Dan Henderson vs. Daniel Cormier Prediction

UFC Light Heavyweight Bout:  Dan Henderson vs. Daniel Cormier

Odds:  ( +475 Henderson / -750 Cormier )

Betting Pick:  Cormier in a Parlay Bet

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In one of UFC 173’s featured bouts, two of UFC’s top Light Heavyweights will go head to head as Dan “Hollywood” Henderson squares off against surging contender Daniel Cormier. This is a really interesting stylistic matchup, since both of these guys are world-class wrestlers who back up their grappling with big power punching. Henderson has been one of the top fighters in the world for a remarkable amount of time, while Cormier is less experienced but much younger. This is an even matchup between two of the best 205 pounders in the UFC, and should make for a competitive and entertaining fight.

Dan Henderson, a former two-division PRIDE FC champion, has had one of the longest and most storied careers in the history of MMA. Henderson has fought the best fighters in the world for more than a decade and is still going strong at 43. Henderson’s style is based on using the clinch to bully his opponents and set up takedowns while constantly threatening with his huge power punches. Henderson is one of the scariest one-punch knockout artists in the UFC, so Cormier is going to need to be careful.

Daniel Cormier, an undefeated prospect who amassed a perfect career record at Heavyweight before dropping down to a more natural weight, is stylistically similar to Henderson in a lot of ways. His bread and butter is his wrestling, but his striking is extremely formidable, which makes it much easier for him to set up his takedowns. He probably has slightly less single-punch power than Henderson, but he is a better pure wrestler and can certainly do some damage on his feet.

This is a close match, but I give the edge to Cormier. He is essentially a younger, fresher version of Henderson. He is perfectly suited to neutralize Henderson’s strengths and beat him at his own game. He’s also spent his entire career fighting at a significant size disadvantage, and I think the drop to 205 is going to make him extremely formidable. Henderson is tough and should hang in there, but Cormier takes the unanimous decision win to protect his undefeated record.

Prediction:  Daniel Cormier by Unanimous Decision.

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