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BY WADE KELLER, MMATORCH SUPERVISING EDITOR
-So Shogun wants a rematch against Dan Henderson, huh? I've always been a fan of rematches, including immediate rematches, after epic or indecisive fights. So far in early voting in our MMATorch poll, it's pretty evenly split, with a slight advantage to readers not wanting to see an immediate rematch. White made it clear at the UFC 139 post-event press conference he would consider Henderson a top contender at either 185 or 205. From a scheduling standpoint, since Chael Sonnen is slated to fight Anderson Silva in eight months in Brazil, I'm not sure it makes sense for Henderson to wait until late 2012 to fight again. Henderson has said he would welcome a fight against Jon Jones, though, at 205. "He's awkward and dangerous at the same time, but I think he matches up really well with me style wise," he told MMAWeekly last week. If Jones beat Machida, then Rashad Evans is in line for a shot, but Henderson could sneak in there.
As for Rua, the most compelling fight for him is probably a rematch against Henderson. He has more to gain from a rematch, of course. He lost the overall fight, but I think he can make an honest argument that he won the second half of the fight. Most people scored that fight at least very, very, very close, if not a draw. So this is a perfect situation for a rematch. It was a great fight, it was incredibly close, and both fighters have only fought once before so it's not belaboring the point to have them fight again. And they are top contenders so the fight has meaning. What other fight for Rua is nearly as attractive? Rua vs. the loser of Machida vs. Jones? All in all, although Henderson would be putting his stature as a top contender for two UFC titles at stake, a rematch makes the most sense. Rua doesn't have a more compelling fight waiting for him in the immediate future (although if Jones loses to Machida, a Rua-Jones fight could make sense, and there's always a Pride battle with Rampage Jackson) and Henderson would have to wait in line for a shot at either 185 or 205 for various reasons. I say let's book Rua vs. Hendo in a rematch early in 2012. I expect they'd train cardio like they never have before for the rematch. The catch is it would absolutely have to be the main event of the show since the rematch has to be five rounds again.
-On our MMATorch Facebook Fan Page, I posed the question of whether Henderson should take on Anderson Silva for the Middleweight Title or Jon Jones for the Light-Heavyweight Title. John Paulino wrote: "Hendo at his age is still extemely dangerous. I wanna see Jones's wrestling ability vs. Hendo wrestling and Hendo stand up vs. Jones stand up. It would be a hell of a fight, gotta admit." Matthew Davis said: "I'd rather see him fight Jon Jones, but I wouldn't give him much of a shot against either one. Seeing how easily Shogun took him down last night, Bones would just toss him around and tire him out." Keith Horner wrote: "I'd say Anderson Silva. No disrespect, I like Hendo a lot, but Jones will dismantle him. Jones will stay unbeaten for years to come." Phillip Irvin wrote: "While Hendo would lose both fights, the one versus Jones would be closer." Logan Williford wrote: "I'd like to see him fight Silva and then retire. I don't want him getting beat up and remembered as the old guy who didn't know when enough was enough. I think he could KO Jones IF he could hit him. Jones is young and already knows how to circle out and use his reach!" (LIKE US on FACEBOOK and join the discussion: CLICK HERE)
I agree with most of the sentiment above that Jon Jones or Anderson Silva would be strong favorites against Henderson. One of the key things coming out of Saturday's epic battle was that Hendo lost the last two rounds resoundingly despite eeking out a victory on points. And Rua was dismantled by Jones in their title fight. Sure, Hendo beat Fedor, but it wasn't the Fedor of five years ago. I haven't seen enough from Hendo to think he'd make it close against either Jones or Silva. Henderson, though, was sick going into the fight according to his trainer and on IV fluids after the fight. Hendo is good enough that he'd have a chance in either title fight, especially if either Jones or Silva had any even minor injuries or health issues going into the fight that weakened them or slowed them down.
-MMATorch columnist Rich Hansen posted a new column today on the "next fights" for the top fighters coming out of UFC 139. He suggested perhaps Sohgun vs. Rampage Jackson or Ryan Bader. A Rua-Jackson fight could make a lot of sense since both are coming off of loses, and it'd give Rua a good chance to get a credible win over a name-fighter and former champ, thus getting out of the loss column in prep for a potential Hendo rematch late in 2012 or early 2013. Check out Rich's full column on the main listing.
-I like the idea of a Stephan Bonner vs. Rampage Jackson fight more than a Rua vs. Jackson fight. Bonnar has looked impressive lately, enough that if Rampage beat him it would mean something, and if Bonnar beat him, it'd move him into a marquee position on future big shows. Is the time coming for Bonnar vs. Forrest again, given that Bonnar's has momentum and Forrest seems vulnerable. Perhaps a fight on a Fox broadcast event?
-Also on the main listing today, we have a story of Dana White saying he thinks The Ultimate Fighter ratings will double on FX. I agree. FX is a better platform than Spike, in part because of the synergy with Fox broadcast network. The 1.0ish ratings for TUF on Spike are beatable on FX with the fight promotion and the new show format. The new format with live fights should create much more buzz and reinvigorate a show with a stale format.
-If you missed it, the full fight-of-the-year contender Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler fight is available courtesy of Bellator at this MMATorch link: CHANDLER VS. ALVAREZ FULL FIGHT VIDEO. Definitely make time to watch this fight! Even if you only have 20 seconds, watch the first 20 seconds. Then you'll be convinced to watch the rest. It's a very different type of great fight than Hendo-Rua was, and it makes a case for why Dana White - not shy of hyperbole himself - was right when he said everyone is ready to declare "Greatest Fight Ever!" when the adrenaline is still flowing the night of a great fight, but it's take a few days to put a fight in perspective. What a great sport that gives us Rua-Henderson and Alvarez-Chandler in the same night. Alvarez-Chandler is the type of fight that I think would do well with Fox viewers. It had back-and-forth drama, blood, better cardio, and a decisive finish. I do see White's point about Rua-Hendo being a potential p.r. disaster for the UFC if that was millions of people's first look at what MMA is all about because of the blood and violence and latter-round exhausion by the fighters.
-Part of what made Rua-Hendo an exhilarating fight was not knowing the outcome watching it live. That "edge of your seat" aspect is going to be missing for those watching the replay. Part of the drama was Rua making the comeback after it looked like he was completely done early in the fight. Of course, knowing that Rua lasted all five rounds takes away some of the drama in watching the fight on delay knowing the outcome. So I'm interested in hearing from those who saw the fight after knowing the outcome thought differently about it, since the latter rounds were two spent, exhausted guys leaning or lying on one another with occasional surges of offense. It's one of the greatest fights I've ever watched, but I can understand in retrospect people thinking a little less of it on replay. What do you think? Will it hold up over time?
-Follow me on Twitter: @thewadekeller. Follow MMATorch editor-in-chief Jamie Penick on Twitter @mmatroch.
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