M-1: PPV or No, Fedor Wants Henderson This Summer

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It appears a rumored confrontation between former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight king Fedor Emelianenko and current Strikeforce 205-pound champion Dan Henderson is coming together, likely for a to-be-announced July Strikeforce event.

While rumors have circulated regarding the details of the bout in recent weeks, Emelianenko’s management confirmed to Sherdog.com on Tuesday that Emelianenko has agreed to lock horns with Henderson this summer. Though a catch-weight was initially discussed, it now appears that the fight will take place where Emelianenko has fought the entirety of his career.

“Fedor and M-1 have previously agreed to the fight with Dan Henderson at heavyweight,” said Evgeni Kogan, M-1 Global director of operations.

One of the greatest points of interest around the bout centers on whether the event will be broadcast as a normal Showtime Sports special or as a pay-per-view. Some pundits have speculated that the newly Zuffa-acquired Strikeforce will make the event the promotion’s inaugural pay-per-view endeavor.

According to Kogan, M-1 is on board, regardless of how the fight is relayed to television audiences.

“There have been no hang-ups from M-1 in any of these matters,” said Kogan. “We’ve agreed that this bout would take place in mid-summer and have been equally clear on our acceptance of the fight being either a Showtime event or a Showtime pay-per-view.”

Speaking with an additional source close to M-1 Global, Sherdog.com learned that Emelianenko’s camp has asked that bout agreements be distributed as soon as possible.

“No special terms have been requested for the fight,” said Kogan. “Communication and discussions have been normal and we’re now waiting for the go-ahead, [after] which Fedor will begin his focused training camp, some of which has already been planned to take place in the Netherlands.”

Sherdog.com contacted Showtime regarding the pay-per-view possibilities of the July Strikeforce event, but network officials declined to comment.