· Legends Step Into Legends

· Article author: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Posted on 03/20 at 08:41 AM

Jake Shields (24-4-1) will be squaring off with Dan “Hollywood” Henderson (25-7) in the main event at "Strikeforce: Nashville" on April 17, to be aired on CBS, live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Henderson departed from the UFC in December, and is making his Strikeforce debut against Shields, the current middleweight champion. A former UFC and PRIDE champion, Henderson is the only fighter in history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes for a MMA promotion. He is also a two-time Olympic Games wrestler (1992, 1996).

Already a household name, thanks in part to "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series where he served as coach to the United States team, Henderson is hungry for the Strikeforce title. Different organization, same drive.

“I’m feeling pretty good about the fight. We got about another month to go, so I have been getting ready for it. I am excited to be fighting on CBS,” Henderson said at the Strikeforce open media workout at Legends MMA gym in Hollywood, on March 17.

Just up the stairs of the gym, was his opponent, Shields. In regards to having his opponent in the same room Henderson said: “It doesn’t really matter to me, it’s all a sport and it’s all a business. We are going to be in a closer area in about a month.”

Henderson, who is from Temecula, Calif., had a little less of a commute to the Hollywood gym than his San Francisco opponent had. “I have been training a lot lately, keeping up with the intensity, even though you're only training four hours a day, you don’t realize how much it takes out of you,” Shields, who flew in the night before to be at the open workout, said.

“I’m extremely excited about this fight, I have a phenomenal opponent,” Shields continued.

Also at the open workout were Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1) and his opponent for the title fight, undefeated and hard to miss, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (6-0).

“I am feeling good and I am in great shape. I have been preparing for this fight for four months, I take it very seriously. I’m going to be ready. I’m already ready, and I’m going to be in my best shape ever,” Mousasi said.

Lawal has made some “disrespecting comments” about Mousasi in recent reports. According to LowKick.com, Mousasi says "King Mo" “will pay for his words inside the cage.”

"Strikeforce: Nashville" will also have a third title fight between Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez (17-2) and Dream Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki (23-4-0), who were both present during the open workout as well.

The media had a chance to watch each of the six Strikeforce fighters train in the Legends MMA gym. With three championship titles on the line, this fight night will be a legend in itself.