Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson (28-8) is finally ready to return for his third stint inside the Octagon. Verbal agreements are in place for the 41-year-old to face off against former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-5) at UFC 139. MMA Weekly first reported the news.
The bout will likely serve as a new main event for the card, which previously lost it's featured contest -- Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos -- to the UFC's debut on Fox.
Since leaving the UFC with a spectacular knockout of Michael Bisping, Henderson ripped through a three straight victories after losing his Strikeforce debut to Jake Shields. During that time, the Team Quest product built himself an impressive resume, snatching the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship and defeating former Pride champion Fedor Emelianenko.
"Shogun," meanwhile, heads into the bout after earning his first victory in over a year with a devastating first round knockout of former champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 134. Finally healed from a series of debilitating knee surgeries, the 28-year-old appears to be on the comeback trail and is aiming for his first two-fight win streak since 2009.
UFC 139 is slated for November 19th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Updated UFC 139 fight card:
Light Heavyweight: Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson
Middleweight: Vitor Belfort vs. Cung Le
Bantamweight: Brian Bowles vs. Urijah Faber
Middleweight: Chris Weidman vs. Tom Lawlor
Lightweight: Gleison Tibau vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
Light Heavyweight: Jason Brilz vs. Ryan Bader
Light Heavyweight: Kyle Kingsbury vs. Stephan Bonnar
Welterweight: Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story