Free Agent Dan Henderson Wants to Fight For UFC and Strikeforce, Says He Was Asked About Rematching Silva on Fox

MMA’s top free agent Dan Henderson sat down Monday with Clinch Gear Radio to talk about a number of topics including his last fight with Fedor Emelianenko, whether or not he thinks the Russian fighter can return to his former glory and where his own career stands as of now.

For those of you whose ADHD makes it impossible to pay attention or whose workplace Internet filters make it impossible for you to watch YouTube videos, we have you covered with the transcription of the meat and potatoes below. You’re welcome.

Here’s what “Dangerous” Dan had to say about:

Whether or not he thinks Fedor can return to form:
“I think that he could recapture that [former glory], for sure. It takes a little bit of time once you get re-motivated. He probably took a couple years where he let the sport go past him a little bit. It’s gonna take him a little bit of time to play catch-up. I think he’s very dangerous and well-rounded and a tough guy, so I don’t see him having trouble getting back in there, no problem. I do think that his size is a little bit of…He’s right between light heavy and heavyweight and he’s a small heavyweight and he might not like to cut weight, so…we’ll see.”

Where his KO of “The Last Emperor” ranks on his list of career accomplishments:
“I guess as far as accomplishments go, it ranks right up there at the top. I think I just hit him right on the button. He wasn’t expecting anything at all to come from that angle and I hit him right on the chin, so I think it caught him so off guard that I think it knocked him face-first into the ground. It was something that I was definitely happy to have happen.”

Whether or not he was disappointed that Fedor said their fight was stopped early:
“I wasn’t disappointed at all [when he said the fight was stopped early]. I think at the time that the ref finally pushed me all the way off he started to kind of come to a little bit, but had the ref not gotten involved at all, he would have been knocked out. I can see his point, but it doesn’t disappoint me at all. I know the position I had him in and I know that with him falling face-first out cold for a second or two, I think the ref definitely made the right call. I just think that he should have been a little more aggressive getting me off of him.”

Whether or not he feels that there are any viable contenders left for him to fight in Strikeforce now that the UFC has picked the carcass:
“I definitely feel that there’s still the possibility for me to defend that belt in Strikforce, but I think now that the UFC has bought Strikeforce and they need to make money and I need to make money, so we’ll see what happens. I’d like to work out a deal where I’m fighting in both promotions.”

Whether it’s more lucrative for him to fight in the UFC because of pay-per-view bonuses he could negotiate as part of his new deal:
“For me it’s about the money and about the fights as well. I think both organizations definitely have the fights, but we’ll see. The pay-per-view [percentage] definitely could make a difference as well and I think either way, I’m hoping to get a pay increase after my last three fights, bt you never know.”

Where he wants to fight more:
“There [are] definitely some interesting fights over there [at Strikeforce]. Obviously they’ve got a little bit more depth over at the UFC, but there [are] definitely some guys that would be a tough fight and an interesting match-up in Strikeforce. I would love to be able to defend my belt in Strikeforce and be able to go over and unify belts in the UFC and get a couple fights over there.”

The UFC’s deal with Fox:
“I think it’s great for the sport and I think, obviously Fox wouldn’t have signed such a big deal if they [didn’t know] the viewership that the UFC brings. I’m excited about it as well. For me it’s a matter of being in front of new fans.”

Whether or not he was close to rematching Anderson Silva on the Fox debut show:
“You’d have to ask Anderson Silva’s camp, but I don’t think it was close at all because I don’t think he wants to fight me. It was something that was talked about and I said, ‘Sure, no problem. I’d do that.’ I’d cut down to 185 to fight him, but nobody else.”

If that is the rematch he wants most out of any of his losses:
“Probably. Especially the way he fights most the time. He’s disrespectful to his opponents and the fans at the same time.”

His current relationship with UFC president Dana White:
“I think he likes me, just because I don’t get in between him and his dinner.”

How he feels about the current state of his MMA career:
“I feel pretty good where I’m at. I feel I’m able to compete with anyone in the world at any weight class, especially the 135-pounders.”

How his career now compares to his heyday in PRIDE:
“Obviously the feeling was good back then as well, but if I compare the fighter I was then to the fighter I am now, I’m much more improved. I’ve learned, I’ve progressed with the sport and just continued to try to improve. My conditioning has been a focus in my last three fights and I think it showed.”

How he feels health-wise at age 41:
“Good. I’ve been real smart my last few training camps and my body’s been feeling pretty good. Knowing when to kinda back off and let my body recuperate has been a huge adjustment.”

Whether or not he’s interested in fighting Mauricio “Shogun” Rua:
“Yeah, I think that would be a great fight. Obviously the fight that I would want, and I think the fans would want even more, would be to see a title unification between whoever’s the UFC champ at light heavy and me. I would like for that to happen, but there’s a ton of fights over there. Shogun would be one of them. He just came off of a pretty big win and it would be something that all of the old school PRIDE fans would like to see, I’m sure.”

When he wants to compete again:
“Ideally, I would like to fight some time in December, even on the New Year’s Eve show would be great. But no later than that. Then again in probably February-March and again in June. I want the summers off.”

Whether or not he enjoys being a free agent since he seems to do it so much:
“It’s nice to not have to think about [where you’re next fight will be] and know what it is, but it’s also exciting to do that good ole’ negotiating phase and see what my next fight’s gonna be all at the same time in the negotiations. I don’t know. I’m just enjoying the moment and where I am right now.”

When he thinks he’ll have a new deal in place with Zuffa/Forza LLC:
“I’m sure we’ll figure out a deal within the next month, two weeks. I would love to be able to fight in the UFC and defend my belt in Strikeforce.”