FanPost

Is Dan Henderson vs Fedor Emelianenko the best option for Strikeforce?

Fedor Emelianenko's recent back-to-back losses to Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva have lead to speculation as to whether the former PRIDE kingpin should retire, continue competing at heavyweight, or drop down to the light heavyweight division.

If Fedor chooses to drop down, why not give him a fight against Dan Henderson, who pasted "Feijao" Cavalcante last night (March 5) to become the new light heavyweight champion? 

After all, when "Hendo" first signed with Strikeforce, the one name he dropped as a guy he would love to fight was "The Last Emperor" himself. That's what he told MMAFighting.com:

"I would love to have that chance to fight Fedor. I think that would be the ultimate challenge, and that's what excites me."

Now, obviously, a lot has happened since then. Both Emelianenko and Henderson have fought multiple times, to a combined record of 3-3. Not exactly lighting the Strikeforce world on fire.

But it's perhaps because of that, that pairing the two against each other makes sense.

Consider this: Fedor is currently in limbo, most likely waiting for the loser of the Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum grand prix tournament quarterfinal on June 18. That's quite a ways off.

Henderson, who stated he would like to fight before June or July, is also in a bit of a holding pattern, as there is no clear cut challenger to his light heavyweight crown.

What to do, what to do.

That's not to say that they should necessarily put together Emelianenko vs. Henderson at 205-pounds for the light heavyweight strap. Not at all.

But of the match-ups Strikeforce currently has the ability to make, how many of them would qualify as bona fide superfights? Not many that I can think of.

This would certainly live up to that billing.

It would solve numerous issues currently facing the San Jose based promotion. It gives both "Hollywood" and Fedor an opponent in the short term while not jeopardizing either fighter's long-term prospects.

Because the fact of the matter, is these two are in the twilight of their respective careers. They don't have long-term prospects. They've reached the Matt Hughes age, in which making exciting and interesting fights take precedence over divisional relevance.

That might seem odd, considering "Dangerous Dan" is now carrying around the belt in what was initially thought to be Strikeforce's deepest division.

But his victory last night most likely chucked that theory out the window, at least for now. Even if it didn't, he still doesn't have a credible challenger at the moment.

When it comes down to it, both Fedor and Henderson are patiently awaiting the results of upcoming fights within their division. So why not take advantage of the two biggest names in the organization and have them fight each other.

What's the argument against it?

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