Keys to Victory – Dan Henderson
Published by Dave Sholler on January 12th, 2009 in Current Events

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Former PRIDE two-division champion Dan Henderson (23-7) returns to the light heavyweight division on Saturday to take on ex-middleweight champion Rich Franklin (26-3) in the main event of UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland.

The bout should be an interesting contrast in styles. Franklin, a superb striker and well-conditioned athlete, will battle Henderson, a steel-chinned wrestler with an affinity for clinch fighting.

As Henderson prepares to once again climb the light heavyweight ladder, MMAmemories.com takes a look at his keys to victory. If he can follow these steps, he may find himself in line for a stint as coach on The Ultimate Fighter series. Better yet, Henderson may also get himself closer to reclaiming a world title.

KEY ONE – KEEP IT CLOSE

Given his ability to batter opponents in the clinch, Henderson should look to keep the fight against Franklin on the inside. Considering Franklin’s struggles against Anderson Silva in the clinch, Henderson would be well advised to outmuscle his opponent and use the Muay Thai technique to his advantage.

We’ve seen Henderson land monster shots in close quarters before. If he is to have any success against Franklin, he’ll need to rely on the clinch game.

KEY TWO – SHARPEN YOUR BOXING

There’s no doubt that Hendo can throw heavy hands and score knockouts. He’s got an equally sturdy beard as well. However, to avoid taking unnecessary punishment against his gifted southpaw opponent, Henderson must focus on the finer points of stand-up fighting.

For starters, he’ll need to move his head when boxing Franklin. The Ohio-born Franklin has made a living off of combination punching and he’ll undoubtedly test Henderson on the feet. He’ll likely do so using angles and distance.

At 38 years old, Hendo will need to prove that he can still stick and move. He’ll be in for a long night if he cannot.

KEY THREE – WIN IT ON THE GROUND

If there is one distinct advantage for Henderson, it’s his wrestling ability. While Franklin is no grappling slouch, he’ll struggle if he ends up on his back. From there, Henderson can control the ground and pound and use his freaky strength to sap the life out of Franklin. The technical striking edge may be owned by Franklin, but this fight is all Hendo’s if it goes to the mat.

KEY FOUR – CONSERVE ENERGY

Henderson always shows up in good shape, but decades of cutting and adding weight could start to show adverse effects as the California native grows older. With that said, the fight on Saturday night should show us exactly how much is left in Henderson’s tank. His opponent is four years younger and universally known for his conditioning. To defeat Franklin, you must systematically siphon the energy out of his system. The fans in Ireland will see firsthand whether or not Henderson can handle the task.