Dan Henderson Interview (Our Second)

With his UFC 82 showdown against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world just a few short weeks away, Dan Henderson sat down with Ben Zeidler for their second interview in as many months.

Ben Zeidler: What made you consider the drop to 185?

Dan Henderson: Well, I was a little bit hesitant at first, but the more I thought about it and the more I talked to Dana, I realized how excited I was for this fight. Dana wanted me to drop down for a while too so it made sense. Anderson Silva is a big challenge for me and these are the kind of fights I like to take.

Ben Zeidler: Win or lose, do you think you would ever go back up to 205?

Dan Henderson: I'll be staying at 185 for a while but I definitely have plans to go back to 205 at some point in my career.

Ben Zeidler: The Rampage fight was a close one, and many still have you ranked #2 at 205. What would you do differently if you got another shot at that title?

Dan Henderson: I would definitely be a little more aggressive on my feet and on top. I definitely think I made some mistakes and I'm still making adjustments to fix what I did wrong and get used to the cage. I can tell you that I wouldn't lost to him again.

Ben Zeidler: What are some of the difficulties of the cage?

Dan Henderson: You just have to get used to it. You know, I tripped once or twice just because I'm just used to having some give with the ropes. With the ropes, you can't press your feet up against them when you're standing up. Little things make the difference in there. On the ground, I'm not to being able to use it walk up. So I'll work on that and I'll be fine by the time March 1st comes along.

Ben Zeidler: How do you see yourself matching up to Anderson Silva? Do you see him as a good match up for you?

Dan Henderson: Yeah, I think for sure that I'm a bad match up for him. His strength is his striking and he's technical, but he likes to get into that clinch which is another strength of his. But he's never fought anyone like me in that clinch and he won't be used to that.

Ben Zeidler: Are you saying that you WANT to be in Anderson Silva's clinch?

Dan Henderson: Yep, that's where I want to be. That's my home.

Ben Zeidler: How is your training going for the fight? What specifically are you working on?

Dan Henderson: Training is good. Nothing too special as far as training, Silva is a well rounded fighter. I want to work on my hands and keeping them going, but nothing too specific. I'm getting some southpaws in to spar with me, but that's about it.

Ben Zeidler: Many consider the MW division to be easier than the LHW. Do you see this as being true?

Dan Henderson: I don't necessarily believe it's an easier division. There are some studs out there and Silva is one of them. People expect it to be a walk in the park for but size doesn't matter. It all has to do with how technical you are and how good at fighting you are. Mental toughness is a big part of it too. Silva will be tough and he's proven that he can knock some guys out and beat some guys that a lot of people thought should have beaten him.

Ben Zeidler: Who do you see as the best guys at 185?

Dan Henderson: Well, there's...I dont know, there's quite a few and Silva has beat most of them already. I can't think of any right now.

Ben Zeidler: You left Team Quest a little while ago to open up your own place. How is new facility going?

Dan Henderson: Well actually, I'm still technically with Team Quest. Randy is the one who left. I opened up another Team Quest gym in California. We have a great training situation with lots of fighters and organized practices. We've got great strikers, great wrestlers, and great jiu-jitsu guys. Everyone contributes knowledge, we work on technique and it's just great. Matt and I still own Team Quest together and we're looking on opening more gyms soon.

Ben Zeidler: Well, you should think about the East Coast. I'm out of Philadelphia and all we have are second-rate Action Karate places.

Dan Henderson: (Laughs) All right then, I'll remember that.

Ben Zeidler: Any sponsors you'd like to thank? Do you have a website?

Dan Henderson: Team Quest at teamquestmma.com. I just started my clothing line, Clinch Gear so that's at clinch gear.com and danhenderson.com.

Ben Zeidler: Anything to say to your fans?

Dan Henderson: Hopefully I'll give you a great show on March 1st. Thanks for all the support.

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Dan Henderson To Stay At Middleweight

In a short phone conversation last night, PRIDE FC Welterweight Champion Dan Henderson told IWF's Ben Zeidler that no matter whether he wins or loses in his UFC 82 bout with Anderson Silva, he will remain at Middleweight for "quite some time."

Many felt that if Henderson lost, he would surely leave the UFC's Middleweight ranks, for which he previously expressed displeasure. But after talking with Dana White and considering the division on his own, he decided to make the jump.

If he wins, the belt, Henderson would obviously stay in the lower weight division in order to defend his new crown. The new news is that even if he loses, he will stay around 185 in order to challenge the best that the division has to offer -- and hopefully get a second crack at Silva.

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UFC 82 Location Revealed

At least PRIDE's 185 pound champion Dan Henderson won't have to suffer losing both his belts in the same calendar year. He'll get to do it early next year against Anderson Silva. Think it can't get worse for Hollywood? Think again. He gets the displeasure of taking on The Spider in what has become his personal home field -- Columbus, Ohio.

Not much to say here. The bout we all knew was going to take place still is, but it's in the place where Anderson Silva dominated hometown hero Rich Franklin. TWICE. If the crowd wasn't enough to boost their hometown favorite, Dan Henderson has no chance. Silva is only a -145 favorite right now, but expect that number to read -200 before the bell rings.

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Henderson To Challenge A. Silva At UFC 82

Ben Zeidler: Do you have any plans to capture the UFC MW belt or do you prefer to fight at 205 lbs now?
Dan Henderson: I think it's up to me. The thing that I'm focused on right now is winning this fight, nothing else, whatever happens after that you know, happens.

With the announcement of Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson booked for UFC 82, it appears that the biggest Middleweight bout in UFC history is about to happen.


MMA Junkie is reporting that Silva vs. Henderson was announced during the UFC 78 press conference:

Light heavyweight Dan Henderson will move down to 185 pounds to challenge UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (20-4 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in March.

The announcement was made during the post-event press conference for UFC 78, which took place Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

The championship bout will likely take place at UFC 82. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, UFC 82 will take place March 1 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

The Middleweight title has only seen five champions in its short history, and no bout has ever matched the hype that this one will create. The champion is the most devastating and dominant fighter his division has ever seen. The challenger is PRIDE's former Middleweight and Welterweight champion, who ended his PRIDE career with a stunning KO of legend Wanderlei Silva. Never before have two men of such impressive caliber met under the auspices of a middleweight title fight. Until now.

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Around The Horn

Lots of little things to talk about in the world of MMA this week...

The Dayton Daily News is reporting that the result of Sean Sherk's suspension appeal will be announced later this week, essentially determining the fate of the LW division. Dana White, although a long time supporter of Sherk, has announced that if the suspension sticks, Sherk will be stripped of the belt. If this is the case, we should see BJ contend for the title soon or at least compete in some sort of unofficial 4 man tournament.

MMAJunkie is reporting that highly-regarded Middleweight (and probably the highest ranked outside of Silva/Hendo) has been knocked out in his first round fight with Yoshihiro Akiyama this past weekend at a HEROs event. With Paulo Filho's lackadaisical performances of late combined with this most recent disappointment in the division, it is clear that Silva stands alone.

Bubba The Love Sponge is reporting that Dan Henderson may fight at 185 lbs. at the December UFC 79 event. Although he would not fight Silva, who would have to come in on just two months rest, the addition of Henderson makes 79 one of the most stacked cards since UFC 52. Serra/Hughes, Wanderlei/Liddell, and now Henderson offer enough star power to headline three events, but we'll get to see it all in one night. Order it up now!

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Ortiz And Henderson Not Official; Tito To Wait Till 08

Despite having his expected rematch taken away from him, Tito Ortiz has not been booked in a match with Dan Henderson, contradictory to a TAGG Radio report from earlier this week. It appears the The Huntington Beach Bad Boy will wait until 2008 to fight again.

Contract troubles are the culprit again in preventing fans around the world from watching Ortiz lose (or tie) once more. The best fight for Ortiz would have been a rematch with Evans, which he would've had a legitimate shot of winning. When the contract couldn't get done, Ortiz was bumped to Henderson, a match which he would clearly lose.

When Ortiz finally fights again in 2008, one of two things can happen. It is possible that Ortiz would get stuck with Hendo, Wanderlei, or a myriad of other guys who would humiliate him. Or, he might get an opponent he can beat, but the fans will be so disinterested in his persona and generally boring fights that he'll be relegated to mid-card status. Either way, Ortiz is headed
towards the end of his lackluster and bizarre career.

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Round Robin Leaves Hamill In The Dust

With Michael Bisping booked against Tito Ortiz's expect opponent (Rashad Evans), and Ortiz being put up against Dan Henderson, Matt Hamill has been left out to dry, with no opponent and no rematch against the man whom he beat.

Apparently, Dana White and Joe Silva are making a conscious effort to let the past be the past and have since booked Bisping and Evans in a match up of TUF winners. The winner will most likely get the UFC "future stamp of approval," setting them up to be the unofficial #2 or #3 contender.

Rather than bother Ortiz with another fight against Evans, he'll face Dan Henderson, which will either resurrect his career...or end it. Similar to Liddell's potential bout with Silva, this is a chance for the two vets to put up or shut up. And for Hendo (and Silva) it's a chance to prove they belong in the world's premier fighting organization.

Meanwhile, the man who actually won a fight in the last three months (something Bisping, Evans, and Ortiz can't say) is stuck without a rematch or even an advancing fight. Personally, I think it has to do with the fact that a deaf fighter would be hard to market to an extremely auditory American audience, and if that's the case, White should be ashamed. It should be Hamill and not Evans who gets the next shot at Bisping. Rather, Hamill should be allowed to bypass them both and take on either Ortiz or Henderson to see if he can hang as the leader among the newest crop of LHW stars.

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IRISH WHIP EXCLUSIVE: CHUCK LIDDELL INTERVIEW

After interviews with Dan Henderson and Tito Ortiz, there was only one thing left to do: call Chuck Liddell. The definitive fist of the UFC for the last five years, Chuck is rebounding off of a loss to Rampage Jackson (after three straight years of winning) and talks to us about his training, fighting Wanderlei Silva, Dana White, and his stint on Entourage. An Interview By Ben Zeidler

Ben Zeidler: Did you feel that you weren't aggressive enough against Rampage? Would you fight the fight any differently if you could go back?
Chuck Liddell: No, I was planning on frustrating him a little and making him come after me a little more, and he just happened to catch me before I got the chance to completely carry out that game plan.

BZ: Rampage seems to have your number. Do you think you can beat him?
CL: Yes I do, I definitely do!

BZ: Can we get a prediction for the Rampage-Henderson fight?
CL: I think Henderson is tough, really tough. it will be interesting to see how he will do against Rampage though.

BZ: Henderson's never been knocked out.
CL: Wait, has Hendo been knocked out before? How did Wanderlei win the first time they fought?

BZ: Decision.
CL: Oh, that's right.

BZ: As far as training, what type of things are you reevaluating? Are there any changes you're looking to make?
CL: Well I mean, John has been working on my defense a little bit more, for the most part, business as usual. I made a mistake and got caught; it's just part of the game. I have gotten away with that punch for a long time, this time I didn't.

BZ: Can you tell us a little bit about your workout regimen and diet?
CL: I just have a guy come in here and make my meals every day. He has them packaged up in my kitchen and ready to go and eat. As far as working out goes, I workout 4 to 5 days a week, 2 to 3 times a day.

BZ: How many more years do you plan on fighting?
CL: As long as my body let's me man, I feel great now. Feelin' real good so, I should be good for a while, at least I hope so.

BZ: If you get on the Randy Couture plan, you should be all right.
CL: I know, right? That's what I plan to do.

BZ: Would the thought of fighting for another organization ever cross your mind?
CL: Well I think the UFC is the place I'm going to be, but in the future you never really know, it's the biggest organization in the game and I think to be the best you gotta fight the best, and the best fighters are in UFC right now.

BZ: With all the PRIDE fighters flooding in, would you consider moving to another weight class to face new challengers? I know it's something you've said in the past that you would try.
CL: It's possible man, anything's possible for me right now.

BZ: Many of the critics out there are claiming that you have a hard time against good strikers, what do you have to say in response to those accusations?
CL: I don't really know what to say to that, I've never really seen myself as having too much problems with good strikers.

BZ: What are the biggest differences you noticed when fighting in PRIDE at Japan in comparison to fighting here in the UFC in the US?
CL: Big differences, definitely differences between the fans, it's the whole cultural thing, the way they acted and how quiet it is in the arena in Japan compared to here you know? But, I just like fighting man; I don't care where, man or how the fans are.

BZ: Dana White said that you needed 2 wins to earn a title shot, how do you feel about that?
CL: Uh, I don't think that's fair necessarily but, if that's what I gotta do…that's what I gotta do. I don't care, like I said I don't care I just want to fight man.

BZ: Many believe that Jardine is a major mismatch for you, what do you feel about Jardine as an opponent? Do you think his striking abilities are polished enough to face you?
CL: Well I hope so for him!

BZ: In your second fight against Tito Ortiz, what was going through your head when you saw that he was hurt and did it change the game plan you had for him?
CL: Not at all, I was expecting to hurt him sooner or later. I just jumped on him like I normally would, I just wanted him to quit, I wanted him to quit to it. I mean, he pretty much did, he wasn't defending himself anymore and he knows that.

BZ: Does your body undergo a sudden change, whether it is physical or mental, when you realize your opponent is in trouble?
CL: No, it happens so quickly. I wouldn't really know nor have any idea. People ask me a lot about me being in a bar and what's it feel like, "What does it feels like when you walk in a bar and know you can kick everyone's ass?" I mean, I don't know, I never thought about it, I don't know what it feels like to not be able to kick everyone's ass. I just hope I never have to do it.

BZ: What is the first thing you notice in your opponent before trying to finish them?
CL: That they're hurt! You can see it in their eyes and actions. You know a lot of times you see guys nod their head and smile like they're all right, trying to pretend and say that, "Hey I'm ok!" when they're really not. "I want you to give me some time and not jump on me for a while."

BZ: Not too long ago, you said in an interview that you don't choose your opponents. In your words, what happened with the fight against Wanderlei Silva?
CL: I have no idea, that's not my business. I agreed for it and I thought it was on for a minute and then it wasn't. You guys know about that more than about me.

BZ: It's been going around that you two might face each other at a UFC event in December, where Silva is set to make his debut. Can you confirm this?
CL: I haven't heard anything about that; I get questions like that all the time like: "Hey when's your next fight?" "Who's your next opponent?" (Laughs) I have no idea man, so if you know that, you know more than me.

BZ: What was it like doing an episode of Entourage?
CL: It was fun man, really fun. I asked to get on that show so…it's my favorite show. I love it.

BZ: How did you get the nickname "The Iceman?" Is there a good story behind that?
CL: John started calling me that after my third kickboxing fight and he said I don't get nervous before fights. He kept mentioning how he had tons of amateur fights and pro fights and would still get nervous before every fight. So, he just kinda started calling me that and it just stuck.

BZ: Are there any sponsors you'd like to thank?
CL: Oh yeah, uh, check out my website at www.iceman.tv and mmajacked.com

BZ: Anything you'd like to say to your fans?
CL: Yeah, I'll be out there fighting man, nothing's changed. I'll be out there swinging soon so, just keep watching!

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UFC 75 Is Huge Success

In a beautifully designed event, UFC 75, free on Spike TV, ended up being the most watched UFC event ever. Is this a good thing or a bad thing for UFC/MMA?

We'll start off with some numbers:

In the United States, UFC 75 drew in 4.7 million viewers. It drew in 5.6 million from England. Among men ages 18-34, UFC was the most watched program on television that night...(which consisted of NASCAR, College Football, and the Women's US Open Finals).

Ad my personal favorite statistic: among men ages 18-34, UFC 75 had more then twice asmany viewers then Oregon vs. Michigan, Notre Dame vs. Penn State, Virginia Tech vs. LSU, and NASCAR. UFC had 8 times the viewers that the Women's US Open Finals had.

These are GREAT numbers (especially for the growing sport of MMA). UFC has gained a ton of fans from this. Not only was it on for free, but it hosted several extremely important fights. I know at least 5 of my friends who didn't even know what MMA was, but after I told them to watch UFC 75, they became hooked. (I think one even has a sherdog account already.) My hat goes off to Dana White.

We all know that MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world. How did this happen so quickly? Dana White put together a careful and systematic plan to skyrocket this sport to the top. And it has worked. When did Vince McMahon put on a free event that was treated as a PPV? The closest the WWE comes to a free PPV is Saturday Nights Main Event which can hardly be called exciting. Even though the fights weren't amazing, the sheer availability to fans without cable boxes should be enough to make this a worthwhile long-term deal.

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UFC 75 Results

So maybe it wasn't the explosive card most expected, but it provided enough big hits, big submissions, and controversy to classify it as a quality event.

Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara
Alexander continued his post-Jardine KO rise to the top with another dominating performance, this time over more-than-competent Sakara. He should start to get some legitimate contenders in his sights if he continues this run.

Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor
I'm going to go ahead and call this the most exciting fight of the night. The Irish Hand Grenade (Davis) took an early lead only to barely get knocked out later in the first round. He fought hard from the Brits guard, eventually ceasing the pounding and ending the fight with what later won "Submission of the night."

Cheick Kongo vs. Mirko Filipovic
Kongo flat out dominated Cro Cop in this three round decision. When striking, Kongo didn't let himself get in CC's range while delivering inside leg kick after inside leg kick. On the ground, where Kongo was supposed to be most suspect, he seemed in control, even though CC had put in weeks with guru Dean Lister. Kongo looked like the former Champion while CC looked confused, nervous, and overwhelmed.

Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill
Although this fight has garnered much controversy, it wasn't as close as some media outlets make it sound. Each fighter had his moments during the fight in a see saw battle that had Bisping ending strong. Personally, I had the fight 29-28 Hamill. No one agreed with me, as two judges put it 29-28 Bisping and one had 30-27 Hamill. I'd expect to see a rematch.

Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson
In the most anticipated bout of the evening, Jackson and Henderson exchanged some flurries but generally remained limited in their exertion. Jackson did win definitively, but it wasn't a bad loss for Henderson, at it was his first trip inside The Octagon. With Liddell and Hendo out of the way, Jackson can now set his sights on Shogun and Wanderlei, two guys who absolutely destroyed him in PRIDE.

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UFC 75=History

September 10th, Spike TV, MMA history will be made. Rampage Jackson will take on Dan Henderson at UFC 75 in a title unification match. This will combine the Pride Middleweight Title and the UFC Light Heavyweight Title. How big is Rampage vs. Henderson? How will this fight affect the UFC and the sport of MMA?

I'm not sure if anybody realizes this...but we are less then 10 days away from one of the biggest fights in MMA history. Actually, probably the biggest. UFC vs. PRIDE...Title vs. Title...Jackson vs. Henderson. This title unification bout is bound to be an instant classic. Even if it's a horrible fight, the sheer meaning of it takes it beyond any regular main event.

The rest of this card looks less then impressive. With Cro Cop and Bisping heavily favored in their respective fights, all of the focus is turned onto the main event (if Kongo beats Filipovic then I might just stop watching).

Either way, Jackson vs. Henderson needs to be hyped more. I've only seen about 3 advertisements for it on television, and I'm wondering why I haven't seen a dozen more. This is the biggest moment inMMA history here! For free! On Spike TV! Advertisements need to be everywhere.

This free event is great for UFC because it is a win/big win situation. The fight doesn't have to be a good fight for it to be monumental...but if it is a good fight, then the UFC might gain thousands of fans. Just the fact that they didn't make this a pay-per-view will bring many new fans into the sport.

Mark it on the calender folks. UFC 75...September 8th...watch history being made on Spike TV.

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IRISH WHIP FIGHTING EXCLUSIVE: CUNG LE INTERVIEW

I had a chance to speak to one of Strikeforce’s and quickly rising MMA star Cung Le. Holding three bronze medals in San Shou kickboxing, Le started fighting in K-1 and has now broken into the MMA scene. Le has had four spectacular fights, most recently knocking out MMA veteran Tony Frkylund. Le is best known for his sharp striking and San Shou kickboxing. See what Le had to say about facing Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson and his talked about matchup against MMA legend Frank Shamrock! An interview by Masson Liang

Masson Liang: How difficult was the transition from San Shou kickboxing to mixed martial arts?
Cung Le: It was not that hard to transition from San Shou to mixed martial arts. I just had to work on my ground and putting it together.

ML: What ultimately made you decide you wanted to transition from your traditional styles to mixed martial arts?
CL: My trainer Javier Mendez talked me into it.

ML: Thus far, you have four incredible knockouts in your MMA career. What do you have to say to critics who question your skills on the ground (BJJ, wrestling, etc.)?
CL: I don't have anything to say to the critics who question my ground game. I will just focus on what I do best and improve on what I need to improve on to be a complete fighter.

ML: Having fought 4 MMA matches now, how would you say your knowledge of submission grapplng and Jiu-jitsu is now? And how much Brazilian Jiu Jitsu do you incorporate into your usual training regimen today?
CL: I have more knowledge every time I step into the cage and into training with the whole MMA game. I love to train and incorporate as much as I could in my regimen.

ML: Who would you say your toughest opponent has been in MMA thus far and why?
CL: It is between Tony and Brian Warren.

ML: You mentioned the possibility of facing Frank Shamrock if both of you won your fights at the last Strikeforce event. Now that you've both come out victorious, what is the status of the fight between you and Frank Shamrock? Any word on that yet?
CL: I think the status of the Frank Shamrock fight will be next year sometime.

ML: We know Strikeforce is fairly leninent when it comes to fighting outside of their organization, do you have any fights outside of Strikeforce lined up yet?
CL: I do not have any fights line up right now.

ML: Is there a possibility of moving to another organization, maybe the UFC or WEC, after your Strikeforce contract expires?
CL: You never know!

ML: How do you think you match up with UFC's current middleweight champion Anderson Silva? or PRIDE's middleweight champion Dan "Dangerous" Henderson?
CL: I don't know how I would match up until I step into the ring with the UFC or Pride Champion. They both are very well rounded and make great fights.

ML: We know you have some interest in acting, is that something you'd pursue after your fighting career?
CL: That is my other focus right now in my career.

ML: Taking a quick look around IrishWhipFighting.com, what do you think of the site?
CL: I like it!

ML: Well Cung, we can't thank you enough for your time, are there any sponsors you'd like to thank? Or any other shout outs you'd like to give?
CL: I would like to thank the Irish Whip fans for all your support!

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BREAKING NEWS: Wanderlei Debuts Dec. 29 at UFC 79

Wanderlei Silva, who recently moved to West Palm Beach, FL, is set to make his return to the UFC at UFC 79 on Dec. 29. Silva has been training with UFC Heavyweight Champ Randy "The Natural" Couture.

According to the Xtreme Couture MMA blog, MMA superstar Wanderlei Silva has been helping Randy train for his upcoming bout with Gonzaga, set for UFC 74.

Randy had nothing but great things to say about "The Axe Murderer":

“It’s great to have him in the gym. I’m anxious to pick his brain. To explore his training tactics and techniques. I’m also looking forward to building a rapport with him going forward. We had some good goes today. We were working out of half guard and the mount. He’s very tough in both positions.”

Wanderlei made the prediction in favor of "The Natural," stating that he has "very good boxing."

Silva was also highly impressed with Couture's underrated jiu-jitsu skills, he said this:

“He’s strong on the ground. He has very good jiu jitsu and excellent stamina. He’s stronger than I thought.”

Silva's first opponent has yet to be confirmed, but he hopes it will be against Chuck Liddell.

Wanderlei Silva was PRIDE's former middleweight champion and will be coming off two back-to-back knockout losses to Mirko "Cro Cop" and Dan "Dangerous" Henderson.

Wanderlei couldn't have picked a better fighter to work with. Couture will help him tremendously with his wrestling, takedown abilities and defense and so much more. couture, on the other hand, will also be able to further polish his stand-up skills with Silva.

Here is a video of a recent interview, conducted by Sherdog, of Wanderlei about his coming to the U.S. and his soon to be UFC career:

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IRISH WHIP EXCLUSIVE: DAN HENDERSON INTERVIEW

Irish Whip Fighting sat down with the one and only PRIDE FC Middleweight and Welterweight Champion, Dan "Hollywood" Henderson. We got his thoughts on PRIDE vs. UFC, Wanderlei Silva, his upcoming title fight with Rampage Jackson, if he plans to move down to Middleweight, and much more! An Interview By Ben Zeidler

Ben Zeidler: You've mentioned that you felt Wanderlei Silva was disrespectful towards you in interviews? Recently knocking out Wanderlei Silva, do you still have any negative feelings towards him?
Dan Henderson: I never really had negative feelings for him at all. I don't think he was that disrespectful, it was just…I always felt that we had mutual respect, especially after we fought the first time.

BZ: Do you have any plans to capture the UFC MW belt or do you prefer to fight at 205lbs now?
DH: Uh, I think it's up to me. The thing that I'm focused on right now is winning this fight, nothing else, whatever happens after that you know, happens.

BZ: Who in the UFC would you like to fight now that most of the talent pool is consolidated?
DH: I mean it doesn't matter to me, I mean, I'm just concerned about winning this fight and being the champ there and whoever is the, you know, the next guy in line for that title shot, I guess I'll be fighting him. Really, at this point it isn't up to me.

BZ: What made you test yourself in MMA after your wrestling career?
DH: Uh, well I started fighting while I was still wrestling. I wrestled for another three years when I started fighting. I was only fighting to get some money to keep wrestling. I had no desires to fight for that long but, once I started fighting full time, I started thinking that I was going to do it for much longer than I had anticipated.

BZ: What type of thoughts or feelings are running through your head knowing that you have the chance of being the first in history to hold three different title belts?
DH: It's amazing, I think that it is a great opportunity that I have in front of me and I want to make sure that I don't waste that opportunity and make sure I'm definitely as prepared as I can be for this fight, mentally and physically, on that night to win.

BZ: Are you planning to change anything in training to prepare yourself for Rampage Jackson?
DH: Yeah, I'm obviously going to switch it up and do more elbows to the face and head. I brushed up on my wrestling and my standup so, it's pretty much business as usual with some specifics in mind.

BZ: Do you have a prediction for us?
DH: Haha, well I definitely want to be the winner for that one, more likely in the later rounds if not a decision, depends on what condition he comes in at.

BZ: Do you have any knowledge as to what organization fellow Team Quest fighter, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou has his eyes set upon?
DH: Well I manage him, so I do know, but nothing is set in stone. I'd rather not comment until then, when things are confirmed.

BZ: Fighting the majority of your career in Japan, how welcoming are fans here in the U.S.?
DH: Uh well, they're a little bit more rowdy, a little drunker, and they boo a little bit more but, you know, the excitement is there, the energy is there. Its very comparable energy wise, they're just different, I like them both.

BZ: Having fought in UFC 17, do you prefer fighting in a cage or a ring?
DH: I prefer the ring; I prefer to watch the fights through the ring too.

BZ: So far, how was UFC's treatment towards you differing from that of PRIDE's?
DH: You know it's fair to this point, still in the feeling out period. They haven't completely come to me with open arms, so I'm a little apprehensive. But, I'll be in the UFC for a long time and I plan to finish my career in the UFC. We're just starting out the relationship.

BZ: Okay Dan, I think that's it. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us today. We really appreciate it.
DH: No problem, let me know if you need anything else. Just give me a call anytime. Have a good one guys.

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Ranking The PRIDE FC Light Heavyweights

Prior to Zuffa's buyout of PRIDE and its stars, one could easily suggest that PRIDE held the most stacked Light heavyweight division of all-time. Between veterans Wanderlei Silva, Ricardo Arona, and Dan Henderson along with newcomers Quinton Jackson and Mauricio Rua (pictured), you'd be hard pressed to find a more stellar group of fighters. Yes, they're all superstars in their own right, but who is the best?

In order to rank the Light heavyweights, I chose the top guys (in my opinion) and looked at their "quality wins," meaning a win against any other member of the group. With apologies to Alistair Overeem and Ninja Rua, I went through the quality wins of the following fighters (in no order): Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Ricardo Arona, Quinton Jackson, Mauricio Rua, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. After examining their quality wins, I was able to eliminate two from contention and rank the top 5.

Not enough information: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Little Nog had as many contests as some of the other fighters (3 contests against quality opponents), but only beat Dan Henderson while dropping contests to Mauricio Rua (who hasn't) and a recent one to wonder kid Sokoudjou. I felt that not only was there not enough information to make a determination on Little Nog, but if I had to make a decision, his 1-2 record wouldn't be enough to crack the Top 5. Sokoudjou, in his own right, is extremely impressive, but is only 5 contests into his MMA career. Granted, two of these are against Little Nog and Arona, but that isn't enough for me to place the "African Assassin" among the Top 5. Perhaps if he had beat Wandy and Hendo, that would be a different story, but he hasn't...not yet, at least.

5: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Despite all the hoopla surrounding his dual wins against Chuck Liddell and infamous powerbomb of Arona, Rampage has done little else for himself. Since the Liddell wins don't count as quality victories (one came outside the auspices of PRIDE in addition to Liddell not being among the quality fighters), Rampage has just one quality win to show for himself (Arona) to go along with his loss to Shogun Rua and two losses to Wanderlei Silva. This 1-4 record was just decent enough to put him above Sokoudjou and into the Top 5.

4: Dan "Hollywood" Henderson. He does wield and impresive victory over Wanderlei Silva, but similar to Jackson, Henderson has little else to his name. His most recent win is the only one of its kind against a quality opponent while he holds a loss to Wanderlei, Little Nog, and Arona. His record stands at 1-3, with his only win coming against an opponent he's also lost to. Good, but not Shogun good.

3: Ricardo "Brazilian Tiger" Arona. At first, I thought that this spot was a little high for Arona. He, like everyone else, holds a loss to Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua along with downright beatings from Rampage and Sokoudjou. However, he's the only man to ever beat BOTH Wanderlei Silva and Dan Henderson. And for that, I believe he deserves a top spot. His record comes in at 2-4, good enough to pull him in ahead of Henderson.

2: Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva. Originally, this spot was Wandy's. Then it was Shogun's. And now, it goes back to Wanderlei Silva. I looked at Shogun and Silva's quality wins and found that they've both beat Arona and Rampage (twice for Wanderlei). The discrepancy came when looking at who else they had beat, and of course, who they have lost to. Other than the matches listed previously, Silva's only other quality win came against Henderson while Shogun's came against Little Nogueira. In 2005, Little Nog beat Henderson. Point for Shogun. Now, to the losses. Silva has lost to two quality opponents (Arona and Henderson) while Shogun has lost to...oh, right. No one. Point to Shogun. Wanderlei is damn impressive, but considering his recent losing streak and less than perfect 4-2 record, he falls in at number two.

1: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. How can you argue wth three quality wins (Arona, Rampage, Little Nog) and no losses against quality opponents? It's not likely that Shogun would fight Wanderlei as they are both Chute Boxe students, but a bout with Henderson following UFC 75 isn't out of the question at all. If Shogun managed to win that match up, he would solidify himself at the top of every 205 lb. ranking in the world. And oh yeah, he's just 25 years old.

Post below with your thoughts on my rankings!

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UFC 75 to Air FREE on Spike TV!

So it looks like UFC president Dana White isn't as Satanic as he makes himself seem, he can do us some good deeds from time to time. White recently announced that UFC's next "stacked" card, UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion, will be aired for FREE on Spike TV via tape delay, as UFC 70 was.

Spike TV will be airing UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion, scheduled for September 8 from the O2 Arena in London, English, free of charge at 9 P.M. E/T via tape delay.

Official word and specifics regarding the free airing of UFC 75 can be found in this press release issued by the UFC.

Last time a major UFC event was aired on television was of course UFC 70: Nations Collide in Manchester, England, where we all got to see Mirko "Cro Cop's" head ripped off my Gonzaga's foot.

Nonetheless, we're going to get to see yet another UFC event without having to dish out fifty big ones. The card's main event includes a light heavyweight title fight with UFC light heavyweight champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and PRIDE's welterweight and middleweight champ Dan "Hollywood" Henderson.

Mirko "Cro Cop" will also be facing Cheick Kongo, let's just hope he comes serious this time. The Ultimate Fighter 3 light heavyweight winner Michael Bisping will also be joining the card as he is set to face off against former castmate Matt Hamill.

And just to remind you, the Jackson-Henderson main event will in fact be the first ever title unification bout, which was confirmed earlier this month.

I can't wait for this fight, I'll just have to keep myself from checking the live play-by-play's this time around!

Thank you Mr. White for this. :)

The Lianger

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UFC 75 Update: Jackson-Henderson for Title Unification

The fight between PRIDE's 185lb and 205lb champion Dan "Hollywood" Henderson and UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has now been confirmed to be a unification title bout. Finally!

My long time dream of seeing Liddell-Silva have recently been crushed however, thankfully, my other dream of seeing Jackson-Henderson title unification bout still holds.

At a UFC 73: Stacked press conference UFC President Dana White spoke about the Jackson-Henderson fight, scheduled to take place at UFC 75 in England on September 8th. Dana White had this to say:

"I've been saying all along this thing is a unification title bout, Pride Champion vs. UFC Champion. The guy that walks away walks away with the unified, undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world."

This certainly clears up some rumors floating around for the past few weeks which said the fight was only for the UFC light heavyweight title and even going as far saying that the fight has been stripped to a non-title fight.

Thank goodness, I was starting to think MMA was all about upsets and heart-breaking news (i.e. GSP-Serra, Sokoudjou-Arona, Sokoudjou-Nogueira, CC-Gonzaga, Liddell-Silva).

So, as original speculations had claimed, UFC 75: Champion vs. Champion will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2007 at The O2 in London, England and the main event will be a superfight between current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and PRIDE's 185lb and 205lb champion, Dan Henderson for the unification of of belts.

MMA fans around the world will finally get to witness UFC champion vs. PRIDE champion battle it out to be the world's first ever true champion in MMA. (I know, Quinton Jackson is technically a PRIDE fighter, but who gives a damn at this point!)

The Lianger

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MMA News Updates: Baroni, Jackson-Henderson

Two pretty interesting developments hit the MMA scene today. Phil Baroni tests positive for steroids (gasp!) and it's now said that the fight between Quinton Jackson and Dan Henderson WILL in fact be for the UFC light heavyweight belt, despite yesterday's allegations mentioned by the OCregister.

Here are brief descriptions of the news updates and my two cents:

1. Baroni testing positive for steroids

Phil "The NY Bad Ass" Baroni most recently lost by submission at the hands of MMA legend Frank Shamrock at Strikeforce/EliteXC's "Shamrock vs. Baroni" event held on June 22. It has now been reported by the California State Athletic Commission(CSAC) that Baroni tested positive for Boldenone Metabolite and Stanozolol Metabolite, two common anabolic steroids. And because of this, Baroni has been fined $2,500 and suspended 365 days, quite the crap storm for Baroni.

What is with fighters and steroids? I mean, they always end up getting caught, punished and on top of all this, they usually don't win! It serves no purpose really. With that said, the year suspension seems a bit harsh in my opinion. I don't understand how they whip up the punishments, it seems like they might just be pulling strips out of a hat. Meh, beats me, seems like fighters testing positive for some substance is the "hip" thing to do these days. Let's all jump on the substance bandwagon!

2. Jackson-Henderson Title Fight Is On, Baby!

Well, despite the OCRegister's reports about this one turning into a non-title bout, it now looks like a belt is on the line. The fighters will duke it out on September 8 for the UFC light heavyweight. Looks like Henderson lucked out and gets to hold on to his PRIDE belts for a little longer.

Today on The Stephan Quadros Show, Quadros and and co-host Aaron Crecy report that Zuffa LLC, parent company of the UFC, has declared that the matchup would be for the UFC light heavyweight championship.

Thank God, for this news. I mean, the fight kind of lost its appeal to me when I was told that nothing was at stake. Quadros seems like a more credible source than "OCRegister." All in all, this is great news and it looks like everything is back to candy canes and rainbows!

The Lianger

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UFC 75 Updates: Jackson-Henderson, Belts Not on the Line

It looks like UFC 75’s card was almost too good to be true. In a recent article released by the OCregister, The main event of the night between UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and PRIDE’s 83 kg and 93 kg champion Dan Henderson has now been demoted to a non-title fight. Crap jackers, I know.

Carlos Arias of the Orange County Register reported the following snippet at a UFC 73 conference call held last week, Dana White said:

"No. What we’re doing with that thing is we’re respecting both (the UFC and PRIDE) titles. The UFC title is the UFC champion and we’re respecting Dan as the PRIDE champion. Quinton will walk out with his belt if Dan wins and vice versa."

I guess the “Champion vs. Champion” title for UFC 75 was meant in a more direct and literal sense than anything else. There may even be a possibility of the bout being stripped down to a typical three five-minute round non-title match.

The Lianger

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UFC 75: Official Updates

Dana White was featured on ESPN's "Hot List" yesterday and confirmed the rumors about Cro Cop facing Cheick Kongo at UFC 75.

UFC 75: "Champion vs. Champion" is set to take place back in England, where the Croatian Sensation Mirko "Cro Cop" suffered his most recent and devastating knockout loss to Gabriel Gonzaga.

In regards to Cro Cop's next fight, he had this to say:

I am one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, but unfortunately, I did not prove that reputation in my last fight. It was a great shock for me and I believe for all my fans and I was very disappointed. But I am a true professional and fighting is my life so I’m training harder than ever. And in the next fight I will be better than ever so I hope you will all be there to see it. I am going to beat my opponent. As I already told you, it was a shock for me and many people ask me if I am okay, if I am injured – it didn’t look good – that my ankle twisted, that my knee was looking bad, but it’s okay now. I have started running already, I started full training already and I am dying for my next fight.

Cro Cop is of course known for his lethal striking abilities and his signature left high kick. Cro Cop has also been highly successful in K-1 and PRIDE FC and is the winner of the PRIDE 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix. Cro Cop was signed to the UFC not too long ago and has had two fights so far, a TKO victory over Eddie Sanchez and a knockout loss to Gabriel Gonzaga.

Cheick Kongo has some impressive credentials up his sleeve as well. Also, known for his impressive striking game, Kongo is a kick boxer and Muay-Thai practitioner who fights out of Paris, France. Kongo's last victory was at UFC 70: Nations Collide, where he defeated Assuerio Silva via majority decision.

This is a should be a stand-up war. Although Kongo lacks ground skills, I don't think Cro Cop is looking to take this one to the ground at any point in the fight.

Other confirmed fights for UFC 75:
Championship Bout: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson v. Dan "Hollywood" Henderson
Michael Bisping v. Matt Hamill

The Lianger

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