SUG 2: Dan Henderson Career Retrospective
SUG 2: Dan Henderson Career Retrospective
A look back at MMA legend Dan Henderson's storied career.
When Dan Henderson emerged defeated from his UFC 204 middleweight championship fight with Michael Bisping in October, it marked the end of a storied MMA career. From PRIDE to Strikeforce to the UFC, Henderson earned acclaim both nationally and internationally.
It was a path that started for Henderson as a high school wrestler in the 1980s. A native of Apple Valley, California, Henderson won state and junior national titles before wrestling at Cal State Fullerton and later Arizona State University. He also excelled in Greco-Roman, winning multiple university and senior national championships in the early 90s.
Henderson then went on to represent the United States at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. But when he failed to qualify for Sydney in 2000, he made a full-time transition to MMA, a sport he debuted in three years earlier.
Watch MMA legends Dan Henderson and Jon Jones collide at SUG 2 in Portland, Oregon, beginning at 2:30 PM PT on Sunday, December 11
An athlete of his caliber fighting in the early days of MMA seemed like a move that was destined to go well. Henderson raced to a 9-0 record in just three years and won the UFC 17 middleweight tournament. A highlight of that run saw him beat behemoths Gilbert Yvel, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Babalu Sobral all in one night at the Rings: King Of Kings 1999 final.
That was really the beginning of Henderson's eight-year love affair with Japan. Losses came against Wanderlei Silva, Ricardo Arona, and Nogueira but wins over the likes of Renzo Gracie, Murilo Bustamante, and Ryo Chonan saw Hendo get some finishes which were lacking in his early days.
On New Year's Eve 2005, Henderson won the PRIDE welterweight Grand Prix and took the championship belt at the weight at the same time. Two years later he added the middleweight version with a knockout victory over Silva.
That turned out to be Henderson's last fight in PRIDE as he moved over to the UFC following the merger of the two companies. It was not a smooth transition for Henderson, who lost two championship unification bouts in his first two fights back in the UFC. First, Quinton Jackson won a decision over Hendo to merge the PRIDE middleweight and UFC light-heavyweight belts. Then the PRIDE welterweight belt became one with the UFC middleweight strap as Anderson Silva choked Henderson out in the second round.
Although Henderson got back on track with wins over Rousimar Palhares, Rich Franklin, and Michael Bisping, his UFC run was short-lived. Having failed to agree a new contract with Zuffa, Henderson signed with Strikeforce for four fights in 2010.
In those four fights, he had one title eliminator, received two title shots, and fought Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight to varying success. Henderson lost at middleweight to Jake Shields for the title. He beat Renato "Babalu" Sobral and then Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante at light heavyweight to win the 205-pound belt. And then he knocked out Fedor with an underarm uppercut in a fascinating one-round scrap.
Upon his return to the UFC, Henderson had one of the all-time great MMA fights against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 in November 2011. But despite getting the win, it was the beginning of Henderson's shift down the rankings.
Initially scheduled to meet Jon Jones at UFC 151 for the UFC light-heavyweight title, Henderson was forced out with a knee injury. That led to the UFC not only cancelling the event but also going in a different direction with title contenders.
In his next six fights, Henderson only won a rematch against Shogun Rua in 2014 and was finished by Daniel Cormier, Vitor Belfort, and Gegard Mousasi. A rebound win came after that against Tim Boetsch, but when Vitor Belfort knocked him out again it looked like it might be the end.
Amazingly, Henderson wasn't done yet. At UFC 199 in June, he came back to knock out Cuban destroyer Hector Lombard and was subsequently called out by Bisping, who won the middleweight title on the same night.
Having viciously knocked out Bisping at UFC 100, Henderson almost did it again at UFC 204 on October 8 when two huge early shots knocked the Brit down -- but it wasn't to be. Bisping won the unanimous decision, and Henderson walked off into the sunset having had one of the greatest careers MMA has ever seen.
By Sean Sheehan
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It was a path that started for Henderson as a high school wrestler in the 1980s. A native of Apple Valley, California, Henderson won state and junior national titles before wrestling at Cal State Fullerton and later Arizona State University. He also excelled in Greco-Roman, winning multiple university and senior national championships in the early 90s.
Henderson then went on to represent the United States at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. But when he failed to qualify for Sydney in 2000, he made a full-time transition to MMA, a sport he debuted in three years earlier.
Watch MMA legends Dan Henderson and Jon Jones collide at SUG 2 in Portland, Oregon, beginning at 2:30 PM PT on Sunday, December 11
An athlete of his caliber fighting in the early days of MMA seemed like a move that was destined to go well. Henderson raced to a 9-0 record in just three years and won the UFC 17 middleweight tournament. A highlight of that run saw him beat behemoths Gilbert Yvel, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Babalu Sobral all in one night at the Rings: King Of Kings 1999 final.
That was really the beginning of Henderson's eight-year love affair with Japan. Losses came against Wanderlei Silva, Ricardo Arona, and Nogueira but wins over the likes of Renzo Gracie, Murilo Bustamante, and Ryo Chonan saw Hendo get some finishes which were lacking in his early days.
On New Year's Eve 2005, Henderson won the PRIDE welterweight Grand Prix and took the championship belt at the weight at the same time. Two years later he added the middleweight version with a knockout victory over Silva.
That turned out to be Henderson's last fight in PRIDE as he moved over to the UFC following the merger of the two companies. It was not a smooth transition for Henderson, who lost two championship unification bouts in his first two fights back in the UFC. First, Quinton Jackson won a decision over Hendo to merge the PRIDE middleweight and UFC light-heavyweight belts. Then the PRIDE welterweight belt became one with the UFC middleweight strap as Anderson Silva choked Henderson out in the second round.
Although Henderson got back on track with wins over Rousimar Palhares, Rich Franklin, and Michael Bisping, his UFC run was short-lived. Having failed to agree a new contract with Zuffa, Henderson signed with Strikeforce for four fights in 2010.
In those four fights, he had one title eliminator, received two title shots, and fought Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight to varying success. Henderson lost at middleweight to Jake Shields for the title. He beat Renato "Babalu" Sobral and then Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante at light heavyweight to win the 205-pound belt. And then he knocked out Fedor with an underarm uppercut in a fascinating one-round scrap.
Upon his return to the UFC, Henderson had one of the all-time great MMA fights against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 in November 2011. But despite getting the win, it was the beginning of Henderson's shift down the rankings.
Initially scheduled to meet Jon Jones at UFC 151 for the UFC light-heavyweight title, Henderson was forced out with a knee injury. That led to the UFC not only cancelling the event but also going in a different direction with title contenders.
In his next six fights, Henderson only won a rematch against Shogun Rua in 2014 and was finished by Daniel Cormier, Vitor Belfort, and Gegard Mousasi. A rebound win came after that against Tim Boetsch, but when Vitor Belfort knocked him out again it looked like it might be the end.
Amazingly, Henderson wasn't done yet. At UFC 199 in June, he came back to knock out Cuban destroyer Hector Lombard and was subsequently called out by Bisping, who won the middleweight title on the same night.
Having viciously knocked out Bisping at UFC 100, Henderson almost did it again at UFC 204 on October 8 when two huge early shots knocked the Brit down -- but it wasn't to be. Bisping won the unanimous decision, and Henderson walked off into the sunset having had one of the greatest careers MMA has ever seen.
By Sean Sheehan
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