UFC 82: PRIDE OF A CHAMPION

UFC 82: PRIDE OF A CHAMPION
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Distributed by Canadastar Boxing Inc.
To Canadian Commercial Establishments
On Closed Circuit-Pay Per View

THE BOUT:
SILVA Vs. HENDERSON

WORLD MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
ANDERSON SILVA vs. DAN HENDERSON

In a long-awaited super-fight to determine the undisputed king of the middleweight division, Anderson "The Spider" Silva, UFC Middleweight Champion, will take on PRIDE 183-lb. Champion Dan Henderson when the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) makes its third trip to the state of Ohio on Saturday, March 1, 2008 for UFC 82: PRIDE OF A CHAMPION.

"Anderson Silva has been so dominant as UFC Middleweight Champion that people are starting to wonder if there is anyone out there who can dethrone him," said Dana White, UFC President.  "Now Pride champion Dan Henderson has stepped up to the challenge. Anderson Silva may be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the sport and Dan Henderson may be the strongest, toughest guy in the middleweight division so there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a battle that goes down in the history books."

Silva (20-4), fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil, is an extremely well-rounded fighter with phenomenal striking skills as well as a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.   He became the UFC 185 lb. Champion when he defeated Rich Franklin at UFC 64 via a first round KO.  "The Spider" then took on Travis Lutter in February non-title bout, with Silva finishing Lutter by submission at 2:11 of the second round.  Silva defended his title for the first time against Nathan Marquardt at UFC 73 in July and scored an impressive first round TKO. In October, the Brazilian firmly established himself on top of the pound for pound list when he knocked out Franklin a second time in their highly-anticipated rematch at UFC 77, and on March 1st, Silva will look to add a third UFC title defense to his record, as well as a new accolade as the undisputed 185 lb. world champion by defeating PRIDE 185 lb. Champion Dan Henderson at UFC 82.
"I’m really motivated and I’m looking forward to this fight because it’s going to be the two best middleweights in the world putting their belt on the line - winner takes all," said Silva. "These are the fights everyone wants to see.  I will put on a great performance and a good show for all the UFC fans in the world, the United States, and especially in Ohio – the people there treated me with so much respect the last time I was there, I can’t wait to go back." 

Fighting out of Temecula, California, Dan Henderson (22-6) is one of the most decorated wrestlers in United States history, and the two-time Olympian has a truckload of amateur championships to his name.  He has matched that success in the world of mixed martial arts, beating Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Murilo Bustamante, and Ryo Chonan en route to becoming the only man in PRIDE history to hold both the 183-pound and 205-pound championships at the same time. In September, Henderson returned to the Octagon for the first time since 1998 and engaged in a torrid five round war with UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson before losing a close decision.  Now dropping back to 185 pounds, Henderson has his sights firmly set on Silva.
"I know that I can beat everyone at 185 pounds, and that’s what I’m gonna do on March 1st," said Henderson.  "I think style-wise, I’m a bad matchup for Anderson Silva, whereas his previous opponents have been good matchups. So I don’t think it will be a problem to beat him.  I’ll take a knockout or a submission -- I’m just excited to fight him and to fight in Ohio, I know it has a big wrestling community, and with my wrestling background, I think I’ll have a lot of support."