Henderson, who solidified his standing as a top challenger with an exciting win over Mauricio Rua in November, recently opened up on his plan for 2012 in a conversation with ESPN where he explained it’s never been his intention to wait for Jones-Evans to settle their score.

“That was never what I said or anything,” said the former Strikeforce/DREAM champion. “I don’t know who said that, but it wasn’t me. My thoughts were I was waiting to see what happened with Rashad and Phil Davis. That was the only thing I was going to wait for.”

“Obviously you can’t guarantee that nobody gets hurt,” he added, alluding to the possibility of stepping in as a replacement for Jones or Evans, continuing, “I don’t know what the plan is, but I’d fight whoever it is they think would be a good match-up. The problem is there’s really nobody right now who fits the bill for a title contention fight; that would make sense to fight me. I don’t know. Maybe I’d fight at a different weight class. I don’t know if they see anybody at heavyweight that would make sense? But I would prefer to fight someone in April or May.”

The idea of a heavyweight tilt is certainly enticing given Henderson’s success against Fedor Emelianenko though, as he admitted, there aren’t a lot of names jumping out at him as being something fans might want to see. The 41-year old also mentioned a rematch with Quinton Jackson as a possibility pending the outcome of Jackson’s bout against Ryan Bader at UFC 144.

With Henderson on the record the ball now appears to be in the UFC’s court. What match-up they’ll throw back remains to be seen though, clearly, “Hendo” is ready for the challenge as long as it makes sense and fans are interested in seeing it go down.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

“Rashad should win,” explained Henderson to TATAME. “Rashad has better hands and they’re both good wrestlers. I think it is gonna come a lot down to conditioning, who is in better shape.”

Of course, even if Evans does lose Henderson isn’t sure the crack at Jones will come his way after turning down a match-up with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira that would have kept him busy until mid-2012.

It really did make no sense to me,” said Henderson after joking that he hoped he hadn’t made UFC President Dana White mad. “What was the point of that fight? They were just trying to put together a main event that wasn’t gonna be that great.”

As far as how he sees Sonnen faring, surprising few Henderson went with his training partner at Team Quest rather than the brash Bisping who he unforgettably knocked out at UFC 100.

“I don’t see Bisping even having a chance,” he flatly stated.

See how Henderson’s picks play out tonight on FOX with the broadcast starting at 8:00 PM EST.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Machida expressed his desire to hook up with “Hendo” in a recent interview where he also reaffirmed the possibility of dropping to middleweight in the near future.

When asked about Henderson in an interview with Sherdog, the 33-year old Brazilian said, “I would be really honored to face him. At 41 years old and competing at such a high level, he’s an example for our sport. The fight he had with ‘Shogun’ (Mauricio Rua) was unbelievable. I think we could have a great fight.”

Machida, currently healing up from elbow surgery, says he plans to be ready to return to training in early February and hopes to fight in April/May. If a bout with Henderson doesn’t work out based on Evans potentially beating Phil Davis this weekend, Machida also has his eye on another top contender in action at UFC on FOX 2.

“Actually, I never had an interest in facing (Chael Sonnen), but he did so much trash talking that I started to have an interest because I’m not the kind of person who likes to say a lot of bad stuff about my opponents,” revealed Machida. “I’d rather fight and see what happens. I think that fight could happen, but that will depend on whether or not he fights Anderson (Silva).”

Sonnen, who has also taken shots at Machida in the media, will earn an opportunity to face rival Silva if he comes away with his hand raised tomorrow night against Michael Bisping. Comparably, “The Dragon” last fought in December where he was submitted by Jones in the second round of their headliner after putting together an excellent first frame against the champ.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

When Henderson recently re-signed with the UFC talk immediately began on whether or not he might consider dropping to middleweight in hopes of fighting Silva again, a move “Hendo” stated he’d happily make given the chance to avenge the loss.

Now, UFC President Dana White has revealed Henderson would have likely gotten his crack at squashing “The Spider” had the Brazilian been healthy enough to fight again before the end of 2011.

Silva is currently suffering from a shoulder injury, a condition White elaborated on in a discussion with MMAFighting.

“He has bursitis in his shoulder,” White explained. “The doctor told him he needs to rest it for eight weeks, and he’s doing physical therapy. It’s not like he’s got some injury that needs surgery or anything like that. As amazing as this guy is, we forget this guy is 37 years old.”

As far as who Silva will actually face next, White kept his options open stating it would be logical to give the winner of this weekend’s fight at UFC 136 between Sonnen and Brian Stann a shot at the 185-pound king while also stating Henderson was someone worth giving consideration to assuming he beats Mauricio “Shogun” Rua next month at UFC 139.

“We’ll have to see what happens,” White concluded in as non-committal a manner as possible.

PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

News of the bout was first reported by MMAWeekly.com and has since been confirmed by the UFC.

“Hendo” is no stranger to the octagon, having two prior runs under his belt. He first competed at UFC 17 back in 1998, winning the one night middleweight tournament before heading off to Japan, where he made a name for himself in PRIDE with victories over the likes Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. He returned to the UFC at UFC 75, taking on Quinton Jackson in a UFC light heavyweight title vs. PRIDE light heavyweight title fight and followed that up with a bout against Anderson Silva in a fight that merged the UFC and PRIDE middleweight titles. Despite losing both bouts, Henderson rebounded and won three straight in the UFC, defeating Rousimar Palhares, Rich Franklin, and Michael Bisping.

Failing to reach a new contract with the UFC, Henderson headed to Strikeforce, where he immediately challenged Jake Shields for the middleweight strap. Not having the conditioning at 185 to defeat Shields, Henderson moved up to 205 where he knocked out Renato Sobral and Rafael Cavalcante to capture to the light heavyweight belt. In his most recent fight, Henderson stopped Fedor Emelianenko in the first round, pounding him out with his famous right hand, dubbed by some as the “H Bomb.”

Now the Team Quest pioneer will get another crack at a former PRIDE superstar when he takes on “Shogun” Rua, fresh off his victory over Forrest Griffin. In that bout, Rua received a hero’s welcome at UFC 134 in Brazil and avenged his first UFC loss against Griffin. The former UFC champ has had a storied MMA career that includes winning the PRIDE light heavyweight grand prix in 2005 and becoming the first man to beat Lyoto Machida to win in the UFC belt in 2010. Rua holds wins against some of the best fighters in the sports history, including Ricardo Arona, Quinton Jackson, Chuck Liddell, and Alistair Overeem.

The bout will headline UFC 139 and will have major title implications. Also on the card, which takes place on November 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California is a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Cung Le.

*PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE*

According to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, Five Ounces of Pain has confirmed one of the core components of the matchmaking process in regards to their headlining bout on July 30 was the ability to sever professional ties with the loser based on the amount each earns in comparison to their perceived market value, as contracts are generally structured to allow for immediate release in the event of defeat.

In May, ESPN reported the two fighters are scheduled to earn $2.3 million combined for their July 30 fight with Henderson taking home an $800,000 paycheck and his Russian counterpart the remaining amount. For reference, the entire disclosed payroll of UFC 132, the most recent PPV event for the world’s foremost MMA promotion, was more than a million dollars less than the two Strikeforce fighters’ expected windfall in the Windy City.

Whether Zuffa would renegotiate terms with “Hendo” if he loses, or if the former Olympic wrestler would even want to re-sign, are unknown. However, a major factor in Henderson’s departure from the UFC two years ago after winning three straight fights was the amount of money on the table with UFC President Dana White repeatedly stating on record the company’s belief that the 40-year old was not a major draw. The Team Quest patriarch is also on the last fight of his current Strikeforce deal.

Though the parent-company of Strikeforce is not in the same position of fiscal responsibility when it comes to Emelianenko, the previously unbeatable heavyweight is no longer the same asset he was when originally coming on board in 2009, a matter apparently straining the partnership between M-1 Global and the promotion’s primary home, Showtime. Emelianenko has lost his last two fights in convincing fashion meaning a third consecutive stumble – especially to an opponent known for competing in a smaller division – would not only be disastrous on a professional level but also likely mark the end of his Strikeforce career given the kingly sum demanded by “The Last Emperor”.

Though only the future knows for sure how things will play out, it appears a black mark has appeared on what is otherwise an extremely fan-friendly pairing at “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson”. The two long-standing stars hold 57 total wins including memorable performances too numerous to list. Among them, for Emelianenko, are victories in Japan against Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, while Henderson has found success against the likes of Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, “Minotauro” Nogueira, Vitor Belfort, and Rich Franklin.

Requests for official comments from Showtime and Strikeforce representatives have gone unanswered at the time of this report.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

News of Emelianenko’s stance was reported by ESPN where it was also mentioned the bout would likely be at heavyweight if it does indeed take place and would be targeted for this summer.

Henderson had previously spoken of his openness to going up in weight if need be to face the iconic Russian, who himself is a relatively undersized heavyweight, meaning Emelianenko’s teased drop to 205-pounds has been put on hold for the immediate future if not permanently.

If things continue as planned it is likely the prodigious pairing would headline the July event rumored earlier this week as being Strikeforce’s initial foray into PPV and featuring Mo Lawal vs. Roger Gracie as part of the main card.

Coker recently opened up about the promotion’s position on both fighters, as well as a few other relevant names in the division, in a conversation with MMAWeekly where it was revealed Henderson’s next challenger will emerge on April 9 pending the outcome of Gegard Mousasi’s match-up with Mike Kyle at “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley” in San Diego.

Kyle is coming off a loss to Strikeforce World Grand Prix semi-finalist Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva after stepping in at the last minute as a late replacement but had gone 8-1 prior to the defeat with the only stumble coming against highly-ranked heavyweight Fabricio Werdum and including a win over former belt-wearer Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante.

The 30-3-1 Mousasi, also part of Strikeforce’s one-and-done light heavyweight lineage, has emerged victorious in back-to-back bouts after falling to Lawal last April. The defeat broke a fifteen-fight winning streak for Mousasi involving success against a number of respected adversaries such as Denis Kang, Melvin Manhoef, and Renato Sobral, as well as current middleweight champions Hector Lombard (Bellator) and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (Strikeforce).

Meanwhile, according to Coker, the last man to defeat Mousasi – Lawal – will likely face either Ovince St. Preux or Roger Gracie on June 18 in his backyard of Dallas, Texas when Strikeforce journeys to the Lone Star State for the next leg of their Grand Prix. The 7-1 Lawal hasn’t fought since August after injuring his knee in a loss to Cavalcante and undergoing surgery as a result.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

“I don’t think it’s a big secret both of us are going to be looking for the knockout,” Henderson explained. “We’re both big finishers and most of our finishes have been by strikes. I definitely plan to knock him silly and pressure him the whole time.”

While 10-2 Cavalcante didn’t go into detail about his plan against the PRIDE/UFC veteran he did explain he was comfortable no matter where the fight ended up. “I like the matchup with Dan wherever it goes: standing up, in the clinch, on the ground, boxing. I’ve put together a strong strategy with my training partners and I just feel really confident for this fight. Wherever the fight goes I’m well prepared for it.”

Speaking of his fellow Team Black House members Anderson Silva and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, both of whom have beaten Henderson before in the past, “Feijao” replied, “We train together every day. I have asked them about their fights against Dan and asked them what they think I need to do. They have told me what they think will work and we have been working on those things.”

The 26-8 Henderson, who fought Silva in Columbus at UFC 82 and is a native Californian, brought up the topic of the fans in Ohio as well during the call. “I’m excited to go back there; not excited to go back to the cold but excited to fight in front of those fans who are always so excited to watch our fights.”

As far as motivation, the 205-pounders paid due respect to one another saying the test ahead spawns the primary excitement each current feels this close to the show.

“I was very excited to find out I was fighting someone like Henderson,” began the Brazilian. “My goal is to fight the best in the world. Cardio could be the key in the fight but I’ve been training five rounds with different sparring partners, so I’ll be ready.”

The Team Quest patriarch echoed Cavalcante’s sentiments, saying, “I think the Columbus fans are really going to enjoy this. This definitely keeps me excited about still being able to compete in this sport and challenging myself in what is going to be a very tough opponent.”

Viewers can tune in starting at 10:00 PM EST on Showtime. In addition to Cavalcante vs. Henderson, “Strikeforce: Columbus” will feature Marloes Coenen defending her 135-pound strap against undefeated Marine veteran Liz Carmouche as well as powerful kickboxer Melvin Manhoef in action against the well-rounded Tim Kennedy and lightweight Jorge Masvidal making his Strikeforce debut against 11-0 Billy Evangelista.

According to MMAFighting, Cavalcante will put his strap on the line against Henderson in Columbus, Ohio on March 5 assuming paperwork is finalized in time. Both fighters have already agreed to the bout and are training under the belief it will indeed come to fruition on the attached date.

The Brazilian champion, who turned 30 yesterday, has emerged victor in his last three outings including his championship-procuring performance against then-undefeated Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal this past August at “Strikeforce – Houston”. Cavalcante is 10-2 overall with all ten wins coming by way of a strike-based finish even though he is also well-versed in BJJ.

Henderson easily represents the most-experienced opponent “Feijao” has faced thus far in his career. A veteran of nearly 3X as many fights, the 26-8 “Hendo” holds wins over a number of MMA’s brightest stars including Wanderlei Silva, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira, Rich Franklin, and Vitor Belfort.

Other fights expected for the March 5 card include Strikeforce World Grand Prix quarter-final pairings between Brett Rogers and Josh Barnett, as well as Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum, with Miesha Tate, Tim Kennedy, and Jorge Gurgel also rumored for action at the event.

PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

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As fans likely remember, Henderson started out incredibly strong against Shields and nearly finished him in the first before fading in the following frame and being out-grappled for the remainder of the five-round bout. The double-divisional PRIDE champion recently spoke with media about his upcoming fight and offered his thoughts on the Shields loss, why he prefers to compete at 205-pounds, and how he views Sobral as an opponent.

“It’s hard to say for sure, but knowing the condition I was in, I just didn’t have the energy I should have had,” Henderson said when asked to assess the decision-based defeat. “Halfway through the first round I was so tired and with my conditioning there is no reason I was so tired.”

“I had other things going on in that fight that affected me and my weight cut,” he continued. Though the Olympic-level wrestler didn’t elaborate on specifics, he did state, “I have always been one to focus on the positives. I try to put the negatives out of my mind. It’s tough to do and I felt I could still pull through and handle the fight just fine but I kind of got a little tired in the process. It’s the way it goes sometimes. I tried to pull through and I learned from mistakes, but it won’t happen in the future. I have been focused on making sure my body feels good for this fight.”

On the subject of fighting at 185 pounds, as he did against Shields, Henderson went on express his preference of stepping into the cage a weight-class higher, saying, “I have always felt comfortable at 205. I have never felt weak or out-powered. I can eat a good meal the night before the fight. It means it’s one less thing I need to worry about before the fight. I am hanging out at 203, 204. I don’t think the age is an issue, just trying to get smarter with my training and making sure I am really listening to my body and getting enough rest. “

The Team Quest patriarch also implied he didn’t envision a similar outcome to the one offered in the losing performance, if for no other reason beyond his comfort at light heavyweight, the pairing of styles this time around.

“’Babalu’ is not close to the same style as (Shields),” the Californian began. “He has an exciting style and he is well-rounded. He has not had a problem standing up and trading punches. He throws a lot of kicks and obviously submits a lot of guys here and there but they are two totally different styles as far as I am concerned.”

As the topic turned to his forthcoming foe, Henderson was asked about his interest in facing Sobral after having already beaten him a decade ago in Japan.

“Excitement value. It will not be a boring fight. I am in this to perform well and I want to make sure it is exciting for the fans and to bring new fans to the sport. I did not do that in my last fight so I want to make sure this one is exciting.”

Another characteristic of the bout Henderson found appealing was in relation to how his skill-set matches up with the Brazilian’s. When asked to explain why he felt he would win, Henderson replied, “Because I believe in myself and that I am a better fighter. I am going to be ready to go, and conditioning should be all there. There is no reason in my mind why I should lose. I feel like I am as good as a grappler as Babalu, and I feel like I am a lot more dangerous on my feet and I just feel confident everywhere.“

Henderson is 25-8 in his career with ten TKO wins to his credit. In addition to Sobral, he has beaten the likes of Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, and heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira.

In addition to his headlining fight with “Babalu”, Strikeforce’s December 4th also features a match-up between middleweights Robbie Lawler and Matt Lindland, as well as surefire edge-of-your-seat material coming by way of British striker Paul Daley throwing down against fearless, hard-hitting Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith. Former NFL and college football star Herschel Walker will also return to the ring at the show. The card can be seen live on Showtime starting at 10:00 PM EST.

Additionally, talented St. Louis native Jesse Finney will face an opponent to be announced in a non-televised undercard fight. Additional bouts for the main card will be announced in the next several days.

A two-time U.S. Olympic wrestling team member (‘92, ‘96), Henderson is the only fighter in the sport’s history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes (welterweight and heavyweight) for a major fight promotion (PRIDE Fighting Championships). A former UFC star, Henderson is considered one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history.

“It’s going to be a great fight. We’ve both progressed a lot since our first fight 10 years ago so it will be interesting to see who’s progressed more,” said Henderson, who defeated Babalu with a majority decision in 2000. “I’m looking forward to putting on a great show for Strikeforce and for the fans.”

Sobral is fresh off a unanimous decision victory over knockout artist Robbie Lawler on June 16th at “Strikeforce – Los Angeles”, his first fight since losing the Strikeforce title to Gegard Mousasi on December 19th, 2009. Prior to the defeat, Sobral had reeled off five consecutive victories.

“Dan and I have a lot of respect for each other and this will be a great rematch,” Babalu said. “I’m looking forward to fighting another top opponent at Strikeforce and will be going into seclusion for my training camp. When I’m not fighting, my kids come first. But, when I am in camp, training comes first because I am fighting for my kids.”

The 48-year-old Walker, the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time NFL Pro Bowl competitor, is undefeated at 1-0 in his latest athletic endeavor – MMA. A 1999 College Hall of Fame inductee who was also selected to Sports Illustrated’s NCAA All-Century Team that year, the 6-foot-1, 220 pound Walker already holds a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and boasts additional training in the combat disciplines of Muay Thai and Kenpo.

On January 30th, Walker made an impressive professional MMA debut, scoring a third round TKO (punches) over 26-year-old Greg Nagy at Sunrise, Fla.’s BankAtlantic Center. Walker has been training in San Jose, California with Team AKA, one of the most prominent MMA fight camps in the world that is also the home of former Strikeforce world champions Cung Le and Josh Thomson.

“I’m looking forward to getting back in the cage again at Strikeforce and to be fighting on the same card that Henderson and Babalu will be fighting on,” Walker said. “They are two superstars of the sport so it’s a great feeling to be fighting alongside them.”

“This is a great sport. I want to bring more attention to it so I can show people that. It’s a human chess match. I’ve always loved martial arts and that’s why I’m doing this.”

Photo Credit: Bob Barton/ STRIKEFORCE

Heisman Trophy winner, and newly turned Mixed Martial Artist, Herschel Walker will also be in attendance and is expected to test his skills for a second time in the ring at the St. Louis event.

The 25-8 Henderson has not fought since losing a unanimous decision to Jake Shields last April in his Strikeforce debut. Though he nearly finished Shields in the opening round of the bout, “Hendo” was ultimately out-grappled and found himself on the wrong-side of his opponent’s mount multiple times throughout the remainder of the match-up. The defeat was the first for Henderson in two years and broke a three-fight winning streak including victories over UFC stars Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping.

Comparably, Sobral has won six of his last seven fights including a unanimous decision over Robbie Lawler last June at “Strikeforce: Los Angeles”. The 35-year old Brazilian had earned an originally earned an opportunity to face former light heavyweight title-holder Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal with the performance but opted to pass based on his friendship with the then-champ.

Both “Babalu” and Henderson can boast victories over a number of notable opponents in their impressive careers. Sobral has had his hands raised against UFC 205-pound champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, as well as tough opposition like Chael Sonnen and Trevor Prangley, while Henderson rose to notoriety in Japan while competing in Japan and racking up wins over the likes of “Minotauro” Nogueira, Renzo Gracie, Kazuo Misaki, Wanderlei Silva, and Vitor Belfort.

The two faced off once before in February 2006 in the conclusion of a single-night tournament for the RINGS promotion. Henderson went on to win the bout by majority decision.

While it was far from an underlying reason behind his recent decision to sign with Strikeforce, Henderson pulled no punches when asked his thoughts on the man many consider to be the most dangerous person currently walking the face of the earth, Fedor Emelianenko.

“To me, he’s not the reason I signed with Strikeforce just to fight him… although that is interesting and appealing to me to be able to challenge myself against him,” said Henderson in a recent interview with Sherdog. “I don’t know who else wants to fight him, but I do know the fans like to see him fight. He’s very effective and likes to finish guys and does a very good job. I think him and I would make an interesting matchup.”

Does “Hollywood” feel like he may be the man to stop the Russian reign of terror known simply as Fedor? Sure he does. Hendo is a fighter’s fighter. A man who’s belief that he could give anyone a canvas nap on the right night makes him dangerous regardless of who stands on the other side of the cage with him.

“I think I can beat anyone on any given day,” said Henderson. “It’s just a matter of making sure that everything is right with that day.”

“I was planning on finishing my career in the UFC,” said Henderson in a recent conversation with Sherdog. “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.”

At the core Henderson’s recent jumping of ships comes down to a perceived lack of respect to the former Pride FC multiple weight class champion from the UFC’s end. The tip of the iceberg apparently came when the Team Quest fighter had a title shot yanked out from under him and handed to a man that had never fought a fight for the organization at the weight class. A man Henderson holds a 2006 unanimous decision victory over.

“It was the fact that I felt I wasn’t getting the fight that I wanted in the UFC,” explained Henderson in regards to the reasoning behind his recent UFC departure. “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.

“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…”

And while it wasn’t exactly the icing on the cake, the fact that Henderson’s clothing brand, Clinch Gear, was banned by the UFC during the negotiation process didn’t help to offset the bad taste left in his mouth from the middleweight title shot snub.

“Well, at least I’ll be able to have Clinch Gear on in the cage when I fight for Strikeforce. The banning didn’t really affect anything though.

“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.”

White was recently quoted by Yahoo! Sports as saying, “I guarantee you 1,000 percent that Dan Henderson is signed by Strikeforce. Dan and I have been friends and we will continue to be friends, but it just didn’t work out and he went to Strikeforce.”

However, while White was adamant about Henderson’s new home, Iole caught up with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, while in Chicago promoting Saturdays Fedor vs. Rogers fight.

“Honestly, I got a call from Dan’s management a couple of days ago telling me Dan had turned down the UFC’s offer,” Coker said. “I guess the UFC made an offer and put a deadline on it. They turned it down and were calling to talk to me, but I told him I have this huge fight and there’s a tremendous amount going on and I couldn’t really deal with it at this point. Everyone who watches MMA knows the kind of fighter Dan Henderson is,” Coker said. “He’s a tough, aggressive, fun guy to watch. Who wouldn’t want a guy like that? Of course we do, and that’s why we’ve spoken with them. Honestly, though, we don’t have a deal with him yet. I’ve been up to my eyeballs working on this fight and I just haven’t had time to deal with that yet.”

Although the rumors will continue until a contract is signed, one thing is for certain, Dan Henderson is a very desirable commodity these days. The former PRIDE champion could make an instant run at Strikeforce light heavyweight title holder Gegard Mousasi, should he sign with the organization. He would bring instant credibility to an organization that has been bolstering its roster on an almost daily basis.

On the flip side to that, with fighters falling due to injuries, the UFC is in need of re-signing the former middleweight and light heavyweight contender. Henderson has proven himself among the elite fighters in both divisions and shown he is still a force within the organization.

UFC President Dana White recently told MMAJunkie.com, “We’re at a stalemate right now. The money that [Henderson] is asking for would make him by far the highest-paid guy in the UFC.”

Although during UFC contract negotiations it was reported that Henderson had no interest in leaving the promotion, Sports Illustrated recently discovered that Dan is now open to fighting elsewhere.

Henderson is currently in talks with Strikeforce.

Apparently the icing on the cake as far as the recently failed talks with the UFC are concerned was a seven figure signing bonus requested by Henderson according to a recent report on InsideFights.com.

Stay tuned to 5 Oz. as we keep you up to date on this continually unfolding MMA soap opera.

Over the weekend, reports ran rampant stating negotiations have all but ended between the UFC and Henderson, with even more reports claiming Strikeforce was on the verge of signing the former Pride champion.

However, although a deal is not formally signed between the two, Henderson went on record and said he doesn’t plan on fighting for another organization.

He recently told HDNet’s “Inside MMA”, “I don’t plan on fighting anywhere else. It never even entered my mind that I’d be anywhere else. It’s just something myself, Dana and the other guys over there at the UFC, we need to sit down and figure it out for my next fight.”

After a devastating knockout victory over Michael Bisping at UFC 100, Henderson was under the impression his next fight would be another title shot against middleweight champion Anderson Silva. However, after beating him back in 2008, Silva and Co. showed no interest in defending against Henderson anytime soon. And with recent activity pointing to a Silva vs. Belfort match-up for UFC 108, Henderson’s next opponent wont likely be for a title.

During the interview he did hint however at a showdown with another top contender, Nate Marquardt, “It doesn’t look like it’ll be him,” Henderson said of Silva. “But my guess is my next two fights will be Marquardt and Anderson Silva. It doesn’t matter to me which order they’re in.”

Now all that left is a signed contract.

Dan Henderson

According to a recent post on the Twitter account of Josh Gross from Sports Illustrated, Henderson’s return to the UFC is far from a done deal, and the current negotiations aren’t exactly moving along at a break-neck pace.

Shootin down a rumor. Dan Henderson won’t fight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in his next fight. In fact, his next fight might not be in the UFC

According to a source close to Hendo, Dan is a free agent. The source said Dan wants to remain in the UFC. It makes the most sense.

But as of right now he doesn’t have a contract with Zuffa. Negotiations were characterized as “slow.” Dan’s main focus is fighting A. Silva.

It seems like the logical move for Henderson would ultimately be to return to the UFC as there don’t seem to be any major challenges for him outside of the promotion. It would also seem that Henderson signing with the UFC would make more sense than signing elsewhere from a financial standpoint.