Why Daniel Cormier didn't want to fight Dan Henderson, but will anyway

(This story first appeared in USA TODAY.)

Three months ago, Olympic wrestler turned mixed martial arts fighter Daniel Cormier was offered a chance to fight for the UFC light heavyweight title, but the opportunity came with the caveat of a one-year wait.

UFC President Dana White said champ Jon Jones needed to fight Glover Teixeira and then rematch Alexander Gustafsson, so Cormier likely wouldn’t get his title shot until 2015. But if he wanted it, it was his.

Cormier, 35, instead opted to risk his position rather than squander his abilities on the bench. A UFC belt is his competitive apex after medals eluded him in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.

“I’ve waited a really, really long time,” Cormier (14-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) tells USA TODAY Sports.

Now, the undefeated fighter is set to co-headline Saturday’s UFC 173 event (10 p.m. ET, pay-per-view) opposite Dan Henderson (30-11 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in what’s likely the final test of his title-worthiness. But his choice, as it turns out, has led to another consequence: fighting a professional idol.

“I wasn’t exactly happy about it,” Cormier says. “I would much rather not fight Dan Henderson. He’s a guy that I’ve looked up to for a long time.

“Dan is the first guy I can go into the cage with and say this guy’s done everything that I’ve done, and he’s actually done things at a much higher level than I have.”

Before the UFC confirmed his meeting with the former Strikeforce and PRIDE champ, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, Cormier was linked to a fight with Brazilian slugger Rafael Cavalcante, who offered a tough test without the complications brought by a shared lineage with Henderson, who competed in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics.

There is a bond among amateur wrestlers that often transcends MMA. But Cormier also notes a competitive spirit that means he won’t hold back inside the cage against Henderson, who despite superior wrestling achievements is a 5-1 underdog in their bout.

At UFC 170 in February, Cormier signed to fight his friend, former UFC champ Rashad Evans. He was spared the discomfort when Evans withdrew with a knee injury, but he said he was ready to put his personal feelings aside.

“I wrestle and I compete to win, and that’s what I plan on doing against Dan,” Cormier says.

For his part, Henderson is way past the point of caring about their shared past. He’s looking more at largely being counted out as a winner.

“I don’t know if the odds should be quite the way they are for this fight, but he’s earned that attention,” the 43-year-old veteran says. “He’s definitely a tough guy. He was an Olympian in freestyle [wrestling], and that’s a tough thing to do. Carrying that over to an unbeaten MMA record, that’s pretty great.”

Henderson estimates he’ll have the edge in punching power when he gets into the cage with Cormier despite both of them having knocked out their previous opponents. He thinks Cormier will use his wrestling to gain an advantage.

“He seems to leave himself open quite a bit with his striking once he jumps in there and starts throwing punches,” Henderson says. “I see some openings there, but the biggest thing is making sure I defend his takedowns.”

Jones, meanwhile, is set to face Gustafsson later this year, which means the winner of Saturday’s co-headliner is still looking at a long wait. But for Cormier, it’s a manageable one. After all, besting a hero is a pretty good use of his time.

“I have a mad amount of respect for [Henderson], and I believe he’s going to push me and make me fight harder than most opponents have ever made me fight,” he says.

For the latest on UFC 173, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.