Dan Henderson vs Anderson Silva at UFC 82

by Robert Sargent

At UFC 82 in March 2008, "Dangerous" Dan Henderson, the final PRIDE Welterweight (183 pounds) and Middleweight (205 pounds) Champion, will drop back down to 185 to take on Anderson "The Spider" Silva in the second UFC/PRIDE Unification title bout when they battle for the Unified Middleweight Championship.

Although Henderson lost to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in a Unified Light Heavyweight Championship bout at UFC 75, he is much more suited for 185 and his crushing right hand could very easily spell the end for Silva's title run in the UFC.

Yushin Okami, who had been said to be competing in the next K-1 HERO's event - and possibly to move to K-1 HERO's for a long period of time - has now re-signed with the UFC earlier today. Okami was originally thought to be the next contender to Silva's title, but UFC management has labelled him as "boring," and it seemed that Okami was headed out of the UFC to join K-1 HERO's, so he is apparently no longer the top contender.

Henderson will meet Silva at UFC 82 to decide the Unified Middleweight Champion, but Okami will be forced to fight at least one more time before he gets his title shot. Having defeated most of the top contenders at 185 in the UFC - aside from his lacklustre showing against Rich Franklin - the remaining competition for Okami is thin. Perhaps a fight against returning UFC veteran Evan Tanner is in the cards.

Regardless, the title battle between Henderson and Silva will undoubtedly be a very exciting one, no matter who comes out the victor. Henderson's right hand of granite could knock Silva out, or Silva could trap Henderson in a submission and finish it. However the fight ends, the UFC will have its second Unified Champion.