45-year old Dan Henderson – 31-13, 15 KOs, 2 SUBs – and 38-year old Vitor Belfort – 24-11, 17 KOs, 3 SUBs are meeting for the third time at UFC Fight Night 77, with their rivalry spanning back to the glory days of Pride Fighting Championships. And with over 30 KOs between them, you can expect one of these living legends to have his consciousness removed before the final bell.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online UFC Fight Night 77 odds currently have Belfort as a 3-to-1 favorite with a -300 money line. Henderson has opened at +240. The over/under in this three-round bout is likely to be set at 2.5 rounds, with the under going into chalk territory. Make sure to check back in on fight night for prop bets, such as what round the fight will end. And after the fight starts, live betting is available for those of you who just can’t get enough.
NEARLY 40 YEARS OF PRO FIGHTS
Belfort made his pro debut in 1996, with Henderson joining him a year later. Pagers were the cool new thing and a chill Friday night meant browsing the new releases aisle at Blockbuster. But unlike those relics, Henderson and Belfort are still around.
The two first met at Pride 32 in 2006, where Henderson won a unanimous decision. Their rematch headlined UFC Fight Night 32 in 2013, with Belfort knocking out the American in 77 seconds. Although nobody was really pining for a trilogy match, you won’t find that many complaints about it either.
Because despite their advanced ages, these two are fan favorites with crowd-pleasing fight styles. They are first and foremost knockout artists with explosive power. Belfort hasn’t gone the distance since 2007, and Henderson’s last five fights have ended before the final bell.
However, this matchup doesn’t come without some controversy. Both men were admitted users of testosterone replacement therapy, which was recently banned from the UFC as a form of PED. Belfort in particular seemed to benefit from TRT, as he went on monstrous late career run that culminated in a failed title bid.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
TRT or not, the end is near for Henderson. His time as a contender is already over, and he’s just 2-5 in his past seven. While those losses have come against some of the best in both middleweight and light heavyweight, he has looked overmatched by his younger peers in a few of those.
Belfort was just dominated by champion Chris Weidman in his last outing, which just happened to be his first off TRT. Prior to that, he looked like a killer, racking up three straight highlight-reel knockouts.
The odds here are a reflection of a few major factors. First is age: Henderson is 45 years old, and Belfort is 38. Simple science dictates that Belfort is much more capable of competing at a high level. The Brazilian is also a big favorite because he is a the faster, more dynamic striker, with a full and deadly arsenal of kicks and punches. While Hendo’s right hand remains one of the most dangerous weapons in the game, he’s fast becoming a one-trick pony.
I see Belfort’s speed and power coming into play early, as he’ll easily dismantle the slower Henderson. It’s just a matter of time before he knocks him down and punches him out. The pick is Belfort by TKO in the second round.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker Sportsbook to get the latest odds on Dan Henderson vs. Vitor Belfort, which takes place on on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The main card will be televised on FOX Sports 1. Our odds include money lines, totals, prop bets and more.
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