Former PRIDE light heavyweight-middleweight champion and new Strikeforce signee Dan Henderson (32-7) has confirmed his first opponent in the promotion will be grappling ace and current middleweight champ Jake Shields (24-4-1).

Henderson most recently knocked out Michael Bisping in brutal fashion during the second round of their UFC 100 bout. He believed this to be enough to warrant a another shot at Anderson Silva’s title but Dana White and company granted the opportunity to Vitor Belfort after just one win (as opposed to Henderson’s three in a row).

Feeling snubbed due to his already haven beaten Belfort in PRIDE, the living legend was at the end of his contract with the UFC and negotiations stalled after both sides couldn’t reach an agreeable deal. Enter Strikeforce.

The fighter’s new home will provide some potentially big-draw match-ups and fun competition for Dan but that’s all contingent on whether or not the organization continues to survive in the shark tank that is MMA event promotion.

Source: ESPN’s MMA Live w/ Jon Anik