The UFC on FOX event scheduled for Sweden on Jan. 24 has added a middleweight co-main event as veteran Dan Henderson will face the hard to get a read on Gegard Mousasi in a middleweight bout.
Mousasi came to the UFC with a very strong resume, but he has gone a lackluster 2-2 since joining the big group. What is more, he has managed to look flat in his wins, especially his debut against Ilir Latifi and he appeared to have no fight in him when he was erased by ‘Jacare’ Souza in his last outing. He appears to have settled in at middleweight, and in Henderson he is given a valuable name to beat that could begin building him back up.
You have to give Henderson credit. He is 1-4 in his last 5 outings, and at 44 years old, he is approaching the end. Nevertheless, he has not been asking for nor been given gimmick fights or fights against lesser opponents, instead he has gotten the front line of the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight division.
Though Mousasi’s reputation and expectations are such that he belongs with the likes of Machida and Cormier, he is going to have to prove it with a solid performance against Henderson.
Henderson and the UFC’s biggest problem may be if he is able to pull off a win, as he will likely be the underdog heading into the fight. If he is able to win, he will look for a second fight in 2015, and that may not exactly be the best thing for the UFC. With ex-champion and former rival Anderson Silva approaching 40 years of age, but recently signing a 15-fight contract with the UFC, Henderson’s name will certainly be floating around as a potential opponent.
Mousasi must find his ‘A’ game and come in and win decisively. He is tricky on his feet and he also has a lot of fast submissions. Though Henderson is is a tough out, Mousasi is going to be best served by coming in and showing his efficient best.
Check out Gegard Mousasi vs Melvin Manhoef, a blast from the past (September 2008) at the DREAM 5 Middleweight tournament.
