I was rushing to start my MMAFightSpace.com blogging as soon as the site went live, and UFC 78 seemed like a perfect opportunity. Unfortunately, watching it, no single fight excited or inspired me enough to start writing (I can't stand split decisions--let them go another round!). What did catch my attention was a post-show announcement that Dan Henderson will challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title in March 2008. That's a dream fight. I know another Silva is fighting the Iceman in just a month, and that will probably be a good fight as well--one that I hope will inspire at least a news article from me. But, while Wanderlei and Chuck are looking to re-energize their suddenly slumping careers (anybody else smelling a bit of Ortiz-Shamrock II going on?), Anderson and Dan are absolutely at the top of their game.

Silva is tearing through the UFC middleweight division. His success is built on an extremely solid technical foundation--devastating precision Muay Thai combined with black belt-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A true mixed martial artist, in every sense of each of those 3 words. He has looked truly unstoppable in the UFC and is repeatedly called the best pound-for-pound fighter by many commentators. Silva has not even reached the mid-point of the 2nd round in any of his UFC fights. But for me, there lies the only remaining question in Silva's game. And there is no one better fit to test this aspect of Silva's game than Dan Henderson.

Dan has not appeared as invincible as Anderson, but it would be a mistake to think this Team Quest fighter is not near the top. As the Pride organization came to an end, he was its middleweight and light heavyweight champion. Before fighting Rampage, he knocked out (technically) Wanderlei and regularly fought bigger stronger fighters in Pride. Henderson's fight with Rampage lasted the full 25 minutes, and while he clearly lost, he never really looked in danger of being knocked out or submitted. Almost half of his Pride and UFC fights went the distance. So, if Anderson Silva needs to face a solid chin and unending cardio, no one is better suited than Henderson.

With his long reach and superior striking, Anderson Silva is not likely to meet his match on his feet. His 2 losses in Pride came on the ground (choke and heel hook). As I mentioned, he is a BJJ black belt, but if there is weakness to be found, it will be in the later rounds with Silva on his back. Henderson can rely on his Olympic-level wrestling, vicious ground and pound and pure stamina to push Silva to the edge. The fight is too far away to make predictions (keep on the look out for blogs closer to the date), but I am salivating already.

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