The UFC is hoping they can make nice with fans of their most recent acquisition and are staging their first ever event in the Strikeforce hotbed of San Jose, California on November 19th, 2011.

Shogun Rua vs. Dan Henderson

It wasn’t long ago that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was the king of the UFC Light Heavyweight division.  But that’s Shogun Ruakind of like being an All-Star playing left field in 1945 for the Boston Red Sox only to see that other guy (Ted Williams) return from World War 2 the following season to battle you in spring training for the spot.  You might be good, real good, but this guy is legendary.  And so it was that Shogun remained on his perch just long enough to keep the seat warm for the emerging young superstar named Jon Bones Jones. 

Dan Henderson has claimed plenty of hardware in his prolific MMA career.  His most recent fashion accessory is the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight belt and that must be retired because the entire organization was acquired by Dana White and his insatiable appetite for devouring the competition.  Now he is simply a top light heavyweight waiting for a chance to prove that Strikeforce champs are indeed as good as the UFC title holders. 

There is no doubt this is a compelling match but is this non-title fight interesting enough to anchor a UFC PPV card?  The verdict is still out but what must be discussed are the implications for the winner.  Will either Shogun or Henderson get a shot at Jon Jones and his UFC crown?  The quick answer is not right away.  Jones will fight Lyota Machida at UFC 140 (only a month after Hendo and Shogun square off) and will need several months to lick his wounds and chart his course for the future.  Indeed the fight everyone is clamoring to see is the soap opera that is Jon Jones taking on his former mentor and bromance partner, Rashad “Sugar” Evans.  Evans can have his shot by simply snapping his fingers.  Dana White knows that is a fight just waiting to print PPV money. 

As for Rua and Henderson, they will have to bide their time and wait for an opportunity.  The grains of sand are certainly racing through the hourglass for Henderson.  At 41 years of age, time is not on his side.  In this bout he is currently a slight underdog in UFC betting (+105 at 5Dimes) to his younger, stronger and bigger opponent, Shogun Rua.  If Hendo loses here, he may never again get an opportunity to step into the Octagon with Jones.  If Rua loses, he will tumble down the rankings but at 29 years old, still has plenty of time to become a force yet again.

Other UFC 139 fights of interest

Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le is interesting in a weird way.  It’s interesting to me that Wanderlei Silva is still fighting in the UFC, let alone fighting at all.  Chael Sonnen spoke candidly when watching the former PRIDE legend getting floored by Chris Leben at 27 seconds of the 1st round at UFC 132 in July of this year that it was time to retire.  It’s amazing Dana White has granted him a stay of execution.  On the other side of the cage will be Cung Le.  If you have not seen his fight against Scott Smith on December 19th, 2009 (their first of two fights), then do yourself a favor and watch it.  It was one of the greatest MMA fights I have ever witnessed.  Le is a former Strike force Middleweight champion and reminds me of a Jackie Chan action figure.  My regret is that he is 39 years old and the best of Cung Le as an MMA artist is past.  This fight has no ramifications for either fighter.  If Silva loses again, it would be criminal to keep him employed in the UFC.

Bantamweights collide when former WEC champs Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles throw down as well as an exciting fight between top welterweights Martin Kampmann and Rick Story.   Light heavyweights Stephan Bonnar and Kyle Kingsbury round out the main card.

Main card

Preliminary card