The Doggy Bag

---

Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson has made statements that he’d “like to defend that belt and then possibly have a match with whoever is the UFC champ.” How do you see him matching up with the 205ers in the UFC now and who’s even left for him at light heavyweight in Strikeforce? I find it funny that Henderson always seems to have gold around his waist when Zuffa buys the company for which he fights. If Quinton “Rampage” Jackson beats Jon Jones and Henderson defends his Strikeforce title, could we see a rematch/unification bout between Rampage and Henderson? -- Brennan from Reno, Nev.

Mike Whitman, news editor: While any type of title unification bout is always an appealing prospect for fans and fighters alike, I just don’t see it happening in the case of Henderson.

There is a wealth of talent in the UFC light heavyweight division -- a category in which parity has reigned in the recent past. Because Jones now appears to be an indestructible juggernaut sitting atop the division, it’s easy to forget that the 205-pound title has only been successfully defended twice since Jackson knocked out Chuck Liddell to win the belt back in 2007.

Awaiting either Jones or Jackson is a murderer’s row of former UFC champions and contenders, including Forrest Griffin, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis. And to a lesser but still applicable extent, there are several intriguing title bouts left for Henderson in Strikeforce. After all, who isn’t interested in seeing “Hendo” lock up with Gegard Mousasi or Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal?

It’s natural for Henderson to pine for the title unification bout, as he likely only has a few years left in the sport. It’s no surprise that the veteran would love a chance to ride off into the sunset as the undisputed light heavyweight king. Hanging that title on his mantle would serve as a deserved ending to one of the greatest careers in the sport; it’s just not realistic.

Pitting Henderson against Jones -- or against whoever holds the UFC title, for that matter -- doesn't make much sense for the UFC. If a 40-year-old Henderson happens to clip the UFC champion with his famous overhand right, it serves to undermine the quality, not only of the UFC champion but also of that aforementioned list of contenders.

The reason a super fight between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz works is because St. Pierre has beaten everybody worth beating at 170 pounds in the UFC, with the possible exception of a surging Carlos Condit. Regardless, if the fight itself is entertaining or even competitive, Diaz makes sense as a contender because GSP has cleaned out his division.

That’s simply not the case at light heavyweight, and that’s why you probably won’t see a unification bout in the foreseeable future.

---

I realize that its speculation at this point but if and when Strikeforce is folded into the UFC do you see the UFC retaining the services of Strikeforce President Scott Coker?

I can’t imagine the UFC keeping him in his current role, as Sean Shelby and Joe Silva continue to be the best in the business, aside from Maximum Fighting Championship President Mark Pavelich that is. But seriously, do you see him having a real role in the future of the UFC or will they just pay him to sit in an office somewhere to keep him out of sight out of mind? Do we have any details as to the buyout from Zuffa? Does he have a guaranteed contract? Unless the dollars were obscene, I cannot imagine Scott selling out for anything less than a guaranteed seat at the table. Thanks for the insight. -- Stephen

Greg Savage, Fight Week executive producer: Coker thought he was on the verge of something pretty big with his beloved Strikeforce brand when the proverbial rug was pulled out from beneath his feet. According to multiple people who worked within the company, Coker was not on board with selling the promotion, but his hand was forced when his partners at Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment decided they were no longer willing to foot the bill for the hemorrhaging fight show.

I do think Strikeforce will eventually be folded into the UFC. We have seen the same thing before with the WEC, and I fully expect Coker’s baby to follow the same path.

Speaking of the WEC, its former figurehead, general manager Reed Harris, has remained on the Zuffa payroll in a number of capacities, and that could be a look into Coker’s future, if he is content to be a company man. That remains to be seen. Scott has been promoting fights for more than 25 years; it’s something he has been passionate about, and I would bet he still has the itch to have a meaningful shot-calling position somewhere down the road.

That is something he will have a hard time doing while employed by the UFC. You mention him selling for “a guaranteed seat at the table,” but let me assure you, there are only three seats at the big kids table in Zuffa-land, and Messer’s Fertitta, Fertitta and White currently occupy them.

In the interim, my guess is you will see Coker on the podium at Strikeforce events, fielding questions and building up fights -- another parallel to Harris’s impotent WEC role -- but in the end, it will be Shelby and Silva calling the shots on what is happening in and around the Strikeforce cage.

Continue Reading » Bracket Busting