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.
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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.
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7 months ago
Im really looking forward to this fight. I see it going at least three rounds as well. Henderson is smooth enough on his feet to avoid Silva's striking....at least for a while. If Henderson is to win, he has to take it to the ground. The question is whether or not Silva's take down defense is good enough to fight off Henderson. If so Henderson is in for a long night.
I really enjoyed the article. You highlighted the qualities both fighters have and kept it unbias until the prediction. Good read!
7 months ago
Yeah this is a great article Derek. I too agree that Henderson is going to defeat Silva that night. Silva is going to have to catch him in the first or second round if he wants to retain the belt. If this fight goes past the third round I don't know if Silva's conditioning is going to hold up. If Silva is able to defeat Henderson he will solidify his status as a one of the legends of the octagon.
7 months ago
"I'm out of it for a little while and everybody gets delusions of grandeur."
seriously guys, anderson silva is way more of a dynamic fighter than just his knees. the punch that ended the marquardt fight, the submission he put mr. jiu jitsu travis lutter in, and the barrage of strikes he put on franklin the second time they fought was very impressive. sorry guys, the many facets of anderson's artillery is more than ANY, and i mean ANY fighter, will be able to deal with. first all the way through the fifth, on the ground, standing......playing tic-tac-toe, another one bites the dust.
7 months ago
Great job Derek! I think that Silva is going to have the butt kickin of his life, he has never faces anyone as TOUGH as Dan, I dont think its possible that Dan Henderson can get knocked out. Rampage said it best, his hands got beat up by Dan's face, plus Dans world class wrestling will control the fight the entire night. Silva is very tough but Dan has been around the block to many times. HENDERSON MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP!
7 months ago
Great job Derek! I think that Silva is going to have the butt kickin of his life, he has never faces anyone as TOUGH as Dan, I dont think its possible that Dan Henderson can get knocked out. Rampage said it best, his hands got beat up by Dan's face, plus Dans world class wrestling will control the fight the entire night. Silva is very tough but Dan has been around the block to many times. HENDERSON MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP!
7 months ago
I have no doubt in my mind that Dan is going to sleep for the first time in his career. Henderson is a tremendous fighter but if you look at the fight against Rampage you can see there can be holes in his game. Silva in my opinion is the best fighter in the world and I think if Henderson comes out with his normal I am invincible approach I think he will get caught.
When he fought Wanderlei he was able to take a few shots but honestly, Silva hits harder and he is so accurate that he hits the "sweet spot" almost every time. The most dangerous thing I heard was that Dan said he wanted to trade in the clinch. I am sorry Mr. Henderson, but you simply don't have the same clinch game as Anderson Silva.
I have to go with the Spider on this one
7 months ago
Great article on one of the biggest fights in a long time. I just don't know where I sit on this one. Henderson is right when he says Silva's never seen anyone like him, but Hendo hasn't seen anyone like Silva either. It's one for the ages alright. I'll have to do some thinking on this one, but my gut says Silva via TKO in the fourth.
7 months ago
you guys need to watch more fights other than UFC fights. The only way dan loses this fight is if the weight hurts him. he can get knocked out if he has trouble making the weight(he was very reluctant to drop back down to 185) and it saps some of his stamina. If he makes the weight no problem then it should be a decision win or late rounds stoppage for hollywood. I refuse to believe he can be knocked out until I see it, and I dont see him getting submitted. New middleweight champ, take it to the bank folks. (As soon as I find out what Dan weighs right now, lol)
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