As the hot days of summer continue on, MMA fans have a lot to look forward to. With UFC 133 right around the corner and numerous other events announced and developing, the latter part of the year is going to be an exciting time in the MMA community. Even still, looking at the Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson main event, this may not be a fight that will leave fans clamoring for more.
Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko are two tough fighters who are beloved for their accomplishments during the earlier days of mixed martial arts. However, even though those early days are relatively recent by calendar date, they seem even further back in today’s “What have you done for me lately?” environment. Both men were dominant in PRIDE all the way through its final days of relevance, yet since then, both have struggled to gain the position they once had in the sport.
Although 7-3 in his last ten fights, Henderson has been unsuccessful in three of four title shots. He was able to defeat Rafael Cavalcante this past March, but one can only wonder if that fight might have gone differently if it occurred in the UFC Octagon. Fedor, on the other hand, had a ten-year undefeated streak halted last summer, and then he was stopped once again by Antonio Silva. Fans began to raise the idea of his retirement, but both the fighter and his management team scoffed at the idea.
What makes this main event matchup intriguing is the question of what would come next for each fighter. Hendo would be much better served defending his title against someone such as Gegard Mousasi, or another individual who will add some legitimacy to his title reign. A win over Fedor doesn’t bolster his position in the 205 weight class, and a loss damages the whole division within Strikeforce.
On the other hand, a Fedor victory would offer some revitalization to his career. While some interest still remains as to how well he would fare as a light heavyweight, Fedor has already stated that he is against such a weight cut. Yet suffering another defeat would add more questions, no matter how unfounded, about his reign as a heavyweight. I believe that a third defeat in a row would practically force Fedor into retirement, as a last hope to hold together the legacy that he has spent the last 10 years creating.
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson does offer some other interesting matchups, such as Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley, Miesha Tate vs. Marloes Coenen, and Tim Kennedy vs. Robbie Lawler. These fights are intriguing for one reason or another, but the main event doesn’t grab my attention. Fight cards are pushed and judged by how well the main event performs at the end of the evening. The main event of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson will feature two fighters who are established stars, but with futures that are not as strong as they once were.
