UFC 82 Preview: Silva and Henderson To Collide

When Anderson Silva meets Dan Henderson for the UFC middleweight championship in Columbus, OH expect to see a fight for the ages.  Both are world class MMA fighters and two of the best in the world.   

Anderson "The Spider" Silva is currently the UFC middleweight champion and is on a six match win streak including impressive victories over Travis Lutter, Nate Marquardt, and former middleweight champion Rich Franklin twice.  Silva is arguably one of the best pound-for-pound MMA fighters in the world along with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Georges St. Pierre, and Fedor Emelianenko.

Dan "Hollywood" Henderson is the former PRIDE welterweight and PRIDE middleweight champion.  He is the first fighter to hold two world titles simultaneously in a major fighting organization.  Henderson’s most recent fight was a five round battle with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for the UFC light heavyweight title that resulted in Jackson's victory by decision.  Henderson agreed to drop down to middleweight to meet Silva.

Silva and Henderson have conflicting styles that present potential match-up nightmares for each other.  Silva’s strengths include dynamic striking on his feet with kicks, knees in the clinch, as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on the ground.  Henderson, on the other hand, has a powerful punching ability in both hands, is a world-class Greco-Roman wrestler, is a master in the clinch, and has a great chin (has not been knocked out in 28 professional fights). 

I see this fight going three rounds or more, which favors Henderson.  Silva has not had a fight go longer than two rounds since 2004.  Being a title fight, it is scheduled for five five-minute rounds. 

I believe Henderson will be able to control Silva in the clinch early and often.  From the clinch, Dan will be able to control Silva’s body, neutralize his kicks, and take him down where he can ground and pound.  The key is to avoid Silva’s biggest strength:  his knees. 

Silva uses the Muay Thai clinch better than anyone in the world.  He grabs behind the neck of his opponent with both hands, pulls the head down, and strikes up with his knees with incredible precision and force. 

Overall, I believe Henderson will be able to neutralize Silva’s dynamic fighting style.  Henderson himself said it best during a recent interview with Brawl Sports when he stated, “I’m excited.  I’m ready to go kick his ass.  Style-wise, I’m just a bad fight for him.  He’s very tough, very talented, but he hasn’t fought anybody like me.” 

I would have to agree. 

Expect Dan Henderson to be crowned the new UFC middleweight champion on March 3, 2008.