Despite Rumors Dan Henderson Has Not Signed Strikeforce Deal

Earlier today Kevin Iole posted the following at Yahoo!:

Dan Henderson’s career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship has ground to a close in a contract stalemate, and the former two-division PRIDE champion appears on the verge of signing a deal with the rival Strikeforce promotion.

Since that time Josh Gross has shot the rumors that “Hendo” has signed a deal via Twitter:

Dan Henderson has not received an offer from Strikeforce. He met Scott Coker for the first time and they had coffee. That’s it.

Mike Fagan at BloodyElbow gives his take on matters:

I’ve seen people postulate that Henderson increased his value after appearing on the Ultimate Fighter and knocking out Michael Bisping at the aforementioned UFC 100 super show. I don’t buy it. Or, rather, I believe he increased his visibility, but that visibility was never much to talk about to begin with.

In any case, this would be a nice little coup for Scott Coker and co. Henderson will probably want to fight at 205, and the big question is whether they’ll give him Mousasi right away or have him fight someone like Mike Whitehead or Renato Sobral.

It’s possible that Iole ran with the original story based on a tip he got from someone or in an effort to get out in front of other sites on a potential story. It is also possible that someone floated it to him hoping he would post it to change the texture of any negotiations Strikeforce and Henderson may have going forward. It’s hard to say, but it does seem safe to say that there is no deal in place at this time.