Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua at UFC 139

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/9/19/2436567/report-dan-henderson-vs-mauricio-shogun-rua-ufc-139

The UFC will not be welcoming Dan Henderson with the title shot or rematch he wanted. Instead, the (former?) Strikeforce light heavyweight champion will return at UFC 139 to fight former UFC light heavyweight champion and Pride's 2005 middleweight grand prix champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, according to a report from MMA Weekly.

MMA Weekly's sources also indicate that Henderson and Rua will slot as the main event of the event, which had been filled by a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Cung Le. A heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos was expected to top the card until the UFC moved the bout to its debut on Fox.

Henderson entered Strikeforce after terms to a new contract could not be met following UFC 100. He went 3-1 in the organization, capped off by a stoppage victory over former number one heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko. Henderson holds a 5-2 lifetime record in the UFC, with appearances dating back to UFC 17.

Mauricio Rua knocked out Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 in Brazil, bouncing back from losing his title to Jon Jones earlier this year at UFC 128.

Henderson and Rua both fought for Pride between 2003 and 2007, but never met in the ring.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/9/19/2436832/ufc-139-mauricio-shogun-rua-opens-as-favorite-over-dan-henderson

UFC 139: Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua Opens as Favorite Over Dan Henderson

Mauricio Rua opened as a -160 favorite over Dan Henderson at online sportsbook Bookmaker. Henderson is listed at +130. Rua and Henderson will meet in the newly announced main event of UFC 139.

I would expect this line to move closer to even. Henderson is 41, but in good physical condition. "Shogun" has gone through multiple surgeries on his knees. He moved, despite being victorious, poorly in his last fight in August. Henderson, who never been finished with strikes in his career, is more likely to finish the fight, and his wrestling poses a problem if the fight goes the distance as well.

"Shogun" closed as a -210 favorite for his last fight against Forrest Griffin at UFC 134. (He closed as a -265 favorite in the first fight at UFC 76.) Rua stopped Griffin by KO at 1:53 of round one.

Henderson closed as a +255 underdog in his last fight against Fedor Emelianenko at Strikeforce's event at the end of July. Henderson finished Emelianenko by KO at 4:12 of round one.