After contract talks with the UFC reached an impasse, former PRIDE Middleweight and Welterweight Champion Dan “Hendo” Henderson is rumoured to be in talks with Strikeforce and could sign with the promotion in the near future.
Henderson, whose contract expired after his knockout win over Michael “The Count” Bisping at UFC 100, became frustrated with his employers after he was refused a title fight against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
The revelation comes just days after Henderson’s friend, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, announced his intentions to retire from the sport amidst disagreements with UFC management over past and future fights.
Henderson (25-7-0) captured the PRIDE Welterweight (183-Pound) Championship in 2005 and became the first two-division champion in the promotion’s history when he knocked out “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva to claim the PRIDE Middleweight (205-Pound) Championship at PRIDE 33 in 2007.
He debuted in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 75 in a fight with then-champion Jackson to determine the first Unified Light Heavyweight Champion. Henderson dropped a Unanimous Decision that many observers felt could have gone his way.
His next fight, a Unified Middleweight Championship fight with Anderson Silva, was also unsuccessful, but Henderson exposed some weaknesses in Silva’s wrestling and ability to work from his back.
Having won three fights in a row, including a victory over former champion Rich “Ace” Franklin and the devastating knockout of Bisping, Henderson believed that he had earned another shot at Silva’s middleweight crown.
Silva’s management, as well as the UFC, disagreed and slated Henderson in a fight with fellow top contender Nate “The Great” Marquardt, who has also won three straight fights in extremely impressive fashion.
Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion who returned to the Octagon with a first-round destruction of Franklin, was given the next title shot, which left Henderson out of the title picture.
Contract negotiations between Henderson and the UFC stalled when the two sides could not come to an agreement on the financial terms. Henderson was reportedly asking for a figure that the UFC was not willing to pay, though other recent signings to the promotion appeared to lend support to Henderson’s case.
While no word has come from either Henderson or Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, it is believed that Henderson may opt to continue his career inside a Strikeforce cage. Should he do so, a number of interesting matchups await.
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard “The Dreamcatcher” Mousasi would provide a very tough test for Henderson, while middleweight stars Jake Shields, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith, among others, would serve as excellent opponents at 185 pounds.
Should Henderson make the jump, it could potentially be a serious blow to the UFC, but UFC President Dana White has stated that he will not try to match any offers made to Henderson by other promotions.
Only time will tell where Henderson next competes, but this may mark the second significant loss for the UFC in less than three weeks.