From Decision Dan to The H Bomb: Dan Henderson

There’s only a handful of MMA’s old guard still hanging around competing these days, and only two in the world’s premiere Mixed Martial Arts organisation. Not for long though as Hendo himself has said his UFC 204 bout with old enemy Michael Bisping will be his final bout. At 46 years old, with 46 fights to his resume, he’s ready to say goodbye to a storied career with one last shot at UFC gold. While many now are accustomed to H Bomb Henderson, the man who never won the UFC belt, there is so much more to the story of Dangerous Dan.

Beginning in 1997 in Brazil Henderson’s career opened with nine straight victories, including two prestigious tournament wins at UFC 17 and Rings “King of Kings” as well as the Brazil open. Six of these victories were by decision, unlike the Dan Henderson we know today, more importantly they were controversial. This is a stigma that would follow Hendo through his early career, while Lenne Hardt was calling out “Hollywood Henderson” the hardcore fans were calling him Decision Dan.

In 2000, on the heels of becoming Rings tournament winner, Dan made his debut for Pride FC. Opening with a unanimous decision loss to Middleweight (Light Heavyweight) executioner Wanderlei Silva, who at the time was beginning his utter domination in that division. Moving forward, Hendo struggled to shed his name as a boring despite KO and TKO victories over the likes of UFC Champ Murilo Bustamante due to his high profile wins being contentious. Even so, Dan Henderson became the first ever Pride Welterweight Champion in 2005, again by split decision.

Another decision later over long time rival Vitor Belfort set Henderson up for a rematch with Wanderlei Silva, for Silva’s Middleweight title. This was history in the making: Silva was unbeaten in title fights, earning the nickname “Axe Murderer” and what’s more, as Welterweight Champion, Henderson was poised to become the first two division champion in a major MMA promotion.

Finally the Legend of the H-Bomb was born. Always happy to drag an opponent to the canvas, Henderson’s earlier performances had often been marked by long stretches of inactivity once he wound up on top. Against Silva, Henderson finally seemed determined not only to stay busy on top, but to make his punches count as well. In addition to this, his thunderous right and bombing left hook became effective as Henderson finally looked comfortable in the mid range of fighting, reasoning that his shots were chosen to either devastate or wind up in the clinch, perfect for the Greco Roman wrestler. With one left hook (and what can only be called a flying forearm smash), the iron chinned Hendo put a stamp on the end of one of the greatest Championship runs in history, and punched his ticket to two UFC title fights.

Two unification bouts later, one to old Pride rival Quinton Jackson and one to the (debatable) G.O.A.T. Anderson Silva left Hendo without his coveted belts, and at a cross roads. However, in another historic moment (at least for us Irish fans) he headlined the first Irish UFC card at UFC 93 opposite Rich Franklin. The winner of this bout was selected to coach opposite Michael Bisping at TUF 9: Team UK vs Team US. Dan and Bisping did not like each other, and the more the Count tried to rile Hendo, the quieter he got. The animosity was saved up for the ultimate H Bomb at UFC 100, where after separating Bisping from his senses, Henderson dropped a flying forearm reminiscent of his Pride 33 title victory.

Now entering his 40’s Dangerous Dan signed on with Strikeforce, dropping a debut against Jake Shields before going on to become the lightheavyweight championship, another title on an impressive resume. More importantly wwas his 2011 victory over long time Heavyweight great (who despite being on the downside was still considered another candidate for the G.O.A.T.) Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight. Being the smaller man never deterring him, Hendo used his wily old man strength and wrestling acumen to get out of the bad positions Fedor put him in early before putting him away at 4:12 of the first round.

Following the UFC 133 press conference Dana White confirmed Hendo was back in the UFC for his third, and at this stage, final run.4–6 in his current run, including a fight of the year win over Shogun Rua, and some emphatic KO’s over the likes of Tim Boetsch and Hector Lombard as well as suffering his first three knockout losses in a long career we’re coming to a close of a career. With one last shot at UFC gold, the formerly iron chinned, hard hitting Henderson has the chance to put his final stamp on a long career spent against a who’s who of the greatest fighters of any generation, won more international tournaments than any other fighter, and endeared himself to millions of fight fans around the world. Whatever the result on October 8th, we should pay tribute to this member of the old guard, who carried on MMA in the bad times and paved the way for many more at Team Quest and will continue to influence fighters for years to come.

Mixed Martial Arts:

• Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion (2011)
• Knockout of the Year, World MMA Awards (2009)
• Pride FC Middleweight Champion (2007)
• Pride FC Welterweight Champion (2005)
• Pride FC Bushido Welterweight Grand Prix Champion (2005)
• RINGS King of Kings Absolute Tournament Champion (2000)
• UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament Champion (1998)
• Brazil Open Tournament Champion (1997)