Cro Cop, “Minotauro” Nogueira, Kevin Randleman, Kazuyuki Fujita, Heath Herring, Semmy Schilt, Babalu Sobral, and Ricardo Arona), he’s a humble competitor who shows up with no frills, no trash talk, and just fights. If you ask him if it’s been difficult to stay true to himself over the years, and there is no hesitation in his response.
“It’s absolutely not difficult to be a good man and a man of faith in this sport,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you do in life or what kind of job you have; you just have to remember God and keep your faith.”
And his loyal fan base has responded, defending their fighter at every turn against those who feel that his back-to-back losses have spelled the beginning of the end for “The Last Emperor.” That’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Emelianenko.
“I’m very thankful to my fans who have been loyal to me even through the losses, and I appreciate each and every fan very much,” he said. “I don’t know why people feel that way, but maybe they feel that I’m honest to myself, to the sport and to the fans.”
Being honest to yourself is the only way you can truly be successful in a sport that will not allow you to lie once you’re in the cage, whether you like it or not. And if you’re able to whittle everything down to a few simple truths and use them to carry you forward, life gets not only simpler, but more manageable.
So here’s one simple truth about Fedor Emelianenko: he’s a fighter. On Saturday, he plans on reminding the world of that fact.

Thomas Gerbasi: Hendo’s Hits

A ‘no frills’ fighter in the best sense of the term, Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson has long been one of mixed martial arts’ best, pound for pound. On Saturday, July 30th, ‘Hendo’ competes in perhaps the biggest fight of his 14 year pro career when he takes on Fedor Emelianenko in a bout that will almost certainly earn a place on the list of Henderson’s defining moments.
Crezio de Souza – June 15, 1997 – Brazil Open
Result – Henderson TKO1
A 1992 and 1996 United States Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling, Henderson turned to the budding sport of mixed martial arts after the 1996 Games, and was immediately tossed into the fire in a Vale Tudo event against Carlos Gracie-trained Crezio de Sousa. This wasn’t anything like competing on the mat back at home, but with his wrestling shoes on, Henderson immediately took to MMA, stopping de Souza in 5:25 into their bout. And while the stoppage may have been a bit early, there was little question that Henderson showed enormous potential in his first bout, which was rapidly followed the same night by his second, a guillotine choke-induced knockout of Eric Smith. As for his remembrances of that night, Henderson said with a chuckle, “The first crowds I remember were in Brazil because they were throwing stuff into the cage and they rushed the cage because the ref stopped the fight.”
Carlos Newton – May 15, 1998 – UFC 17
Result – Henderson WDec
Nearly a year after his debut fights in Brazil, Henderson got the call to make his UFC debut in another one night tournament, this one at the Mobile Civic Center in Mobile, Alabama. Also making his debut that night was a pretty fair fighter by the name of Chuck Liddell. But it was Henderson winning the middleweight (later known as the light heavyweight division) tournament with wins over Allan Goes and future UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton. It was the first glimpse of Hendo for stateside fans, and he didn’t disappoint.
“I was pretty new to the game and really didn’t know what I was doing,” said Henderson, who could have faced Liddell, the tournament’s alternate, if Newton had been injured and unable to compete in the final. “But I still managed to do pretty well. It was with the old owners, so it wasn’t quite as organized and wasn’t marketed very well, so it was a different engine back then.”
That different engine meant that if Henderson was going to make some serious money as an MMA fighter, he would have to go overseas to do it.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira – February 26, 2000 – Rings
Result – Henderson W3
“It really doesn’t do me any good,” said Henderson of his early career, “testing my own skills to better my career to fight guys that aren’t top ranked. So right from the get go, I was hoping to fight the top guys.” He got his wish on February 26, 2000 in Tokyo, Japan, when he beat not only future PRIDE and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira, but Gilbert Yvel and Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral – all on the same night and all by decision. The split decision victory over Nogueira was particularly telling, mainly because it was the Brazilian’s first pro defeat, and it also kicked off two more fights with the Nogueira boys – Rodrigo and Rogerio – in PRIDE that saw Henderson get finished for the first two times in his career, both by submission.
Renzo Gracie – March 25, 2001 – PRIDE 13
Result – Henderson KO1
You don’t knock out tough as nails MMA legend Renzo Gracie. It just doesn’t happen. Remember, this is the same guy who would rather have Kazushi Sakuraba break his arm than tap out. But in this PRIDE fight in 2001, Henderson did the deed, becoming the first and only man to KO Gracie, courtesy of a short right uppercut that caught the Brazilian on the chin as he shot for a takedown. The win took on added meaning for Henderson because he was just three months removed from the first loss of his MMA career in an entertaining war against Wanderlei Silva. Some fighters don’t recover from their first loss; Henderson proved by beating Gracie that he was just getting started. And he would settle his business with Silva soon enough…
Wanderlei Silva II – February 24, 2007 – PRIDE 33
Result – Henderson KO3
After beating Gracie, Henderson became a bona fide star in PRIDE, going 11-4 over the next five and a half years. The names on his victims list were impressive: ‘Ninja’ Rua, Murilo Bustamante (twice), Yuki Kondo, Ryo Chonan, Akihiro Gono, Kazuo Misaki, and Vitor Belfort, and he also earned the PRIDE welterweight title (183 pounds) along the way. But when the opportunity came up for him to not only rematch Silva, but to do it in the United States and for the PRIDE middleweight (205 pounds) belt, it was an offer he couldn’t refuse. Given all this motivation, Henderson couldn’t lose, and when he found his opening, he pounced, knocking Silva out not with his trademark right hand, but with a sweeping left hook. Henderson was now the first man in MMA history to hold two PRIDE championship belts simultaneously, and he also showed that he was a much different fighter than the right hand crazy one that fought Silva the first time.
“I’ve always used my wrestling in every fight, but the difference is, I was just trying too hard to knock guys out before,” admits Henderson. “Now, I’m just letting it (knockouts) happen, and I would still like that to happen, but I’m making sure I win every round, whether it’s with my wrestling or striking.”
Quinton Jackson – September 8, 2007 – UFC 75
Result – Jackson W5
After the demise of PRIDE, it was inevitable that Henderson would return to the UFC, the home of the best 205-pound and 185-pound fighters in the world. And on the night of UFC 71 in May of 2007, it was announced that Henderson was returning and would face the winner of that night’s Quinton Jackson-Chuck Liddell light heavyweight title bout. “Quinton’s my friend, Chuck’s my friend, we’re all friends,” said Henderson that night. “But it’s a sport and a business and I’d be happy to make some money with some friends. I’m just happy for the fighters and the fans that we finally get to see who the top guy is.”
Less than four months later, Henderson got to test himself against Jackson, but after five closely contested rounds, it was ‘Rampage’ emerging victorious. It was a solid performance by Henderson, but not one he was particularly happy with, especially considering he had to readjust to life in the Octagon as opposed to the ring.
“I think it made a little bit of difference in that fight, just not being used to the cage as much,” he said. “There were a couple of instances where I tripped over the cage when I was on my feet, and I never had that issue with the ropes. The ropes kinda give with you a little bit and they’re not at your feet. I noticed that during the fight, and I think at one point I had him (Jackson) in a good position and he walked his feet up the cage and got out of a pretty dominant position that I had just gotten. Those are things that I’m more aware of now, things that I really didn’t think about when I was fighting in a ring.”
Rich Franklin – January 17, 2009 – UFC 93
Result – Henderson W3
Henderson quickly got back up to speed in the UFC, putting in a strong first round against Anderson Silva before getting caught and submitted in the second round of their UFC 82 title fight, and then pounding out a unanimous decision win over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Rousimar Palhares. But it was his January 2009 win over Rich Franklin that was the most important performance of his UFC career to date, and not just because he got the close split decision. It was because the win earned him a coaching spot alongside Michael Bisping on the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter that finally put him in a position to be seen by mainstream MMA fans on a weekly basis.
Michael Bisping – July 11, 2009 – UFC 100
Result – Henderson KO2


For those who hadn’t followed Henderson’s long career in PRIDE, his coaching stint on TUF9 was a chance to see the no-nonsense Hendo and get acquainted with him like they never had before. As a bonus, they also had the opportunity to see him fight his opposing coach, Michael Bisping. Bisping had become a polarizing force at that point, so when Hendo’s right hand crashed into his jaw and knocked him out in the second round, it had the effect of making Henderson even more popular. What they didn’t know is that it would be his last fight in the Octagon.
Rafael Cavalcante – March 5, 2011 – Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson
Result – Henderson TKO3
Following the win over Bisping, Henderson signed with Strikeforce but got a rude welcome from Jake Shields in his debut, as he was outpointed over five rounds in April of 2010. A knockout of Babalu Sobral in a rematch of their 2000 bout followed, but it was in March of this year that Henderson truly showed what he had left in the tank at 40, as he knocked out “Feijao” Cavalcante to win the Strikeforce light heavyweight belt. On Saturday, he moves up to heavyweight to tackle one of the greats in Emelianenko.

Daley Operation – Episode Four

In the fourth – and final – episode of “Daley Operation”, Strikeforce® welterweight Paul “Semtex” Daley discusses his strategy for opponent Tyron Woodley, his reason for putting on exciting fights, and a possible new nickname. Watch Daley and Woodley square off at Strikeforce® and M-1 Global Present: Fedor vs. Henderson.

Pros Pick: Fedor vs. Henderson

Who will win and how: Fedor Emelianenko or Dan Henderson? Tell us below.

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The Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., just outside of Chicago, will play host to one of the most intriguing matchups in recent memory when Fedor Emelianenko meets Dan Henderson on Saturday in the Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Henderson” main event. The fight has the MMA world abuzz.
Will Emelianenko’s size be too much for the American to handle, or will Henderson’s grenade of a right hand serve as the great equalizer yet again? Those questions will soon be answered.
Sherdog.com recently touched base with dozens of professional trainers and fighters to gauge their opinions on the “Fedor vs. Henderson” headliner:
Tyron Woodley: I think Henderson's going to win. I don't know why but I have a feeling. Fedor's coming off two losses ... I think he's an amazing fighter, definitely earned the spot for the amount of years that he had it. But I feel that Dan just has that swagger right now. He's knocked a couple of guys out and he's feeling good. He's healthy, been having great camps and I think that he's just going to go out there and have fun. I think there' going to be too much anxiety for Fedor. I think Dan's going to go out there loose and have fun and I think that he's going to beat him.
Robin Black: Henderson will win because Fedor being an unstoppable monster is kind of a myth, like the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy. I shouldn’t say that because I got email death threats for that before -- I’m not kidding -- but it’s true. Having said that, the man had a great career and will quite rightly be remembered as an important figure in MMA history.
Tito Ortiz: If Fedor comes in really, really good shape at 220, Hendo has some problems on his hands. It comes down to who you’re sparing with. Who you’re sparring with and who you’re wrestling with, and what type of work you’re putting into it … of course both the guys are a little bit older … Hendo; you can never count him out. (Editor’s note: Ortiz made no final prediction.)
Shonie Carter: This is an epic battle between two giants in MMA. I have experience with both of these gentlemen. Once I rolled with Dan back before this stuff was sexy. It was a long time ago in Russia when it was suggested strongly to me by the Russians to fight, replacing a training partner who didn’t get his visa in time for M-1. Of course, I accepted. I had the opportunity to train with Red Devil [Sport Club] fight team in St. Petersburg for a middleweight grand prix. This is when I tussled with a Russian bear, by the way, if you were curious. Anyways, I see this bout going in favor of Fedor because of his size. Experience is equal, so size plays the X-factor in the match. Dan’s right hand won’t be a factor. Fedor knows to move away from the right hand by moving right or negating the right cross by using the double jab.
Keith Berry: I’m a huge fan of both of these guys. I wish they both could win, but I don’t know; this is a really tough fight to call. “Hendo” has a ton of momentum. I think he will come in and win by TKO, and Fedor will probably then retire. It should be an awesome fight. Gives me butterflies just thinking about it.
Marlon Sandro: Fedor wins by judges’ decision.
Ron Foster: Man, this should be an amazing fight. I think it’s crazy that after going undefeated for 10 years and then losing fights to a couple of the best heavyweights in the world people say Fedor is over the hill or overrated. On the other hand, Hendo has looked incredible in his last two fights, finishing them with brutal KOs. We all know that Dan has the one-punch KO power, but the reality is Fedor has proven himself to be very durable and is not easily broken. Although he lost to [Antonio] “Bigfoot” [Silva], he never quit, [despite his being] outweighed by 40 pounds on the day of the fight. He took everything that was thrown at him, and Fedor never stopped trying. I see both guys throwing bombs early, but I see the fight hitting the ground, with Fedor having a major advantage. Fedor will win this fight by submission; should be a memorable fight.
Tom Gavrilos: Both have one-punch knockout power, and, while Henderson has the advantage in takedowns, he surely has the disadvantage in submissions; Fedor by submission.
Pedro Rizzo: I believe Fedor will be hungrier, because he has lost two in a row. He is also more complete then Henderson. Fedor wins.
Kultar Gill: The size difference will be overwhelming for Dan. Even in the wrestling aspect, Fedor will have the power and weight to stop Dan’s takedowns. Fedor will stop Dan in the second round.
Ray Elbe: Hendo. Anything else would be anti-“Amurikan.”
Mike Ciesnolevicz: Two MMA legends with two of the biggest right hands the sport has ever seen. Henderson’s wrestling background and Fedor’s sambo background make this fight even more interesting. A few years ago, in Fedor’s glory days of Pride, I would have said Hendo would get massacred, but Fedor has slowed a bit. I can see the fight going both ways. I hate picking against Hendo, but I will go with Fedor by TKO or submission after he rocks Hendo with some big shots. Fedor’s extra 25 pounds should him help him in striking exchanges, as well as when they clinch up.
Andre Pederneiras: They're both tough fighters, but Fedor is a better striker and has more ability on the floor. I believe Fedor wins.
Benji Radach: I don’t see this fight going any other way than a good old-fashioned USA ass whoopin’ by my boy Dan. Fedor has pulled off some awesome wins from all kinds of positions, has some of the best ground-and-pound in the business and had his hand raised over some of the best dudes on the planet. This fight will be exciting to watch, for sure.
Jason Dent: I got to spend some time training with Hendo on Season 9 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” when I represented the U.S. Team. I was already a huge fan of Dan before the show, and I’m an even bigger one now. I’m picking Hendo to win by TKO in this fight. I predict he will use his wrestling to keep this fight standing and look for his famous big right hand.
Thales Leites: Fedor has lost two fights in a row, but I believe he is the favorite. The fight will start with an open exchange, and they both have heavy hands. I bet that Fedor will win by knockout, even though I believe he’s more likely to pull off a submission than Dan, too. Fedor takes it.
Gabe Ruediger: Man, tough fight. I’ve trained with Dan a lot and consider him a friend. On the other side, Fedor is one of the few fighters I’m actually a fan of. Even with Fedor’s two losses, I think he is an amazing fighter. This may be the first fight where he does not have a weight disadvantage. Both guys have amazing KO power, and, regardless of the outcome, this should be an amazing fight. When doing predictions, I do my very best to leave my biases out, but even in doing so, this is a hard match to predict. With great thought, I’m going with Fedor. That being said, I’m not looking forward to either of them losing, and it’s very possible it can go the other way.
Mark DellaGrotte: I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long time. Both [are] longtime, highly decorated veterans. Both [are] perhaps past their prime but with plenty of fight left in them. Has Fedor been exposed? We know he is beatable. I know Hendo and I know how bad he wants this win. Not sure if Fedor still has it in him to get up for another big fight. Striking advantage to Fedor; wrestling goes to Hendo. Although Fedor can be crafty from his back, I think he is one step behind where he used to be and won’t be able to catch Hendo like he has with some of his past opponents. It’s all going to come down to who comes in more prepared and wants it more. My money is on the red, white and blue. Go Hendo.
Josuel Distak: Fedor will impose his rhythm both on the feet and on the ground, and will win by KO or submission in round two.
Marvin Eastman: Henderson, split decision. He will take Fedor down and try to KO [him] from the floor. [It will be an] ugly fight because Fedor will only go for big overhand right punches. He doesn’t use all his weapons like he used to when he was unbeaten. Dan is a bad boy and has fought everyone out there. Win or lose, much respect.
Sergio Cunha: At this stage of their careers, I’ll bet on Henderson. Henderson is fresh off of a title win and Fedor has lost his last two. Fedor has been demystified; I believe Henderson will win.
Eddy Millis: I think Fedor wins this one by KO in the first round -- by big KO.
Dewey Cooper:This is a fight that I am truly excited about. I love both fighters, so that makes it hard to choose, free from emotions, who will win. Hendo has a chance of defeating any fighter in the world anytime he’s in the cage. On the other hand, Fedor, the power punching knockout specialist, is always one punch away from a knockout victory. Has Father Time caught up to Fedor? Is his reign of terror in the sport of MMA over? I think in this fight Fedor will get back to his winning ways with another devastating knockout of Hendo. Dan will not be afraid to exchange power punches with Fedor, and that will be his demise.
Milton Vieira:Fedor will win. Henderson just got a great win, but Fedor will impose his strategy and have the heavier hands. I believe he’ll win.
Kyle Kingsbury: After being dominated for two and a half rounds, Fedor will make the comeback of his life and pull out an armbar for the win in jaw-dropping, edge-of-your-seat fashion.
Jason Lambert: I’m pulling for Hendo. Think it’s going to be a great fight.
Nam Phan: Fedor hasn’t been looking so good lately. I’m going to have to go with Henderson by overhand right.
Cristiano Marcello: I think Henderson by knockout. Fedor is down recently, while Henderson is excited about his last win.
Travis Wiuff: I wish I could pick Fedor. He is one of my favorites of all time, but I don’t see how he can win this fight. I’m taking Henderson to win a decision with his takedowns.
Doug Marshall: I think people have figured out the conundrum that is Fedor. At the same time, Hendo isn’t 6-foot-4, 265 pounds. If Hendo gets Fedor down, can he control him? I’m going to give the edge to “The Last Emperor.” He’s still got the power, and after tasting defeat, he’s gonna be fired up and has something to prove: that he’s still The Last Emperor.
Jeff Monson: Fedor by stoppage.
John Hackleman: I predict that Hendo will win by powerful right hook. It could be like an overhand, but I think it’ll be more like a hook; like a combination between a hook and an overhand right. I think it’s gonna knock Fedor out. He might have to endure some punishment early on, but, since he has such an iron chin and is such a tough guy, I think he’s going to weather the early storm and I think he’s going to knock Fedor out with a powerful right hook; or maybe a left hook? Nah, right hook. Either way, he’ll knock him out.
Buddy Clinton: Rocky IV. Enough said.
Tom Vaughn: Wow, what a compelling match; big props again to Strikeforce. Fedor is at a low point in his career, but I still think he is a very dangerous cat. Heavyweight fighters are just getting too big for Fedor, but that won’t be the case here. With all do respect to Henderson, I think Fedor is better in all aspects, except perhaps wrestling, and wrestling won’t be enough to win this one. Henderson has this odd thing where he dies in the middle of a fight, then comes back at the end. I see Fedor submitting Hendo when he hits the valley, and, just like that, everyone will be back on Fedor’s [bandwagon]; Fedor by submission in round two.
Pros Picking Fedor: 18
Pros Picking Henderson: 14
No Pick: 2

Gleidson Venga contributed to this report. You can contact Mike Sloan at www.facebook.com/mikesloan19.

Open Workout Interviews & Gallery with the Stars of Fedor vs. Henderson

Check out these interviews from our partners at The Score and MMA Fighting with Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Marloes Coenen, Miesha Tate, Robbie Lawler, Tim Kennedy, Paul Daley, Tyron Woodley, Scott Smith and Tarec Saffeidine.