Henderson vs Franklin

[Danny] · 11-20-2005, 09:43 PM

Henderson is in the Pride finals for the 185 pound belt. He has lately knocked out top 10 and 20 fighters at 185 in Chonan and Gono. He also beat King of Pancrase Yuki Kondo and former UFC champion Bustamante. He has huge bombs for hands and usually knocks people out. He likes to dirty box and utlize the clinch to neutralize other fighters. Plus he's an Olympic wrestler and trains with Team Quest.

Franklin is the UFC Middleweight Champion and has had a huge KO over Quarry and dominated top 10 fighter in Evan Tanner. He also TKO'd the MMA legend in Ken Shamrock. He has a huge reach and is a big 185 fighter. He has KO power and accuracy.

Who wins? Does Dan fight close, land the shots, and get multiple takedowns untill he lands the big bomb for the win? Or does Franklin pick him apart with kicks and long power punches untill there is a KO or stoppage? Well Franklin is rated #1 and Henderson is #2. It would be a hell of a fight.

I would have Henderson winning because he would probably overwhelm Franklin by fighting close and getting good shots. But hell, Franklin is probably more deadly with his hands. I say "Mr. Hollywood" Henderson. Who do you think?

Unknown · 11-20-2005, 10:19 PM

Dan Henderson has got some skills but I don't think he could beat Rich. Between Rich's reach and his power I see him picking Henderson apart from the outside. Rich is good at getting range on his opponents.

Henderson, being from Team Quest, would probably want to clinch with Franklin. I think that the only weakness that Rich has could be in the clinch but Evan Tanner (who is the man at 185 in the clinch) couldn't get anything done with it.

Rich is also the better finisher of the two. And I don't think that Rich is deserving of the 'reputation' of having a weak chin. The guy who knocked him out has got some real skills.

[Danny] · 11-20-2005, 10:36 PM

Well Tanner completely stood with him and didn't even attempt the clinch against the cage. With that being said also, Dan is a better puncher than Evan. I just seeing Dan being quicker than Rich.

I also find it funny that Rich beat Quarry and Tanner who are Team Quest fighters, and I want Rich to fight Henderson and Lindland who are also Quest fighters.

Crashsti · 11-21-2005, 08:58 AM

Dan henderson is the man, he fought Big Nog in Pride and lasted to the middle of round 3. he was outweighed by over 40lbs. and there was a few times when Dan came close to catching Big Nog with those big bombs he throws. Henderson vs. Franklin would be a good fight but i give it to Dan. for one, if Big Nog could'nt make Dan submit than Rich is'nt going to get it done. as for stand-up, well, Dan was'nt KO'd by Nogueria, who has excellent boxing skills so again, i don't see Rich knocking Dan out either. how would Dan get the win? by using his superior wrestling skills to control Rich on the ground and proceed to grind him down with body control and a GnP. or he could stand and catch Rich with that big punch he likes to throw. i like Franklin, but i like Dan better.

[Danny] · 11-21-2005, 09:06 AM

I also don't know how well Rich is on the ground. Once Dan would get side control, it would be over.

SWIBC · 11-21-2005, 02:08 PM

This would be an awesome match, was very impressed by Henderson he fought Nog

[Danny] · 11-21-2005, 08:33 PM

He also beat Big Nog in Rings.

Thrash13 · 11-21-2005, 11:30 PM

Man, I know I would definitely pay to see it.

First off, if it went to the ground, I would definitely give the advantage to Dan Henderson. I think he is great on the ground. I'm not taking anything away from Rich on the ground, but he hasn't shown a lot of skill in that area. He could shock us easily.

If it stayed standing up, it could go either way. I honestly can't take anything away from either one of them, and I really can't make a true and honest prediction. Big Nog didn't really try to stand with Henderson, so I don't think we can make any assumptions there. That fight was mostly fought on the ground.

Dan is one of my favorites in Pride, and Rich is definitely my favorite MMA fighter out of all the organizations combined. My heart would be with Rich, but that doesn't mean he would win by any means. It's 50/50 as far as I see it.

I will predict one thing, however. The fight wouldn't go to a decision.

Wow, what a fantasy fight.

Karhopper85 · 11-22-2005, 01:10 AM

dan has awesome striking he took out chonan, gono, and stood with silva i dont think franklin would have a chance

Billdolfski · 11-22-2005, 01:17 AM

Ahhh........... a great fantasy fight indeed. Be nice to see it happen.

I love me some Franklin. Badass striking and strategy... his ground game I believe is good too, just hasn't had to use it.

That being said... Dan Henderson... Damn. Tough nut to crack. After seeing his fight with Big Nog, I think Rich would have his hands full. I hate to equate the whole "well this fighter did this against fighter A, and fighter A did this to fighter B... so unknown fighter could certainly beat fighter B...", but as much faith as I have in Rich, good luck.

Henderson wouldn't walk all over Franklin though... I predict a hell of a fight.

angryjonny · 11-22-2005, 02:11 AM

This would definitely be an amazing fight. I think the one thing that Rich would have an advantage is being a bigger 185er and reach obviously but Dan should be able to negate that with his superior wrestling skills if he chose to. But I would imagine this would be a standup war as both like to throw bombs. Rich has been knocked out but like Unknown said Machida is a beast. He has lightning quick hands and thats what caught Rich that gave him his only loss. Does that mean he has a weak chin? Probably not because he has been cracked hard before but didn't go out. But if Dan hit him with one of his wicked overhand rights it would most likely be lights out. I would say Dan would win a standup war by KO after both of them landing some great shots.

mepersoner · 11-22-2005, 03:24 AM

Dan stood with Silva and rocked him a couple times. I don't think Franklin is better than Silva on his feet. Could go either way on their feet, and I give it to Dan on the ground.

DrumzCT · 11-22-2005, 11:41 AM

When Im on my feet I like to clinch alot myself and I get alot of my trouble from good boxers with a reach advantage. Once you can get the clinch however, well then things change. Franklin hasnt spent alot of time in the clinch but he's shown he can hang in there.

If Franklin could keep his distance he would pick him apart. If Henderson took him down I think Franklin would surprise us with some great ground skills. He hasnt used them yet but look at his camp.

lwbfl · 11-22-2005, 01:17 PM

Yeah but my Dad can beat your Dad. All these fantasy fights..............Anyway, it all comes down to who makes a mistake, gets lucky, or just has a better day. It all comes down to one moment, and could go either way.

Unknown · 11-22-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbfl

Yeah but my Dad can beat your Dad. All these fantasy fights..............Anyway, it all comes down to who makes a mistake, gets lucky, or just has a better day. It all comes down to one moment, and could go either way.

An argument against Fantasy Fights? Never thought I'd see that. So they may never fight. Who cares? It's fun to talk about what we think the fightes might do.

PS my Dad could beat you Dad

Karhopper85 · 11-22-2005, 03:23 PM

rich got killed in the clinch with Rivera he was losing the fight until he toook it to the ground. i want to see rivera get a rematch he beat the crow i think rivera is a top middleweight and couldhave beaten rich if it didnt go to the ground. but ad for dan is conserned he can school rich. clinch, stand up, and submission.

dan has exellent ground skills he beat allan goes and carlos newton in the same night. and they are submission experts. he also gave big nog his only other loss besides fedor. rich doesnt have a chance

Unknown · 11-22-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karhopper85

rich got killed in the clinch with Rivera he was losing the fight until he toook it to the ground. i want to see rivera get a rematch he beat the crow i think rivera is a top middleweight and couldhave beaten rich if it didnt go to the ground. but ad for dan is conserned he can school rich. clinch, stand up, and submission.

dan has exellent ground skills he beat allan goes and carlos newton in the same night. and they are submission experts. he also gave big nog his only other loss besides fedor. rich doesnt have a chance

Killed in the Clinch with Rivera? Rich won the first round and the second round was dead even half Rich was in control the other half Jorge was in control. Both of them didn't do very good in the clinch. And Rivera did worse than Rich did. It took him along time to capatlize on Rich's mistakes.

Dan has great hands that can knock someone out quick. Rich has about the same KO power as Dan but he also tends to throw more combos. And the big difference I see between them is finishing power. Has Rich ever needed the judges? I'm not saying that Dan couldn't win this one but he would not be just going throught Rich like nothing.

The Team Quest guys are some of my favorite fighters and Dan is probably my second favorite Pride fighter but Rich is making a living these days on beating Team Quest fighters.

[Danny] · 11-22-2005, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbfl

Yeah but my Dad can beat your Dad. All these fantasy fights..............Anyway, it all comes down to who makes a mistake, gets lucky, or just has a better day. It all comes down to one moment, and could go either way.

Yeah but fantasy fights are fun. You look at fighters strengths and weaknesses and pervious fights and compare the two. It's nothing like, "My Dad could beat your Dad."

Crashsti · 11-25-2005, 09:36 AM

i think when any fighter can hang with Nog it says alot about thier ability in the ring. has Rich ever fought anyone with the credentials of Big Nog? i would guess no, while Henderson has. its certainly no guarantee that Dan would beat Rich but it certainly means that Dan has what it takes to compete with anyone in UFC or Pride, even if they are in a heavier division.

Billdolfski · 12-20-2005, 11:27 AM

There aren't really many fighters of Nog's caliber so that's a hard claim to make... I fought Nog or Fedor.

He did fight Machida though, who is a legitimate badass.