Strikeforce: Henderson hands Fedor his third straight loss in TKO thriller

This is thrilling from the off. Dan Henderson and Fedor Emelianenko swing early, and let’s recall for a moment that neither man has ever been KO’d in long, long careers. Fedor’s right eye is swollen, and after exchanges, they are tied up on cage. Hendo had landed a left hook. Hendo is making it his fight early.

As they move away from the wall, Fedor is stalking, and then Hendo is caught and looks in trouble, but as Fedor attacks from the side, Hendo reverses the position and with attack of his own, lands that killer right hand, an uppercut, and Fedor falls flat on his face. Hendo moves in for the finish, throwing wildly, and although Fedor twists and puts his arms up, referee Dean has already stepped in to stop the contest. Fedor admitted afterwards that he could have continued but Dean made a split-second judgement. The right call in my book. Fedor has now lost three on the bounce. Retirement now beckons. Henderson says he wants to carry on in Strikeforce, and defend the light-heavyweight title.

With this victory, albeit against an MMA legend who has lost much of his speed and is clearly long past his best, Henderson enters the Hall of Fame. Henderson is a remarkable athlete, former Olympian and fighter. There will be arguments that the fight was stopped early by Dean, but Emelianenko had fallen flat on his face from the uppercut, and it was clear to see why the world’s leading MMA referee stepped in to call time on the contest.