UFC 139 Results: Dan Henderson Ready to Contend for Middleweight Title

Dan Henderson's win over Mauricio Rua in UFC 139's main event Saturday night via unanimous decision proves that the 41-year-old veteran is ready to challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight crown.

Both Silva and Henderson met back in March of 2008, and Silva won thanks to a rear naked choke submission.

Surprisingly, Henderson is 7-1 since that loss, including two KO victories and two TKO victories. The talented wrestling-style fighter won three Strikeforce fights after dropping his debut fight to Jake Shields, his only loss since the Silva defeat.

Although the age argument can be used against Henderson and his attempt at a rematch with Silva, the same can be said for the Spider. At 36-years-old, Silva's reign of terror inside the Octagon is coming to an end very soon.

He has begun to consistently look human recently and has even seemed beatable during recent fights against Chael Sonnen and Demian Maia.

Henderson is the one hot fighter out there that is talented and tough enough to deliver Silva his first physical defeat since New Year's Eve of 2004 (his last loss came in 2006 via a DQ for an illegal kick against Yushin Okami).

Henderson went the distance with a very excellent fighter in Rua Saturday night. Outlasting the Brazilian in five hard-fought rounds. The same situation would have been an equally difficult test for Silva.

Both fighters have unique contrasting styles that would make for a hugely anticipated main event on an upcoming card that's for sure. But in the end it would be Hendo walking away with the UFC middleweight title and baddest man on the planet honors.