Can Fedor Emelianenko right the ship? | Photo: J. Sherwood
Sherdog.com staff and contributors put their reputations on the line with bold predictions for the Strikeforce/M-1 Global ?Fedor vs. Henderson? main card, which airs on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Saturday from the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Heavyweights
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson
Jordan Breen: Even in spite of his recent slump, I find it hard to go against ?The Last Emperor? here. Yes, he?s facing a fighter in Henderson who is absolutely more skilled than your average heavyweight, and by a good margin. However, the foes Emelianenko fell to -- Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva -- are by no means average. Werdum had submission skills light years beyond Henderson, and, in addition to his overwhelming physical attributes, Silva is an underrated wrestler and top-position grappler. These are exactly the skills they used to beat the Russian. Do we believe Henderson is going to land the overhand right and fell Emelianenko? I?m not sure what future awaits Emelianenko beyond this bout, but I still think he?s good enough to submit Henderson when the bout hits the floor in a fashion not unlike how he dealt with Henderson?s former Team Quest teammate Matt Lindland, though I do think this one will be far more competitive.
Guilherme Pinheiro: I?m really intrigued by this fight. Had this fight happened 18 months ago, I would have no problem picking Fedor. However, Fedor looked mortal in his last two fights, and, now, the more I think about this fight, the less I know what to make of it. Henderson is a wrestler that gets taken down more than his reputation would indicate and has also has been submitted in the past. I?m not really sure Fedor will pursue that path, which I think is his best shot at winning. On top of that, Henderson is savvy enough to navigate through Fedor?s shots standing up until the opportunity of a takedown presents itself. I?m torn about this one. I?ll go with Henderson taking this one by decision.
Tony Loiseleur: The greatest heavyweight MMA has seen thus far in Emelianenko finds himself in the unenviable position of having to fight his way back to the top after two stoppage losses. He is trying doing so against Strikeforce?s light heavyweight champion in a heavyweight bout. Certainly, the details of the matchup are head-scratchers. Typically in these situations, we?d find the troubled fighter cutting down to a lighter division for what will hopefully be a second lease on life, but for some reason, Fedor refuses to do so. It is arguable, however, that cutting to light heavyweight would change things much since that division is deeper and more competitive than heavyweight. That?s what makes this fight intriguing; more so given Henderson?s history as a weight-class agnostic fighter in the Pride Fighting Championships days. Since ?Hendo? has been taken down regularly throughout his career by lesser-credentialed wrestlers, I like Fedor?s chances to get him down, but I don?t think we'll see a submission. It cannot stay there long if Henderson wants to exercise that clubbing right hand of his. I?m guessing the difference will ultimately be there in the striking; I don?t think either man will knock the other out, but I do favor Hendo?s power over Fedor?s. I expect a close fight, one in which Henderson might hurt Fedor at times but only enough to take a decision. However, since we all know how MMA fandom and punditry are, my only fear for this outcome is that if Fedor loses to a lighter opponent -- no matter how skilled, powerful and experienced we all recognize Henderson to be -- it won?t bode well for his future or legacy.
Brian Knapp: All the physical advantages rest with Emelianenko, but one has to wonder about the state of his mind, given his two recent losses. He will have a decided weight advantage in this one, perhaps as much as 30 pounds, along with the experience of having competed as a heavyweight his entire career. For all his accomplishments, Henderson has never been considered a master game planner. At times, it seems, his heart overtakes his brain in the heat of battle. Eventually, the fight with Emelianenko will hit the ground, and the submission will come for ?The Last Emperor,? whose demise has been grossly overstated.
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