Scott Coker confirms Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson possible for Summer event
Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson and “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko could meet as part of a Summer event, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker.
Although verbal agreements are currently in place, the match-up is not yet official. The main point of contention between the camps has reportedly been the weight at which they would meet. Earlier rumors of a Light Heavyweight bout have been ruled out, however, according to SI.com, Emelianenko is proposing a catchweight of 215-220-pounds, while Henderson prefers the fight be contested at Heavyweight (265-pound limit).
In his latest effort, Emelianenko was defeated via TKO (doctor stoppage) by Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. The loss, which eliminated him from the promotion’s Heavyweight Grand Prix, marked his second in a row after having suffered his first legitimate defeat against Fabricio Werdum several months prior. Though he openly discussed the idea of retiring following the consecutive losses, Emelianenko has since reconsidered and resumed training for his return.
Henderson, meanwhile, left the UFC to sign with Strikeforce in 2009. After a disappointing decision loss to Jake Shields in his promotional debut, he rebounded strong with an impressive first-round knockout victory over fellow veteran Renato “Babalu” Sobral. The win earned him a shot at then-champ Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante last month, whom Hendo dispatched via third-round TKO to capture the Light Heavyweight title.
Although Strikeforce is now owned by ZUFFA, who both fighters have had negotiations stall with in the past, Coker assures that this will in no way conflict with the fight materializing. Stay tuned to LowKick for more info as it becomes available.
