Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem: 5 Reasons They Should Sign with the UFC

Arguably the two biggest superstars fighting outside the UFC right now are Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem.

Overeem is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and was recently stripped of his belt and released from the promotion.

UFC President Dana White has gone on record saying that the UFC is in talks with Overeem right now and they are working on signing him.

Henderson is the current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, but isn't contracted for any more fights with the promotion and has not yet signed a new contract.

White seems more uncertain about whether or not the UFC will sign Henderson given that they have had contract disputes in the past, but has made it known that Henderson is a fighter they would like to get back into the UFC.

Whether or not either of these fighters will sign with the UFC remains to be seen, but it would definitely be a smart move for both men.

Here's 5 reasons why Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem should sign with the UFC...

They'll Make More Money

Not every fighter competes just for the money, but when given the option to make more or less money, pretty much anyone will choose more.

The UFC is by far the largest and most successful mixed martial arts promotion on the planet.

They have more sponsors, are more mainstream and make way more money than any other MMA organization.

Because of the amount of money they make, the UFC can afford to pay their fighters quite well, especially the bigger name guys.

There's no doubting it; Henderson and Overeem would make more money if they signed with the UFC.

Also, by joining the UFC they get more exposure. This means there is more potential for sponsorship deals, which equates to even more money.

The Best Fighters Are in the UFC

At least 90 percent of MMA's top talent is currently fighting in the UFC; it is by far the most talent rich promotion out there.

The goal of every MMA fighter is usually to be the best in the world, or at least one of the best, and these days it's almost impossible to reach that standing while fighting outside the UFC.

If Overeem and Henderson are serious about furthering their legacies, then they need to be fighting in the UFC where they will be able to face world class talent on a consistent basis.

Opportunity to Fight for a UFC Championship

Perhaps the most prestigious accomplishment a fighter can achieve, save for maybe a Hall of Fame induction, is capturing a UFC championship.

Given that they are the most recent Strikeforce champions in their respective divisions, Henderson and Overeem will both be very close to a title shot if they join the UFC.

Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz was given an immediate title shot against Georges St-Pierre upon signing with the UFC earlier this year, so it is definitely possible that Hendo and 'Reem could get immediate title shots.

If they don't immediately get their shots at championship gold, they will be no more than one win away from it.

To Prove Their Mettle

This slide is much more applicable to Overeem than Henderson—in fact, it's specifically directed at 'Reem.

Overeem has not lost a fight in four years and is considered by many to be one of the best heavyweights in the world today.

However, if you look at his record as a heavyweight, Overeem has only defeated one elite opponent in that weight class, Fabricio Werdum.

Furthermore, the win of Werdum wasn't all that impressive as Alistair was actually out-struck and Werdum essentially cost himself the fight by trying numerous times to pull guard.

Fans are eager to see how Overeem stacks up against the best heavyweights out there and you can bet that Dana White wouldn't be matching 'Reem up with anyone outside the top five of the division.

As far as proving his mettle, Henderson has already done that many times. He is a legend of the sport and an all-time great.

However, if Hendo wants to prove that he is still one of the best despite being over 40 years old, the UFC has many young, elite opponents he could test himself against.

The Fans Want to See It

What better reason to join the UFC than we, the fans, wanting to see it happen.

A sport is nothing without its fans and so it's always a good idea to keep their best interests in mind.

Henderson and Overeem have a lot of hype right now and they can ride that hype, while building their fan base, by signing with the UFC.

If they sign anywhere else, fans will be disappointed and their followings will be diminished.