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Written by Neil Davidson, THE CANADIAN PRESS
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Tuesday, 02 September 2008 |
Dan Henderson (left), shown in recent action against Anderson Silva. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
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Dan Henderson has plenty of respect for Rousimar Palhares as a mixed martial arts fighter. But the former Pride champion is not so keen on having him as an opponent.
In Henderson's mind, beating the Brazilian submission expert - a relative newcomer to UFC ranks - doesn't move him back up the 185-pound ladder. The two meet Saturday night at UFC 88 in Atlanta on the undercard of the Chuck Liddell-Rashad Evans main event (available on pay-per-view).
Fighting in Japan, Henderson (22-7) held the equivalent of the middleweight (185-pound) and light-heavyweight (205-pound) titles on the Pride Fighting Championship circuit. He has fought championship bouts in each weight class since returning to the UFC, losing to light-heavyweight title-holder Quinton (Rampage) Jackson at UFC 75 in September 2007 and middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 82 in March.
He told UFC officials he wanted another fight as a middleweight because he felt he had more to show that he did against Silva.
"They gave me a fight at 185 but I told them I wanted to have a fight to get me a title fight a little quicker and this fight doesn't do that," said Henderson.
"I just wanted to fight," he added. "I told them I'd fight whoever. Wasn't really thrilled with the opponent selection but it's all right as long as I'm fighting. And I want to make sure I beat this guy up and move on."
Silva's next title defence is Oct. 25 against Montreal's Patrick Cote at UFC 90 in Chicago.
"I was surprised at that," said Henderson, adding: "It's not my job to make those matchups."
At 38, with a professional MMA record that dates back to 1997, Henderson knows that name power can trump skill when it comes to perception. He does not have much to gain by fighting Palhares but potentially everything to lose.
"Absolutely, but that's part of the fight game," Henderson said.
"Rousimar Palhares is very skilled, very dangerous but, like I said, he's not known and he won't give me that title shot quicker," he added.
Palhares, 28, made an impressive UFC debut in May when he submitted Canadian-born veteran Ivan Salaverry at UFC 84. After defending a rear naked choke in the early going, Salaverry became Palhares' latest submission victim when the five-foot-eight Brazilian slickly transitioned to an armbar to prompt the tapout at 2:36 of the first round.
The jiu-jitsu magic earned him a bonus for submission of the night.
"I think Palhares is dangerous on the ground," said Henderson. "He's shown that not just against Ivan but some of his other fights as well. Ivan didn't quite look himself in that fight but, either way, Palhares did a great job by finishing Ivan, who's very good on the ground also.
"It just makes me want to be real careful when I fight him."
Palhares' record ranges from 17-1 to 8-1 depending where you look. And while the six-foot-one Henderson doesn't see the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt as much of a stepping stone, Palhares knows toppling Henderson would kick up his career a notch or two.
"It would be a huge step in my career," Palhares was quoted on www.ufc.com. "If it (a win) happens, it will make it easier for me to have a chance to fight for the belt."
Henderson is a two-time Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling - trips to the 1992 and '96 Games produced results of 10th and 12th - with a hammer for a right hand. He knows how he wants the Palhares fight to go.
"I'm not real worried if I do go to the ground but that's his only way of winning. I believe that I can do quite a bit more damage to him on my feet. That's where I would like to try and keep it."
Whatever happens, Henderson - who normally walks around at around 200 to 202 pounds - does not plan to fight at 185 "for ever."
"I'll still float back and forth, I believe."
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