After first being reported by Kevin Iole at Yahoo! Sports, the rumored deal between Dan Henderson and Strikeforce has come to fruition, according to Ariel Helwani at AOL Fanhouse.
The deal will land Henderson multiple fights under the Strikeforce banner, as “Hendo” moves towards a run at most likely the middlweight belt, which is currently held by Jake Shields.
Henderson declined every offer granted by the UFC when the organization declined the seven-figure signing bonus the former PRIDE champion insisted on receiving. This is far and away the biggest steal Strikeforce has had from the UFC.
The middleweight division of Strikeforce is in need of contenders, and Henderson certainly fits the bill. While it may be a few fights before Henderson fights for the 185-pound gold, an intriguing match up with Robbie Lawler would be an interesting fights for the promotion and the fans watching on Showtime.
There is no word when Henderson will debut, but early 2010 would be a safe projection. Stay tuned to Inside Fights for further news surrounding Strikeforce’s biggest signing to date.
