‘I’m beating Vitor regardless of him being on drugs or not’

Dan Henderson is expected to meet Vitor Belfort for the third time in their careers in Brazil at “UFC Fight Night 77”. The fight is set to take place on November 7th and each fighter possess a victory over their opponent. “Hendo” thinks he has what it takes to handily defeat “The Phenom” this time around, however.

Their first meeting took place at PRIDE 32 in Las Vegas, Nevada after Zuffa bought the Japanese based company. The two legends went the distance and Henderson took home the exciting victory, but Belfort would avenge his loss years later in the octagon at UFC Fight Night 32.

“I’m definitely a better fighter now,” Henderson told MMA Fighting. “Obviously, I’m a little bit older as well, and I’m sure certain things are a little slower, but for the most part I’m a much better fighter than I was then. I feel that I’m still just as powerful and dangerous as I was then.”

Since suffering a knockout loss to Belfort, Henderson has rebounded in the form of devastating KO wins against Mauricio Rua and Tim Boetsch.

Both fighters have received exemptions for testosterone-replacement-therapy in the past, but that has not been the case for years as it has since been banned. Henderson claimed that he would never fight Belfort in Brazil again, but has since taken back that threat when the USADA and UFC announced a partnership to bar PEDs from the sport.

“It definitely helps doing out-of-competition drug testing, with no advanced notice,” Henderson stated. “That’s something I had in my life for a long time, being on the national Olympic team for wrestling in the United States. For 15 years, I was subject to it. I’m beating Vitor regardless of him being on drugs or not. I’m still capable of beating him, and I’m happy that the UFC has implemented its drug testing, something that I’ve been asking for a long time.”

Who do you think will walk out on top when they meet in November? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!