5 Reasons Why Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson Is A "Freak Show" Fight

No matter who you are, you probably have a strong opinion on the upcoming main event of Strikeforce’s “Fedor vs. Henderson” card. MMA legend and pioneer Fedor Emelianenko steps into the cage against fellow legend Dan Henderson, who just so happens to be the current Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion. Is this a “freak show” fight or a tough battle between two warriors? Is Fedor Emelianenko fighting a “best in the world” fighter or a glorified Middleweight? And who’s going to win this one? Here’s my attempt to answer just that: a pair of “5 Reasons Why” pairings that will examine why Fedor/Henderson both is and isn’t a “freak show fight”, and “5 Reasons Why” Fedor could beat Henderson and Henderson could beat Fedor. I’ll start off by giving the cynics their due: these are the five biggest reasons why some are calling this fight a “freak show” encounter.

5. There’s really nobody for Henderson to face in the Light Heavyweight division.

The one flaw that continues to hamper Strikeforce time and time again is the relative weakness of most of their weight divisions. At 205 specifically, no one (and I do mean no one) has been able to hold onto that championship. Even worse, they keep winning it in dominant fashion only to get humbled and lose it in their next fight. Realistically, Henderson has to wait for some upstart 205’ers to work their way up the card or else face a host of former champions whose prestige took a real hit when they lost the title.

4. All the other good Heavyweights for Fedor to beat are either tied up in the Grand Prix, recovering from losses, or fighting elsewhere.

Alistair Overeem is pretty angry at Strikeforce right now and has signed to fight at another organization, although he’s contractually allowed to do so. Even Andrei Arlovski is going to fight in another promotion soon. Everyone that won their first fight in the Grand Prix is still in the Grand Prix, everyone else just got done fighting and needs time to recover. The other Strikeforce Heavyweight fighters aren’t really big enough names to deserve a fight against Fedor.

3. This is the last fight of Dan Henderson’s contract and Zuffa needs an excuse to let him go if he plays the same card twice.

When Dan Henderson has to renegotiate his contract with the now Zuffa-owned Strikeforce after this bout, it may open up old wounds. Remember, the UFC practically forced Henderson to sign with Strikeforce. The UFC didn’t take too kindly to Henderson holding out for more money, so they promptly showed him the door despite the fact that he was coming off of one of the best knockout victories of his career. Zuffa would look like an even colder corporation if they let Henderson walk as a Strikeforce champion. But if he’s coming off of a humbling loss and still asks for more money? That may be a good enough reason to let him go, even with the title.

2. Fedor Emelianenko is on a two-fight losing-streak.

What do you do with the man who commands the highest pay rate in the company but has lost two fights in humbling fashion? You give him a third fight against an opponent where his reputation will be even more damaged if he loses… and then you cut him. This is a win-win situation for Zuffa, who gets to reduce at least one of the highest salaries in Strikeforce. And believe me, given their history, Zuffa will be more than happy to cut Fedor on the heels of a three-fight losing-streak.

1. Dan Henderson has fought at Middleweight.

Try as I might, I just can’t take this away from the cynics. It’s true: Dan Henderson is a smaller fighter. He’s a Light Heavyweight at best, and he’s taking on a man that routinely weighs in at 230. The blow is softened somewhat when you realize how good of a fighter Henderson is… but still, this is the strongest indicator that at least part of this fight has a “freak show” factor.