The long-rumored Strikeforce middleweight title bout between Jake Shields and Dan Henderson is finally official, according to Shields, who Twittered the news on Monday afternoon.The event will take place on April 17 on CBS.
By posting the news, however, Shields unintentionally confirmed that international heavyweight star Fedor Emelianenko will not compete at the event. Emelianenko, whose M-1 team is currently in the midst of trying to renegotiate his deal with Strikeforce, would headline any event in which he was participating.
The 31-year-old Shields is currently riding a 13-fight win streak and hasn't lost since Dec. 2004. He captured the middleweight title last November when he outpointed Jason "Mayhem" Miller in a decision victory.
Shields also just wrapped up taping of the newest season of the UFC's reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter." A highly decorated jiu-jitsu fighter with 10 of his wins via submission, Shields took part in the show as Chuck Liddell's grappling coach.
The bout will be Henderson's first under the Strikeforce banner. The former PRIDE multiple-division champion left the UFC behind to ink a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce last December, just a few months after a highlight reel knockout of Michael Bisping at UFC 100.
A light-heavyweight title bout between champion Gegard Mousasi and challenger "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal is also expected for the April event., though that fight has yet to be officially confirmed by the participants or the organization.
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