Henderson to Strikeforce?

[Daddy Forest]

Also didn't Belfort fight Franklin at 205? How does that make him a contender at 185?

[Deelow_23]

Dana White: Dan Henderson demanded to be "by far the highest-paid guy in the UFC"

If what Dana is saying is true then Henderson is crazy. Henderson is awesome but UFC doesn't need him.

http://mmajunkie.com/news/16585/dana-wh ... he-ufc.mma

[CPT]

I still have a hard time believing Mousasi was completely serious when he said "I don't want to fight Henderson because he's too good, and there's no point unless I'm getting paid more." That's a pretty bold statement to make, and the way it was presented led me to believe he was just making light of the situation.

As for Henderson, it's tough. People are always going on about how fighter pay should be higher, but then when a guy asks for it, people **** all over him. I hope Henderson gets what he wants, even if he's not really worth it at this point. At the same time, I totally understand if the UFC and even Strikeforce decides that he's not worth it.

It should be noted that Dana White is probably twisting **** around to make it sound like a bigger demand than it actually is. If he were to make something like $400,000 + $100,000-200,000 win bonus (though I've heard he's asking for a 7 figure signing bonus), that might make Henderson the highest paid guy in the UFC....if you don't include PPV cuts. I seriously doubt he's asking for more than Brock Lesnar takes home.

[Spartan13]

Remember Lesnar took a pay cut to go to the UFC from WWE. And these guys were signed to multifight contracts back when UFC was not as huge as it is now and were paying their fighters **** while they still tried to recover their investments. Factor in possible future PPV growth, and I can see why Hendersons demands make sense and could definety be more then Brock Lensar or Anderson Silva. Wasnt Hendersons last contract bigger then Silva's current one?

I wouldnt mind Henderson going to Strikeforce at all. Other then a rematch with Silva which will be more of the same and a possible fight with Belfort or Mardquardt which if he wins will do nothign but give him a rematch with Silva, there really isnt much for Hendo to match up with. I'd much rather see a Moussasi or Cung Le Hendo fight to see if those 2 guys are legit then to see Hendo matchup against the same 2-3 guys again.

[SpReEfOrAlL]

Remember Lesnar took a pay cut to go to the UFC from WWE. And these guys were signed to multifight contracts back when UFC was not as huge as it is now and were paying their fighters **** while they still tried to recover their investments. Factor in possible future PPV growth, and I can see why Hendersons demands make sense and could definety be more then Brock Lensar or Anderson Silva. Wasnt Hendersons last contract bigger then Silva's current one?

I wouldnt mind Henderson going to Strikeforce at all. Other then a rematch with Silva which will be more of the same and a possible fight with Belfort or Mardquardt which if he wins will do nothign but give him a rematch with Silva, there really isnt much for Hendo to match up with. I'd much rather see a Moussasi or Cung Le Hendo fight to see if those 2 guys are legit then to see Hendo matchup against the same 2-3 guys again.

Lesnar was out of the WWE for years before he signed with the UFC. he wasnt making any money at the time if i remember. just kinda living off what he had made.

[cgf]

I don't think it's a bad move for Hendo, he's not going to beat Anderson at MW and Marquandt might be the only one in that division who could put up a good fight against him, add to that that he's been bumped below Belfort as a contender and you have to imagine he's not exactly pleased with the set up. At SF he'll get more cash and get a chance to go after 2 belts, plus I'd love to see Mousasi/Henderson.

[CPT]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

A source close to the situation told Yahoo! Sports on Monday that Henderson had signed with Strikeforce, spurning the Ultimate Fighting Championship, for whom he has fought since 2007. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Tuesday admitted to having talks with Henderson, but denied he has been signed.

Enter into the fray UFC president Dana White, who had been personally involved in the negotiations with Henderson.

White said Wednesday, “I guarantee you 1,000 percent that Dan Henderson is signed by Strikeforce.”

Appraised of White’s stance after Wednesday’s news conference to promote Saturday’s card featuring a heavyweight bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers, Coker grinned wanly.

“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.”

Not sure what to make of this. Dana White's quote in bold is interesting.

[Cammo101]

A couple things are clear here. Hendo wants to stay in the UFC a lot more than the UFC wants to keep him. Also, Dana White is playing with fire here, because letting Hendo walk to Strikeforce would give them their most marketable star.

[CPT]

Part of me thinks Dana White is just throwing that out there to make Strikeforce look bad if it doesn't happen.

[2009NBAChamps]

According to the Yahoo article Coker hasn't signed Hendo yet, but has more or less just been putting it off in order to deal with Saturday's card first.

A deal looks imminent but not set in stone yet.

[Susan]

A couple things are clear here. Hendo wants to stay in the UFC a lot more than the UFC wants to keep him. Also, Dana White is playing with fire here, because letting Hendo walk to Strikeforce would give them their most marketable star.

How is Hendo their most marketable star?

[Spartan13]

I wouldn't talk to Cammo about marketability .

This is typical Dana White. Everyone in the UFC is the best. Everyone not in the UFC sucks, even if they were the best when they were in the UFC. And everyone whose a free agent always asks for ridiculous money and terms, and is somehow being greedy because they don't wanna sign away their life. Hendo is getting up their in years and he doesnt have many top tier fights left. I would take whatever offer gives him the most immediate cash be it Strikeforce or UFC, where he could have great fights in both, particularly if he can be lent to Dream as well.

[Susan]

Hendo is a great signing for Strikeforce. He's getting up there in age and he's still kicking ass so he has a semi Randy like quality to him. Not to mention it makes their 205 division that much deeper. King Mo, Mousassi, Hendo, Babalu and Sokodoju.

[cgf]

BTW those comments from Mousasi were clearly said joking. The writer even says so when he writes that Mousasi added with a laugh before Gegard's quote.

[Posey H8er]

A couple things are clear here. Hendo wants to stay in the UFC a lot more than the UFC wants to keep him. Also, Dana White is playing with fire here, because letting Hendo walk to Strikeforce would give them their most marketable star.

How is Hendo their most marketable star?

I think he is saying Hendo would be SF's most marketable star. I would disagree somewhat since Fedor has received a lot more mainstream recognition after his fight on Saturday.