Dan Henderson: Rematch with 'Shogun' Rua makes sense, another war expected
With a spectacular win over Mauricio Rua already on his resume, some wondered what Dan Henderson had to gain by accepting a rematch with the former UFC light heavyweight champion.
In the first meeting, Henderson (29-11 MMA, 6-5 UFC)) edged Rua (22-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC) by unanimous decision after five jaw-dropping rounds at UFC 139 in November 2011. To this day, the light heavyweight affair is still considered one of the greatest fights in UFC history.
So how is a second fight with “Shogun†beneficial for Henderson? The former PRIDE and Strikeforce titleholder believes he can produce a more definitive effort.
“Anytime you get a fight as good as that you want to see it again,†Henderson told MMAjunkie Radio. “If I had gone out there and knocked him out pretty bad and handily won, I wouldn’t have done it again.
“I think a lot of fans want to see it, and I think ‘Shogun’ wanted to do it again, too.â€
While the first meeting took place on Henderson’s home turf in California, the setting of the rematch will be drastically different.
Aside from going from a pay-per-view headliner to a televised card on FOX Sports 1, the fight will take place in Rua’s home country of Brazil. It goes down March 23 from Ginasio Nelio Dias in Natal.
Henderson must walk into enemy territory for the match, a situation he became all too familiar with after traveling to the South American country for a collision with Vitor Belfort in November.
Even though Henderson has been a global athlete throughout his career, competing in six different countries, the idea of fighting in Brazil for a second time in a row doesn’t make him particularly giddy.
“I definitely wasn’t keen on the idea of going back to Brazil,†Henderson said. “It’s kind of tough to go that far, and just a lot of circumstances involved with it. I definitely like the Brazilian fans, but it’s a pain in the butt going over there.â€
Close to two and a half years after the first encounter, fans will be treated to what has the potential to be another memorable fight between two hall-of-fame worthy competitors.
There isn’t much of a secret to what Henderson or Rua will try to do once the cage door closes in March. And while Henderson claims his strategy will differ from the first fight, he also envisions another grueling affair.
“I think he might change his tactics just a little bit, as will I,†Henderson said. “I pretty much think it’s going to be a war again.â€
