Dan Henderson - Anderson Silva Doomed in the "Clinch" Game

Gurry · 01-07-2008, 01:37 AM

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Dan Henderson: Anderson Silva Doomed in “Clinch Game”
Posted by MMA Junkie on January 7, 2008 at 3:09 am ET

PRIDE 185-pound champion Dan Henderson is less than two months away with his UFC 82 title fight with UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, and in a recent interview with our friend Steve Sievert at the Houston Chronicle, Henderson says he’s expecting nothing short of victory.

In fact, Henderson is confident he’ll beat Silva at his own game.

Since arriving in the UFC, Silva has worked from the clinch to either post victories or assist victories over Chris Leben, Rich Franklin (twice), Travis Lutter and Nate Marquardt. Henderson, though, says Silva will now get a taste of his own medicine.

“My strength is the clinch game, and I don’t get out of position there to allow strikes,” Henderson told Sievert. “That’s what he thrives on — guys that are out of position and not very good in that clinch. For me, that’s where I’m going to beat him up, and if he gets there with me, I’m going to be taking him down and beating him up on the ground.“

Silva most recently defended his title for the third time with a TKO of Rich Franklin in October; Henderson dropped a unanimous-decision to light heavyweight champ Quinton Jackson in a UFC 75 title-unification bout in September.

The Silva-Henderson fight headlines UFC 81, which takes place March 2 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. For the latest UFC 82 fight card, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com (UFC News & Rumors - MMA News - UFC Fighters - UFC Event Recaps and Previews - MMAjunkie.com).

Also, for Sievert’s full story about Henderson, head over to the Houston Chronicle‘s Brawl Sports blog.

UFC News & Rumors - MMA News - UFC Fighters - UFC Event Recaps and Previews - MMAjunkie.com

jlruthven84 · 01-07-2008, 01:42 AM

Hendo's greco-roman clinch is superb, but he just better make sure Silva doesn't get those hands around the back of his head.

Intellectual · 01-07-2008, 02:47 AM

Silva needs to outbox Hendo and avoid the clinch. I know Silva has good BJJ, but submitting hendo will be really difficult. I've only seen the Nog's pull it off.

slikguy · 01-07-2008, 03:23 AM

truth be told, Silva does not initiate the clinch untill he has someone in trouble but even then against hendo it would be a difficult situation as hendo would also want to clinch and go to the ground if he's in trouble. If i were silva i would stay on the ouside and look to finish from there but u can never underestamate a crisp knee to the jaw during a take down. At that time both go down but only 1 will get up.
Tough one to call imo.
no matter who wins, we, the fans win no matter what.
War Hendo!!!

mcptfc2007 · 01-07-2008, 04:43 AM

this is goin 2 be a good fight i think if they do clinch hendo will get him down, if he falls in to a mount or maybe even side control i think hendo could finish it,

i do think if they stand and trade and silva stays on the outside he would prob win although i dont see silva or anyone else in the world knocking out hendo

i think hendo has silva's number although this will be a great fight

baba · 01-07-2008, 05:04 AM

Everytime I hear how some opponent has Anderson's number because of <#insert random reason here#> , Silva always shocks the hell out of me and wins in emphatic fashion.

mcptfc2007 · 01-07-2008, 05:09 AM

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Originally Posted by baba

Everytime I hear how some opponent has Anderson's number because of <#insert random reason here#> , Silva always shocks the hell out of me and wins in emphatic fashion.

yeah that is def true for people in the past, although i have never said that about anderson silva b4, i can def see why people may have said it in the past tho, because silva has fought people who are very good but have very good strong points to there game, franklin stand up, marquarts ground game, but he delt with them in very impresive fashion, but silva has yet to fight some one as good as hendo so i think there may be a different outcome in this fight.

TN94z · 01-07-2008, 05:34 AM

I can't wait for this fight!!! It is going to be a close one. Anderson's striking is going to be what gets him through this one. With his quickness and accuracy, I don't think he will have any problems with the striking game. Staying out of the clinch and on his feet against Hendo is going to be the true test. I am going to be pulling for Anderson because he beat the crap out of my favorite fighter (Franklin), but I am giving the edge to Hendo.