• Strikeforce

Coker targets summer Fedor v Henderson clash

ESPN staff
April 10, 2011
Dan Henderson holds the 205lb Strikeforce title © Getty Images
Enlarge

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker has confirmed he is attempting to set up a clash between Fedor Emelianenko and Dan Henderson for the summer of 2011.

Emelianenko is currently awaiting a new opponent following two consecutive losses to Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Silva, the latter of which showed that the Russian may need to drop down from heavyweight to stay competitive.

Henderson is the current light-heavyweight champion and, despite initially pouring cold water on the rumours, Coker confessed he is attempting to convince Emelianenko to come down to 205lbs.

"The date, I would say, is probably late summer," Coker said. "Some things are still being negotiated. We asked Fedor if he'd come down to 205, and that didn't come to a good result.

"So we're going to keep pushing and hopefully have something to announce in the next two weeks or so. Right now, the fight's not made yet. Sometimes it's the little things - and I don't want to get into the contract negotiations - but it's the little things where somebody wants this, somebody wants that."

Emelianenko's management team has had endless problems negotiating with the UFC in the past, but Coker insists that will not be a problem despite Strikeforce's recent move under the Zuffa banner.

"The contract's already in place. We have a multi-fight contract with Fedor, which will continue. He will fight in July or August some time. So that's going to continue. The contract thing, it's just the details now."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices