Dan Henderson Speaks On His Choice To Go To Strikeforce
Posted by Larry Csonka on 12.07.2009
More on the big Strikeforce signing…
- Dan Henderson spoke with Sherdog.com today about his choice to sign with Strikeforce, here are the highlights…
On Why He Signed With Strikeforce: The decision was based on a number of things. It wasn't just a financial thing. It was the fact that I felt I wasn't getting the fight that I wanted in the UFC. That was a big part of that -- that I wasn't and that it got yanked away from me. I think I stepped up for the UFC a number of times and had earned that right again for a title fight. And the fact that publicity-wise, CBS offers quite a bit more than a pay-per-view and Spike TV.
On Having His Middleweight Title Shot Pulled: The fight got pulled from me and was offered to Vitor (Belfort). I met with them after Vitor fought Rich Franklin. I told them that it does irritate me. I said, ‘Why does Vitor get to jump the line when there's me and (Nate) Marquardt here who can both fight for a title shot and Vitor's never fought for the UFC at 185? He jumps the line, especially since I beat him.' They acted surprised that I'd even fought him. They weren't up on those details at the time. It jogged their memory, but either way, to put someone in there that I dominated not that long ago…
On What Signing With Strikeforce Means For MMA: Obviously, I was fighting in Pride for a long time and I've never been one to really jump ship. Had I felt a little bit more, I don't know… I was planning on finishing my career in the UFC. When I signed with the UFC, that's what I was planning on doing. I think that whatever transpired or how they handled me just didn't work out at present. Especially for me at this point in my career, it was definitely Strikeforce. I don't know what that says about the climate of the UFC. I think that they need to really respect the fighters a little bit more.
On Fighters Being Respected: Absolutely. Things like that aren't necessary and for them to do that in the middle of negotiations doesn't make me feel respected. It's more of a strong-arm tactic and a lot of people turn the other way when that happens. To me, it was just funny. I didn't take it personally, but it just seemed a little contradictory to the ‘no hard feelings' thing.
why he jumped in line, not only because hes badass
BUT YOU ALREADY LOSSED
you got to win a bunch to get a rematch and you have not done so enough good enough people bottom line
YOU ALREADY LOSSED
Posted By: Guest#9903 (Guest) on December 07, 2009 at 07:56 PM
On Fighters Being Respected = This everything he just said here is why
Dana White needs to learn to keep his mouth shut. You trash a fighter you're negotiating with and doesn't help you at all.
Posted By: Guest#8187 (Guest) on December 07, 2009 at 08:34 PM
why he jumped in line, not only because hes badass
BUT YOU ALREADY LOSSED
you got to win a bunch to get a rematch and you have not done so enough good enough people bottom line
YOU ALREADY LOSSED
Posted By: Guest#9903 (Guest) on December 07, 2009 at 07:56 PM
That's complete horseshit. If Anderson Silva literally beat everyone in middleweight would they let him fight a total scrub? just because everyone else already lost? HELL NO. Hendo is the only person that ever showed they had a chance of beating him, he deserved a title shot far more then some goon who couldn't even make weight for a catch-weight bout.
Posted By: Cj (Guest) on December 07, 2009 at 10:23 PM
2009 is a terrible year for Dana, and deservedly so. Some things can't be controlled (fighter injuries, M1's demands, Rampage being dumb) but the things that can (Dana's mouth during negotiations, giving a shot to Vitor over Dan, giving a shot to Leites) should be controlled. Good for Dan.
Posted By: Steve (Guest) on December 07, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Dana White does not make the matches, Joe Silva does.
Posted By: COG 22 (Guest) on December 08, 2009 at 12:02 AM
The ONLY reason that Vitor got the one up on Hendo is becasue Vitor and Anderson HAVENT FOUGHT IN THE UFC YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pay for a fight you've seen or pay for a fight you havent seen....hmmm tough one.....
bottom line....DEAL WITH IT!!!
Posted By: hahaman (Guest) on December 08, 2009 at 02:07 AM
dana says good job silva or no fuckin way silva.. anyway, hendo beat up vitor in vitors last loss how the fuck does ufc not expect the fans to know this, vitor should fight at least one guy at 185.. if he kos them quick give him his shot you know but until that happens let the guys who deserve it get it...hardy beat swick he gets a shot...hendo beat bisping (knocked him the fuck out)and he gets jumped...hendo you need to talk with a british accent to get the title dana needs a uk champ so he can make the money he wants to overseas.... to me its bullshit i dont care where you are from if you ko someone in a #1 contender fight you deserve a shot..dana its not like dan would of beat silva anyway so i dont know why they wouldnt of let this thing happen
Posted By: dustin (Guest) on December 08, 2009 at 08:16 AM
Dan's a good figter, and a smart guy. If the UFC isn't giving him a title shot, then why stick around just to be called when they need someone to step up for a co-main event? He signed a 4-fight deal. He can beat Jake Shields for the MW title, fight Mousasi and Fedor.
He was appreciated by Dana but not respected, because Dan was a Pride guy, and wasn't a UFC guy. Dana will always placate Chuck, Randy, and Tito over a guy like Hendo.
Posted By: Guest#5045 (Guest) on December 08, 2009 at 10:10 AM
So is Hendo going to be okay if he comes into Strikeforce and gets an immediate title shot against Shields or Mousasi? Yeah, that would be just fine with him right?
Posted By: Todd Vote (Registered) on December 08, 2009 at 11:21 AM
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