Music to listen to: Natural Disaster by The Memorials
There was a time where a fight between Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko would not only be considered the fight of the year but a mismatch.
It was only 13 months ago when Fedor was considered not only the top heavyweight in MMA of all-time, but arguably the best fighter ever. His victories over Cro Cop, Mark Coleman, Nogueira, Andrei Arlovski and many others will fill a fight fan’s video library with a clinic of elite striking, excellent submissions and a general makeup of what you would want from a champion fighter.
However, Fedor is coming off two decisive losses to men who were either bigger and stronger than him like Antonio Silva or more skilled in the ground game like Fabricio Werdum. Part of this may have been because he was competing with fighters who outweighed him by significant pounds or just the fact that Fedor is getting older and the skills are finally diminishing.
Henderson has also had an interesting 16 months himself. After ending his time in the UFC with a highlight-reel knockout of Michael Bisping, Henderson has a highly-hyped debut contest against Jake Shields in Nashville in April 2010 and lost in an uninspired contest. It was assumed that if Henderson won that fight, he would get an immediate title shot, which didn’t happen. Fortunately for Henderson, he moved to light heavyweight, the preferred weight class for him at this stage of his career and has had two consecutive victories, including a win over Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante in March to win the Strikeforce light heavyweight title.
The Henderson vs. Fedor fight will be at heavyweight, which will present challenges for each fighter.
For Fedor, he will not the smaller man in a contest for the first time in a very long time, meaning that the strength advantage should go to him potentially in the clinch. However, he’s facing one of the top grapplers ever in MMA who won’t be easy to take down. Also, the speed advantage, particularly in hand speed, that Fedor has mostly enjoyed in many of his matches will be less than usual against Henderson.
For Henderson, he will face a fighter who matches his knockout ability and will probably be stronger than him.
If Fedor is motivated and comes in good shape, this can be a close three-round fight that may be too close to call. However, his last two fights have shown a vulnerability that Henderson should be able to take advantage of late in the contest.
Prediction: Henderson by decision
Quick thoughts on the other fights:
Marloes Coleman vs. Miesha Tate: This will be an excellent representation of female MMA fighting as two of the top female combatants will engage in a title fight in front of a major audience. Both fighters like to fight on the ground and Coenen has the top submission game in her weight class. Tate is an excellent wrestlers in her own right.
Prediction: Tate by decision
Robbie Lawler vs. Tim Kennedy: Two of the top three middleweights in Strikeforce will engage in a fight that’s pretty simple to break down. If the fight stays standing, Lawler should be able to exploit his heavy hands and score another devastating knockdown. However, if Kennedy can close the distance and use improved clinch skills to fight a grinding style, than the fight can become interesting.
Prediction: Kennedy by decision
Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley: Woodley is the future of the division and is one solid victory away from getting a title shot. Daley is a solid fighter but is facing a younger and hungrier opponent. Expect Woodley to use some wrestling skills, particularly striking from the ground, to punish Daley’s lack of ground skills.
Prediction: Woodley by TKO third round
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Scott Smith: Its odd seeing Smith as a welterweight but you know that he will be difficult to knock out, which is exactly what Saffidine will try to accomplish. I doubt that this fight will go to the ground which means I will take the younger and crisper fighter in this contest.
Prediction: Saffiedine by third round TKO
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
The Sports Inquirer 
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