LAS VEGAS – The long-expected and recently reported Fedor Emelianenko (31-3 MMA, 1-2 SF) and Dan Henderson (27-8 MMA, 2-1 SF) super fight will be contested at a catchweight of 220 pounds. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker today confirmed the agreed-upon weight during a media gathering prior to tonight's UFC 130 event.
The event, "Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson," takes place July 30 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill. And though a pay-per-view debut was considered for the show, the main card airs on Showtime.
Although Henderson holds the Strikeforce light-heavyweight title, Coker said the idea of a 205-pound title fight never really was considered.
"Fedor's a heavyweight," he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
Coker hinted that Emelianenko's camp may have wanted the fight at a heavier weight but that "a compromise" resulted in the 220-pound booking.
Henderson, though, was open to any weight.
"Dan told me, 'I'll fight him at any weight at any place,'" Coker said.
Emelianenko most recently suffered an upset loss to Antonio Silva in the opening round of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. Coupled with a loss to Fabricio Werdum this past June, which snapped his 27-fight win streak, Emelianenko briefly considered retirement before the Henderson discussions began.
Henderson recently scored a third-round TKO of Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante to win the Strikeforce belt. The 40-year-old Olympian, a former two-division champ in PRIDE and two-time UFC title-challenger, now has won five of his past six fights.
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