UFC 173: Main Event Rescheduled to UFC 175 in July

It seems that UFC Middleweight Champion, Chris Weidman, has suffered a knee injury and has been forced to pull out of his second title defense against Lyoto Machida. The match has now been moved to UFC 175 on July 5th.  This now leaves the UFC 173 card without a main event.  They could make the heavyweight clash between dos Santos and Miocic the main event, but that is doubtful.

Dan Henderson, who is coming off of a TKO win in Brazil this weekend, has petitioned for a rematch with Machida to fill in for the main event card.  I also find this rematch unlikely to replace the main event, though I wouldn't mind seeing that fight.  We will have to wait and see the fate of UFC 173.

UFC Fight Night Natal: Event Results

Main Card:

Dan Henderson def. Shogun Rua via third-round TKO
C.B. Dolloway def. Cezar Ferreira via first-round TKO
Leonardo Santos vs. Norman Parke ruled a majority draw
Fabio Maldonado def. Gian Villante via unanimous decision
Michel Prazeres def. Mairbek Taisumov via unanimous decision
Rony Jason def. Steven Siler via first-round TKO

Preliminary Card:

Thiago Santos def. Ronny Markes via first-round TKO
Jussier Formiga def. Scott Jorgensen via submission (rear-naked choke)
Kenny Robertson def. Thiago Perpetuo via submission (rear-naked choke)
Hans Stringer def. Francimar Barroso via split decision
Godofredo Castro def. Noad Lahat via first-round KO

The Rumor is True

According to FoxSorts.com, Dana White has confirmed that the rumored rematch between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Dan Henderson is indeed happening in Brazil on March 23rd

Rumor: Shogun and Hendo Throwing Down Again?

Where were you at on November 19, 2011? If you were a UFC fan and ordered UFC 139, it is a night that you will never forget.  It was a night that put together two of PRIDE FC's greatest and most popular brawlers to meet for the first time in their careers.  It was a match up that should have happened in Pride, but eventually played out in the UFC's 205 lb weight class.  Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua went to complete war for 25 of the best minutes in UFC and MMA history on that night.  Below is a highlight video with only a mere few minutes of the action from that night:

For the full video be sure to order the DVD or subscribe to UFC Fight Pass when the full library is released.  It is a must-see for any fan of the two of these MMA legends or anyone who wants to see a beautiful slugfest.  It is being rumored now according to Tatame.com, that the two men will be squaring off against each other for a second time. Nothing has been confirmed by the UFC so far.

The first fight was an awesome fight, but I don't know if a second fight would happen considering Dan Henderson is having contract issues with the UFC right now.  A part of me would be interested to see this fight just to see if the Mauricio "Shogun" Rua that beat James Te Huna would be able to beat Henderson this time around.  I can't believe I would even say this, but I believe that if Shogun vs Hendo II occurred that Shogun would take the rematch. Not because Rua is better than Henderson or more elite than Henderson, but based on the fact that I think that Henderson's time as top dog are over.  Henderson is on his way out the door in his career. No matter how much respect and admiration I have for Henderson, I think that is time for him to call it quits.  He is (1-3) since he left Strikeforce to return to the UFC.

Would you watch a rematch between Henderson and Rua

Yes

No

Maybe

Only if it's a free fight

Poll Maker

UFC Fight Night 32 Results

Main Card on Fox Sports 1
Vitor Belfort def. Dan Henderson, Knockout (Round 1)
Cezar Ferreira def. Daniel Sarafian, Split decision
Rafael Cavalcante def. Igor Pokrajac, TKO (Round 1)
Brandon Thatch def. Paulo Thiago, Submission to strikes (Round 1)
Ryan LaFlare def. Santiago Ponzinibbio, Unanimous decision
Jeremy Stephens def. Rony Jason, Knockout (Round 1)



Facebook Prelims
Sam Sicilia def. Godofredo Pepey, Knockout (Round 1)
Omari Akhmedov def. Thiago Perpetuo, Knockout (Round 1)
Thiago Tavares def. Justin Salas, Submission (Round 1)
Adriano Martins def. Daron Cruickshank, Submission (Round 2)
Dustin Ortiz def. Jose Maria Tome, TKO (Round 3)

Vitor Belfort Set to face Dan Henderson at 205

It has been announced by the UFC that Vitor Belfort will be facing Dan Henderson in the Light Heavyweight Division on November 9th.  This is coming after Vitor has stated that he would not fight Tim Kennedy or any other Middleweight in the UFC unless if it was for the UFC Middleweight Championship.  The two fighters originally fought in PRIDE in 2006 with Henderson scoring a unanimous decision.  It was rumored that he might be facing off with Lyoto Machida, who will be facing Tim Kennedy soon as the main event of UFC Fight for the Troops 3.

Dan Henderson is coming off of consecutive decision losses to Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans.  This is a must-win fight for Dan Henderson.  I think Henderson has the ability to win this fight as long as he goes in with a a tactical approach to the fight.  Vitor Belfort who is coming off of two consecutive knockout wins over Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold. He will finally get the opportunity to face someone in the UFC who possess as much one-punch knockout power as he has.  I think the UFC is putting together yet another crowd pleasing fight for the fans.  I don't agree with the fact that the UFC is letting Vitor Belfort play the diva in the middleweight division and letting him choose who he will and won't fight.  Belfort must remember that he is an employee and not the employer.