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**HitOrGetHit** · 12-18-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Dana White “cool” with Dan Henderson, but vet unlikely to return to the UFC
MMAjunkie.com Staff, MMAjunkie.com
Dec 16, 4:45 pm EST

Former top UFC middleweight contender Dan Henderson has moved on, signed with Strikeforce, and is now expected to make promotional debut on a CBS-televised card in April, according to CBS executives.

UFC president Dana White said he respects Henderson and encouraged him to make the move to Strikeforce.

But don't expect the 39-year-old fighter to return to the UFC before his career is over, White said.

Last week during festivities for UFC 107, White spoke to a small group of reporters about Henderson. The early UFC fighter and former PRIDE champion re-entered the octagon in 2007 after Zuffa LLC purchased and folded PRIDE into the UFC.

Henderson eventually fell short in light heavyweight and middleweight title shots, but with a win over Michael Bisping in July, he looked as though he'd get a second shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title. However, Vitor Belfort was promised the title shot instead, and Henderson couldn't agree to a new deal with the UFC. Strikeforce with heavy urging from CBS eventually came calling instead.

White last month told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) that Henderson's contract demands were too grand and would have made him the highest paid fighter in the UFC. That's why, he said last week, he felt Henderson would be better off elsewhere.

"There's always this talk about I don't respect guys Dan Henderson," White said. "Believe me, I show a lot of guys a lot of respect. Just because I wouldn't pay Dan more than anybody else doesn't mean I don't respect guys. I'm happy (with his deal). I'm very happy with it. I couldn't be happier. I pushed him to do that. I started taking [expletive] off the table, and that made him make his decision to go with them."

Despite the urging, White doesn't expect Henderson to make a return.

"Dan probably won't be back in the UFC," White said. "He'll retire over there."

But after so many high-profile fights and a coaching gig on "The Ultimate Fighter," isn't Henderson a valuable commodity?

"To them maybe," White said. "He's not to me. It's over with me and Dan Henderson."

White, though, re-iterated that there are no hard feelings.

"Dan and I talked the other day," he said. "We know where we stand. … We were cool. We were.

"He knows where we stand. I'm not sitting in front of the media and talking [expletive] about him. I talked to him on the phone. We talked, and I told him exactly how it is."

Last week Henderson told MMAjunkie.com Radio he's not dwelling on the reasons for the move. Instead, he's focused on the opportunities that await in Strikeforce.

"I was happy with every aspect of [the Strikeforce offer], money included," Henderson said. "Obviously, they were really adamant about wanting to try to sign me, so obviously they were very respectful. Dana has a reputation of not being so respectful. That's just how he is, and I think the fans know that. They also know and respect the fact that Dana's done a lot of great things for MMA. I appreciate that as well.

"I don't have any hard feelings. It is what it is now, and I finally decided where my next fight's going to be. I'm excited to start training and getting in shape and going over there to beat somebody up in Strikeforce."

I like the fights that he has available to him now. I wanted to see him fight Marquardt and then Silva again. But there is plenty to satisfy him outside of the UFC.

**Spec0688** · 12-18-2009, 03:34 PM

The competition is good, but Dan might be right about Dana being not so respectful in a buisness situation. We all see him in his press confrences and whatnot...

why would dan come back tho?? If he wins most of his fights in strikeforce, they would again offer more money then the UFC, at this point in his career, he probably wants the most money he can get instead of fighting in the UFC

BobbyCooper · 12-18-2009, 03:40 PM

Exactly, he doesn't have to many years left to fight, so money is probably more important for him, even through i guess that he already has enough. But his children will be happy about it!

**JACro** · 12-18-2009, 04:13 PM

I think Dana White has made a blatantly bad decision.

**DJ Syko** · 12-18-2009, 04:39 PM

The only good fight for Dan outside the UFC is Gegard Mousasi. Shields is just far too small to even put up a fight against him and a fight against Fedor just doesnt make sense and i dont think many people would be that excited for it anyway. who else is there?

BobbyCooper · 12-18-2009, 04:44 PM

I am very exited for the Shields fight!
After his victory over him he should move up to LHW and fight a top contender or directly Mousasi. If he beats Mousasi as well wich i honestly don't believe, he can fight Fedor too but like I said I don't think he can walk through Mousasi.

**420atalon** · 12-18-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JACro

I think Dana White has made a blatantly bad decision.

Why? Hendo wanted big money. Hendo isn't a big draw. Big draw fighters get big money. Simple business really. If Strikeforce wants to try and build something around Henderson they can go ahead and do it, he isn't that great of a fighter.

**capjo** · 12-18-2009, 05:30 PM

Good job Dana, you can now put all your focus and money into Ortiz.

Hendo has a lot of opportunity in Strikeforce. Right out of the starting blocks, it looks like he will have a title shot with Shields in April. I wouldn't be surprised, somewhere down the road, he and Fedor go at it.

Two of my favorite fighters are now in Strikeforce, Hendo and Nick Diaz. Which is just fine by me!

The_Senator · 12-18-2009, 06:58 PM

So both are happy. The fans don't mind either.

TERMINATOR · 12-18-2009, 07:05 PM

Good move for Dan. Know he can go rule sf.

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