View full size photo »

Dan Henderson is the number one middleweight contender.

Well as of August 28th Dan Henderson was the number one contender then  Nate Marquardt knocked out Demian Maia in twenty one seconds and the contention picture now looks as muddled as a Monet landscape.

Realistically there is no reason for the UFC to have Marquardt and Henderson fight, other than to appease Anderson Silva. Both of these fighters have walked nearly identical paths since they respectively lost to Silva and both have earned the right to fight for the middleweight title. Unless the UFC decides to sacrifice both contenders --which they won't if the Velasquez-Carwin adjustments are any indication-- for another number one contender fight either Marquardt or Henderson will fight Anderson Silva.

But who should go first? The obvious choice would be, well, there really is no obvious choice and when there is no obvious choice we have to pay attention to the details in order to decide who has to to enter Anderson Silva's Thunderdome first.

We do know that the UFC needs a main event in the month of November and all three fighters are coming off fights in close proximity so that rules out making the decision based upon temporal constraints. Unless we consider age, which would put the 39 year old Dan Henderson in line before the 30 year old Marquardt. We all know that once a fighter hits forty things can quickly deteriorate so you need to cash in on your investment as quickly as possible. Speaking of cash Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson would generate more PPV interest then Marquardt vs. Silva. But if the middleweight title fight takes place on UFC 105, otherwise known as the British Spike card, then pay-per view numbers are irrelevant.

Perhaps we are at an impasse and whatever direction the UFC goes is alright as long as the other fighter gets his chance in early 2010. But if WKR would had to make a pick we would go with Dan Henderson. Henderson is the elder fighter, he has fewer meaningful fights left, was beating Silva in round one, is more marketable and we made this cool video about him and Michael Bisping entitled UFC version of "Where Amazing Happens." Seems a pretty obvious choice.