Though it appeared Dan Henderson’s next fight would be a title rematch with Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva, UFC opted not to wait for the fallout of the upcoming Silva vs. Forrest Griffin fight and instead slated Henderson for the UFC 103 main-event.
Henderson will face Rich Franklin in a rematch of their UFC 93 battle. Henderson took the first fight via split decision, a ruling that many UFC fans and insiders have debated. The first fight drew a strong buyrate for a European show, signaling marquee value for the upcoming rematch.
UFC did not announce the weight class for the bout, though the Wrestling Observer reports it as a light heavyweight bout. Franklin, a former Middleweight Champion, has said he plans to stay at Light Heavyweight where he can fight at a more natural weight, while Henderson, though locked into the Middleweight title picture, has not definitively committed to a specific UFC weight class.
It is unclear how the outcome of Henderson vs. Franklin II will affect the former’s status in the Middleweight title picture.
UFC also confirmed the long-rumored Mirko Cro Cop vs. Junior dos Santos battle as a co-main-event.
