“I appreciate all of the fans’ support in thinking that I’m going to beat (Jake) Shields up, but he’s dangerous and I don’t want to overlook anybody.”

“I’ve been training here and there, but I need to make sure I’m in top shape for this fight, I haven’t fought since July of 2009, so getting in shape is top priority right now, after that we will start working on a game plan.”

Those were the latest words from former UFC knockout artist and now Strikeforce middleweight contender Dan Henderson on a recently posted YouTube.com video, which I have added below.

“Hollywood Hendo” had a mere seven minutes of work his last time out against Michael (down for) “The Count” Bisping, and undoubtedly by now the former Pride FC middleweight and welterweight champion—and two-time United States Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling—is undoubtedly chomping at the bit, ready to go.

Henderson was a UFC acquisition who made his name in the subpar (and now defunct) Pride Fighting Championships, so it was understandable and came as no surprise to this writer when he experienced a shaky start when transitioning into the UFC Octagon.

After losing two hard workman-like efforts—first dropping a decision to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and then being “choked out” by Anderson Silva—Henderson has won back-to-back fights over Rousimar Palhares and Rich Franklin, along with the aforementioned great performance in his most recent fight, at UFC 100.

Henderson proved his MMA worth by defeating the now-slumping British cage fighter and The Ultimate Fighter reality show product Bisping with arguably one of the most brutal one-punch knockouts ever witnessed in the UFC.

All throughout the first round the powerful right hand of Henderson was cocked and loaded. He threw it several times, just missing Bisping’s protruding chin by mere millimeters.

The Count, for his part, seemed to have a defensive game plan and had administered it well. He rode his imaginary bicycle backward around the inside perimeter of the Octagon and managed to avoid getting tagged by the big Hendo howitzer, his right hand.

Still, after being told—by his observant cornermen between rounds one and two—that he had been circling the wrong way, Bisping, who may have been too overconfident, seemingly payed no heed to thier ominous warnings.

Cageside UFC commentators Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan both mentioned it, and I’m sure anyone else who was paying the slightest attention, at home or in the crowd, could also foresee a knockout on its way.

The correctable minor error in direction, moving left instead of right, became a major faux pas, and one that may have been the leading cause of the Englishman becoming another famous “horizontal Brit.”

Now, at the start of the second round, Hendo’s aim suddenly got better; he stalked Bisping like the proverbial wounded deer, and when he got the Englishman’s chin in his crosshairs he gently squeezed the trigger.

The Count went down for the count, and Hendo’s primitive killer instinct immediately took over. He ran, leaped, and simultaneously dropped his full 200-pound body on the jaw of the outstretched Bisping.

Bisping may have already been out cold and thus not felt the second blow; it’s quite possible that by the time Hendo administered the coup de gras, Bisping’s brain may have been singing “Golden Brown” by The Stranglers, as “Gorgeous George” was in the famous British movie Snatch.

Hendo’s fighting style resembles a hunter, wedged deep in the mist-laden forest, stalking a trophy elk with with his powerful weapon close by his side.

There may be a valid reason for this.

According to the Confederated Umatilla Journal, “Henderson’s grandmother, Alice (Bergevin) LeJune, is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and owns land on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.”

From all accounts, Henderson is one-sixteenth Walla Walla Native American. So, not unlike his ancestors, he is also a highly skilled and patient hunter.

And in passing over a match against Nate Marquardt and saying goodbye to the UFC,  Hendo is now seemingly dressed in full Camo paint, preparing for his next chance to bag an elusive trophy.

This time Henderson’s “.270 Winchester power punch” will have the crosshairs firmly fixed on the jaw of the champion Shields and the Strikeforce middleweight trophy.

The former UFC warrior rightfully stated in the video (below) that Shields is a highly skilled and dangerous foe, and thus the Native American may need to use extreme caution when approaching his next quarry. If he doesn’t, the hunter may become…the hunted.

*Article also available on combatsoup.com

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Courtesy of :Bleacher Report – UFC