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.

Strikeforce: follow Fedor versus Henderson live

Telegraph GAD picks:

Emelianenko, Tate, Woodley, Kennedy, Saffiedine.

• Heavyweight bout: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Dan Henderson


• Women’s Bantamweight Championship bout: Marloes Coenen © vs. Miesha Tate


• Middleweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Tim Kennedy


• Welterweight bout: Paul Daley vs. Tyron Woodley


• Welterweight bout: Scott Smith vs. Tarec Saffiedine

Tarec Saff scoring with leg strikes and in the clinch on the wall, good knees moving well…10-9 takes the first round against Scott Smith. Smith-Saffiedine Rd 2: Good punch-kick combos from Tarec. Switching between orthodox and southpaw. Combo buckles Smith. Picking him off. Smith-Saffiedine. Smith under real pressure but still dangerous. His face cut. Smith in trouble. Big round for Saffiedine, who has his back. One-sided so far, 10-9 again to Saff. 20-18. Smith has been in real trouble and will go for broke in the final round if he still can…Tarec landing heavy shots in the third. Smith very laboured. Right hand from Smith. No footwork. Good straight left from Saff. Saff being cute in final two minutes as Smith hunts for KO kick or punch. Clinical work from Tarec. 30-27 Saff.

British knockout artist Paul Daley up next…needs a win here.  Woodley moving fast crouching low. Woodley connects first. In the clinch. Knee to Woodley groin…pause. Woodley needs time, Daley warned by McCarthy. Knees from Woodley in the pin against the wall. Tied up. Good defence by Daley. McCarthy breaks them up. Daley throws…tied up again. I give opening round 10-9 Woodley, but little action in terms of striking. Very good defence from Daley against Woodley (0-2 in takedown atts in Rd 1) It’s a slow chess match at the mo…Daley down. Single leg. Daley in guard. Daley-Woodley is a mini-me Koscheck-Daley so far…Daley on ground 3 minutes of second round. Good sprawl from Daley. Bit of success at end of second for Daley, ground and pound. 20-18 Woodley. Good right from Daley in third. Attacks, but takedown again. Woodley controlling fight with his wrestling. Daley needs to get back up and away…but tied up with half of the final round left. Desperate Daley now has dominant position, Woodley in trouble, uppercut from Daley, knee from the Brit. Daley tries Oma Plata…but he has come back in this fight. Daley gets third round. 29-28 to Woodley in my book. Daley-Woodley official decision 29-28 unanimous on judges’s cards. Catcalls from the crowd. Woodley’s Mum very happy !