Shogun, Henderson Given UFC 139 Green Light

---

Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua once helped tip the spear for Pride Fighting Championships. Now, two of the sport’s most accomplished light heavyweights will do battle in the hallowed Octagon.

Henderson tipped the scales at 203 pounds for his blockbuster matchup with Rua (205) in the UFC 139 “Shogun vs. Hendo” main event on Saturday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The eight other men booked for main card duty, including co-headliners Wanderlei Silva (185) and Cung Le (185), also met their mandated weight requirements without issue at Friday’s official weigh-in.

The ageless Henderson, now 41, remains the only fighter to have held major mixed martial arts titles in two weight classes simultaneously, having done so at middleweight and light heavyweight inside Pride. The two-time Olympian has won three fights in a row, all of them brutal finishes. He last appeared under the Strikeforce banner in July, when he defeated Russian great Fedor Emelianenko by first-round knockout. Henderson owns other notable victories over Silva, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 winner Michael Bisping, onetime UFC middleweight titleholder Rich Franklin and former UFC light heavyweight kingpin Vitor Belfort. His powerful right hand remains one of the most feared weapons in MMA and has resulted in many of the 13 wins he has recorded by knockout or technical knockout.

Twelve years Henderson’s junior, Rua last fought at UFC 134 in August, when he needed less than two minutes to avenge his 2007 defeat to onetime light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. Spawned by the Chute Boxe gym, the 29-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has secured 17 of his 20 professional victories by KO or TKO. Wins over former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem (twice), UFC hall of famers Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell and former UFC light heavyweight titleholders Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida anchor Rua’s stellar resume. He rose to global prominence in 2005, when he captured the Pride middleweight grand prix in an unforgettable tear of excellence.

UFC 139 -- which will air live on pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT -- will also feature a bantamweight tilt pairing Urijah Faber (136) with fellow former WEC champion Brian Bowles (136), a welterweight duel pitting Rick Story (170.5) against Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts standout Martin Kampmann (170.5) and a light heavyweight affair matching American Kickboxing Academy representative Kyle Kingsbury (205) with “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar (205). An hour prior, Spike TV will carry a pair of preliminary bouts, as “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 winner Ryan Bader (205) meets Jason Brilz (204) and bantamweight prospect Michael McDonald (136) locks horns with unbeaten newcomer Alex Soto (135).

Meanwhile, the remaining five fights will stream live on the UFC’s Facebook page at 6:45 p.m. ET/3:45 p.m. PT: Chris Weidman (185.5) vs. Tom Lawlor (185), Gleison Tibau (155) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (155.5), Miguel Torres (*136) vs. Nick Pace (*141), Matt Brown (171) vs. Seth Baczynski (171) and Shamar Bailey (*158) vs. Danny Castillo (155).

UFC 139 “Shogun vs. Hendo”
Saturday, Nov. 19
HP Pavilion
San Jose, Calif.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (205) vs. Dan Henderson (203)
Wanderlei Silva (185) vs. Cung Le (185)
Urijah Faber (136) vs. Brian Bowles (136)
Rick Story (170.5) vs. Martin Kampmann (170.5)
Kyle Kingsbury (205) vs. Stephan Bonnar (205)
Ryan Bader (205) vs. Jason Brilz (204)
Michael McDonald (136) vs. Alex Soto (135)
Chris Weidman (185.5) vs. Tom Lawlor (185)
Gleison Tibau (155) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (155.5)
Miguel Torres (*136) vs. Nick Pace (*141)
Matt Brown (171) vs. Seth Baczynski (171)
Shamar Bailey (*158) vs. Danny Castillo (155)

* Torres made weight on his third attempt. Bailey and Pace will forfeit 20 percent of their purses.