Dan “Hollywood” Henderson

[MARK GERRY]

Mixed martial arts is full of surprises these days.

First, Quentin “Rampage” Jackson (27-6-0) defied the odds and knocked out Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell (20-4-0) in the first round. Then it was announced that the next person to challenge the new champion would be Dan “Hollywood” Henderson (22-5-0).

Since making his debut in ’97, Henderson has been tearing through the MMA world in a variety of weight classes. In ‘05, he defeated Ryo Chonan (13-7-0), Akihiro Gono (27-12-7) and Murilo Bustamante (14-6-1) to win the Pride middleweight Grand Prix tournament. In February of ’07, Henderson knocked out Wanderlei Silva (31-7-1) to win the light heavyweight title. The only MMA fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two different weight classes, Henderson has even dabbled in the heavyweight division, facing former Pride heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (29-4-1).

Both Henderson and Jackson are strong wrestlers with immense punching power. While Jackson is the larger fighter, Henderson might have the edge since he was able to defeat Silva, who has beaten “Rampage” twice.

No date has been set for the fight.

[NYKaju]

Gonna be a hell of a fight, I'm feeling Rampage will retain his title against Hendo. Henderson won an controversial split decision over Bustamante for the middleweight title, and we have yet to see him rematch Wandy as many feel it was a "lucky shot" (but in my personal opinion there really are no lucky shots, just sore losers ). Rampage seems to be on top of his game like never before with a solid training camp behind him under Ibarra. Regardless of what happens, it should be an awesome fight.