Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Dan Henderson vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
Odds: (-205 Henderson / +165 Cavalcante )
Betting Pick: Henderson
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In the main event of the evening, former two-division PRIDE champion Dan Henderson will look to add another title belt to his resume as he faces off with Light Heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Cavalcante shocked most pundits by upsetting “King Mo” Lawal to capture the belt, looking extremely powerful in the process, but Henderson has a wealth of experience and an extremely dangerous offensive skillset, so this is going to be a very tough test for the new champion.
Henderson, who at one time ruled over PRIDE’s Lightweight and Middleweight divisions, has had some mixed results since then. He dropped both of his title unification bouts in the UFC before putting together a string of quality wins, then was derailed in his Strikeforce debut in an upset against Jake Shields before returning to form in his last bout by demolishing Renato “Babalu” Sobral. He isn’t always the most consistent performer, but no one can doubt the power behind his looping punches or his ability to physically dominate guys and drag them down from the clinch. Perhaps most importantly, Henderson has been fighting the best in the world in two different weight classes for years now, and that kind of top-level experience cannot be duplicated or underestimated.
Cavalcante, who lacks the same kind of top-level experience Henderson has, is the champion for a reason. His striking is devastating in every range, and he showed against Lawal that his takedown defense and ability to get out of bad positions on the ground is formidable as well. There is no question that Cavalcante is the better striker of these two, especially in terms of speed and quickness, but he has never had to fight anyone as complete and experienced as Henderson, who can test him on the feet with his unorthodox but deadly power punches and also has a wrestling attack substantially more varied and dangerous than Lawal’s.
I think Cavalcante is going to have his hands full here. He is obviously a formidable striker, but Henderson also has one-punch knockout power in surplus. More importantly, Cavalcante has only faced one real top-level wrestler, being Lawal, and Henderson’s wrestling is more varied and effective than Lawal’s, not to mention complemented by vastly superior striking. Henderson has a spectacular chin, also, which is going to make it that much more difficult for Cavalcante. Henderson has been in these big-stage title fights many times before, and that coupled with his superior wrestling and physicality are going to help him wear down Cavalcante in the early rounds before catching him later on when he is in deep water he has never had to tread before. Henderson by T/KO.
Prediction: Dan Henderson via fourth round T/KO.
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