A virtual fan club is forming internationally behind Brazil's Anderson Silva with his mercurial moves and fluid combinations including many of the experts who rule mixed martial arts.

Several websites that follow the sport call him the best fighter pound for pound in the sport. A national MMA magazine labels Silva near unbeatable.

But there is one fighting expert who's eager to prove otherwise and his name is Dan Henderson.

Henderson attempts to become the man to dethrone middleweight champion Silva (20-4) when they meet Saturday March 1, at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The UFC event, dubbed "Pride of a Champion," will be aired on pay-per-view.

The middleweight championship unification bout features Henderson, who captured the last Pride FC middleweight and welterweight championships, against Silva, the reigning UFC middleweight champion. Their pairing took a while to make but UFC president Dana White said the magic words: pound for pound.

After burning up the phone lines for nearly a month, White was able to reach Henderson's fighting heart when he mentioned that most experts feel the long-armed Silva is the No. 1 MMA fighter in the world.

Those words pierced Henderson's shield.

"I consider myself to be the best fighter in the world," said Henderson (22-6) during
Thanksgiving weekend. "This is what I do…fight."

Who can argue with Henderson?

The Temecula, California resident has been competing in some form of fighting since age five and though he's only about five feet 10 inches in height (he's listed as 6-1 by UFC), he would fight Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko in a heartbeat.

"When people tell Dan he's in the position of being the underdog it brings the determination to prove people wrong," said Aaron Crecy, a long-time friend of Henderson and former wrestler. "That's why he's fought at higher weight classes to do what people think he can't."

Stubborn might be the best word to describe Henderson.

"I was a little bit stubborn at first when Dana (White) first asked me to fight at middleweight," Henderson said. "As soon as he offered me a fight with Anderson Silva the more excited I got."

It's that bull-headedness that's enabled him to beat many of the greatest fighters in MMA including interim UFC heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Renzo Gracie and Murilo Bustamante. They are just a few of the name fighters he's beaten. Notice they're all Brazilian.

You might also call Henderson the anti-Brazilian.

"Dan's clinch is better suited for MMA and to avoid the Muy Thai clinch," says Crecy, who wrestled on the same California Jets team with Henderson as youths. "It will be interesting to see if Anderson Silva does tie up with him."

Silva has gutted the UFC middleweight division with his fierce combination of Muay Thai fighting skills combined with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The fighter known as "Spider" has not been extended past the second round since fighting in the Octagon.

When Silva first arrived he looked out of place with his black-rimmed eyeglasses and studious look. He seemed more an usher for a movie house.

But here he is one of the most feared fighters in MMA.

"I have to prove to people why I am the champion," said Silva, 32, who lives and trains mostly in Brazil. "I want to outdo myself."

According to most sports books, Silva is a favorite to win the bout.

"I think Anderson Silva is a dangerous striker," Crecy said. "As a mixed martial artist we don't often see a guy with accurate striking. He has great combinations with remarkable accuracy."

Still, says Crecy, Silva is fighting a natural-born fighter.

"Dan can end the fight with one punch," he says.

It took a single left hook from Henderson to grab the Pride FC middleweight title (205-pound division) from Wanderlei Silva a year ago. The former Victorville High School student can beat an opponent on the ground or punch someone into dreamland.

On top of fighting Silva for the unified middleweight championship, what really spurs Henderson is that the Brazilian is touted as the best MMA fighter in the world pound-for-pound.

"I wouldn't say it's a perfect match up but I do feel that I match up well with him," says Henderson, 37, who trained in Big Bear Mountain for this title fight. "I'm not expecting to take him down at will."

Experience has taught the Californian that nothing comes easy when two elite fighters are put in the Octagon.

Though many MMA publications and web sites list Silva as the best MMA fighter in the world, he's ambivalent.

"Rankings come and go," said Silva. "The fight with Dan Henderson is going to make history."

A part of history that attracts Henderson is grabbing notoriety in beating a fighter like Silva who's deemed the best MMA fighter today.

"Typically I get up for challenges," Henderson says. "In my mind there's no doubt I will be winning this fight. That's just how my mind is."

Henderson's crony is not surprised.

"If you beat the guy ranked No.1 pound-for-pound, reasonable logic may say Dan's in position to take over that title," said Crecy. "He's not going to do a samba dance if he wins, but when an opponent steps in against Dan Henderson, it's going to be a long night."

IFL in Las Vegas
Ironically, as UFC leaves its home base for the Midwest, New York City-based International Fight League heads to Las Vegas on Friday Feb. 29.

Matt Horwich (21-9-1) defends his IFL middleweight championship against Ryan McGivern (11-5) in the main event at the Orleans Arena. The fight card will be televised on HDNet.

Horwich captured the middleweight championship last December by knockout. He was scheduled to fight Tim Kennedy, but because of a commitment to the U.S. Military that fighter was forced to withdraw. McGivern has taken Kennedy's place.

"He's an awesome fighter and I'm thankful to be competing against him again," said Horwich of McGivern. "My standup has improved a lot."

McGivern, who fights out of Iowa, beat Horwich the last time they met in 2006.

Also on the fight card Benji Radach (17-4) meets Leopoldo Serao (11-6) in another middleweight bout; Lew Polley (6-0) fights Alexandre Ferreira (15-5) in a light heavyweight battle; Santino Defranco (10-3) meets Rafael Dias (8-3-1) in a featherweight contest; and Pat Healy (18-12) faces Jake Ellenberger (16-3) in a welterweight collision.
Other bouts are planned.

Fights coming up
Fri. Feb. 29 - International Fight League at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (702) 284-7777.

Fri. Feb. 29 - Pure Combat at Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California. (760) 912-4876.

Sat. March 1 - Power Fights 3 at La Sierra De Aurora Banquet Hall in Aurora, Illinois. (630) 641-9138.

Sat. March 1 - UFC 82: Pride of a Champion at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (614) 431-3600.

MORE FROM MMA

Franklin beats Silva at UFC's debut in Germany

Franklin beats Silva at UFC's debut in Germany Brown beats Faber, defends WEC featherweight title Don't look now, but Kimbo's making comeback   Video: Best submissions in Strikeforce history UFC Fight Night photos NBCSports.com's MMA Pound-for-pound Top 10   Add MMA headlines to your news reader: