Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson: An Early Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC 131 is water under the bridge. But that doesn't mean the MMA summer is over. Far from it.

At the Strikeforce event on July 30, Fedor Emelianenko will try to find that misplaced cloak of invincibility he dropped somewhere along the way several months back. His opponent, Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Dan Henderson, is looking to reaffirm his importance in the face of Father Time and a changing sport.

Though there’s nothing on the line in this heavyweight matchup, and a win may not vault either man into any new title conversations, it is still a hotly anticipated clash between two old lions of the sport, each looking to prove he can still hunt with the alpha males.

Here’s a head-to-toe breakdown of this red-letter date on the MMA calendar.

1. Wrestling

Photo credit: Telegraph

Henderson’s Olympic pedigree in wrestling is no secret to anyone who follows the sport. Though he prefers to throw, the fact that he could probably outgrapple a grizzly bear is a psychological backdrop for every one of his encounters in the cage.  

But of course, Emelianenko is no slouch himself, bringing his mastery of sambo to the table.  

In the end, though, you have to go with the two-time Olympian on this one.

Advantage:  Henderson

2. Striking

Traditionally, both men have employed a somewhat, eh, unpolished approach to the striking game. But because of the power each possesses, not to mention the threat that other parts of their game present, their standup phases are extremely effective, as evidenced by the 20 combined KO or TKO victories these two champions have amassed.

Henderson continues to favor the hit-or-miss haymaker, without a lot of nuance in between. Despite this, Henderson’s knockout power is something few can match. And though his striking game is something of a one-trick pony, it is one doozy of an impressive trick.

Emelianenko, on the other hand, has a little bit more flexibility in his standup arsenal, which should be helped along by his recent work with Dutch kickboxing instructor (and former K-1 champion) Ernesto Hoost.

As far as defense goes, both men have proven they have chins of polished marble. Fedor has technically been knocked out twice, though both were doctor stoppages. Henderson has never been knocked out in his 35-fight career.

Slight advantage:  Henderson

3. Clinch

Again, both men are good here, but Fedor is hard to equal when it comes to the clinch. His expertise with sambo and judo—and their emphases on grappling and throws—gives him more options from the clinch than does Hendo’s wrestling.

Advantage:  Emelianenko

4. Submissions

Fedor has 16 submission victories on his record, which he employed (by my count) four different maneuvers to achieve: the rear naked choke, guillotine choke, armbar and kimura. This speaks not only to his proficiency, but to his balanced skill set in this area.

By comparison, Hendo has only forced one tap in his career, and that was due to strikes. And though getting the Olympian to submit is not exactly a walk in the park, he has succumbed on three occasions, compared with one for Emelianenko.

Advantage: Emelianenko

5. Intangibles

Photo credit: The MMA News

The 6’0”, 230-pound Emelianenko has gotten into trouble lately against large heavyweights—witness Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. But with the 5’11” Hendo normally at 205 and now moving up to face Fedor at this level, size won’t matter much in this one.

Then there is the age factor. Henderson and Emelianenko are both on the Western slope of their careers, at the ages of 40 and 34, respectively. But the years seem to have caught up to Fedor a bit more quickly than Hendo.

Henderson is the Strikeforce light heavyweight champ, after all, and is so comfortable with his wrestling base that it’s virtually a bodily function. Fedor, on the other hand, may have worn down. He has suffered several injuries over the years, including repeated hand injuries as a result of his awkward punching style. He also has seemed a touch lethargic in his last two, mystique-breaking losses.

On the business side, with Zuffa’s purchase of Strikeforce, this could be an audition of sorts for both men. Their non-UFC options are growing limited, and future matchups—and paydays—could hinge a great deal on what does or doesn’t happen on July 30.

As for toughness, I don’t see that being in short supply on either side.

Advantage: Henderson

6. Bottom Line

Photo credit: Francis Specke

This is a close one to call. But while Henderson’s meat-and-potatoes approach may not leave him as many options in the cage, it is battle tested and very effective. If ain’t broke, after all, don’t fix it.

Emelianenko has a clear advantage in the submission phase, but it will be tough (if not impossible) for him to pull something off on a veteran world-class wrestler like Henderson.

The fight should say a lot about what both of these fighters have in their tanks, but I think Henderson will have a bit more.

Prediction:  Henderson, unanimous decision