Dan Henderson
Daniel Jeffery Henderson (born August 24, 1970) is a former Olympic wrestler and current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial artist who was the last+ welterweight 183 lb (83 kg; 13.1 st) and middleweight 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) champion of the Pride Fighting Championships. He is the only mixed-martial artist to concurrently hold two titles in two different weight classes in a major MMA promotion. Henderson is also the UFC 17 middleweight and Pride 2005 welterweight tournament champion. Dan also owns the Clinch Gear MMA apparel brand.
Biography
Dan Henderson was born in Downey, California, and grew up in Apple Valley, California.[1] He attended Victor Valley High School[2] in Victorville, California, and earned medals at the California State Wrestling Championships in 1987 and 1988. Henderson went on to wrestle at both Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State University, participating in the 1993 NCAA championships.[3] He represented the United States in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling.[4]
MMA career
He began training in mixed martial arts in 1997, when he joined the Real American Wrestling team (RAW).[5]
Early UFC Career
In his first year of MMA competition, Henderson won the Brazil Open, a four-man heavyweight tournament. Just one year later, he won the UFC 17 tournament, defeating Allan Goes and Carlos Newton. In his next MMA foray, Henderson defeated five opponents over the course of two events to claim the 1999 RINGS King of Kings title. He won two fights on October 28, 1999 in Tokyo, Japan, to qualify for the finals, and then beat Gilbert Yvel, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Renato "Babulu" Sobral on the evening of February 26, 2000, to win the tournament.
Pride FC
Henderson later found a home with the Pride Fighting Championships, competing primarily in the middleweight (205 lbs.) division. In Pride, Henderson competed against many of the sports elite fighters including Wanderlei Silva, Renzo Gracie, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, Murilo Rua, Murilo Bustamante, Yuki Kondo, Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono.
When Pride began its Bushido brand, Henderson won their first welterweight 183 lb (83 kg; 13.1 st) tournament, defeating Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono by knockout, and then defeating Bustamante by split decision in the finals to capture the welterweight title. At Pride Bushido 10, Henderson defeated Kazuo Misaki by unanimous decision after hurting him with strikes on numerous occasions. Henderson later entered the second Pride Welterweight Grand Prix, losing by decision in a rematch with Misaki.
Henderson's final Pride bout was a rematch with Wanderlei Silva at Pride 33 in Las Vegas on February 24, 2007, where he scored a knockout victory to become middleweight champion, while still holding his welterweight title. Henderson is the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two different weight classes in a major organization.
UFC Return
On September 8, 2007, Henderson returned to the UFC to face light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 75 in London, England, losing by unanimous decision after five rounds.
On November 17, 2007, it was announced during the post fight at UFC 78, Henderson would fight UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva to unify the Pride welterweight (183 lbs.) and UFC middleweight (185 lbs.) championships. UFC 82 took place on March 1, 2008, and was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Silva defeated Henderson via submission at 4:52 of the second round by rear naked choke.
Henderson defeated Rousimar Palhares at UFC 88 by unanimous decision. It was his first win in the UFC in over ten years. After the bout, Henderson laughed and said, "hopefully I don't have to wait that long before I get my next win."
Henderson's next fight was a return to the light heavyweight division against former UFC Middleweight champion Rich Franklin on January 17, 2009, at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland. He won by split decision and was subsequently selected to lead Team USA on season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, with Michael Bisping coaching the opposing Team UK. The show aired on Spike TV and premiered on April 1, 2009, with the live finale scheduled on July 4, 2009, in Las Vegas. One week later, Henderson will square off with Bisping at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009, at the Mandalay Bay Grand Garden Arena. The winner of the Henderson/Bisping fight will be offered a shot at the middleweight championship.[6]
Personal life
Dan Henderson is part English, Scottish, French and Native American.[7] He grew up on a ranch in Apple Valley California. He started wrestling at a young age and started being noticed as a relentless competitor. When he entered High School he placed on the wrestling team with his brother Tom at Victor Valley High, which was coached by their father Bill Henderson, Sam Gollmyer and Joe Barrios.
Dan was also coached by Bob Anderson, of the California Jets (now a defunct organization). He placed second at the California State Wrestling Championship in 1987, and Victor Valley won the team title. In 1988, he placed fifth in the state finals and several months later won national crowns in both freestyle and Greco Roman at the Junior Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
He has three children with his wife Alison.[8][9] He now lives in Temecula, California[10] and is currently associated with Team Quest where he trains with fellow fighters Matt Lindland and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Henderson has also made guest appearances on television shows such as The King Of Queens,[11] Best Damn Sports Show Period, Inside MMA and Rome is Burning.
According to the March 2007 Confederated Umatilla Journal: "Henderson's grandmother, Alice (Bergevin) LeJune, is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and owns land on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. From all accounts, Henderson is 1/16 Walla Walla Native American."[12]
Clinch Gear
Henderson owns the Clinch Gear MMA apparel brand,[13] which he acquired in January 2007 after wearing Clinch Gear shorts in many of his fights in the preceding two years. He has grown the product line to include 11 colors of performance board shorts in two styles, including the Primo Hendo signature model.[14]
Clinch Gear features authentic walkout tees from each of Henderson's UFC bouts, along with a wide selection of tees, hoodies, rash guards, hats and beanies. The company also produces custom sublimated shorts and rash guards for MMA gyms, martial arts schools and both high school and NCAA wrestling teams. During the 2008-2009 wrestling season, teams from the University of Missouri, University of Wisconsin, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal State Bakersfield wore custom sublimated Clinch Gear Performance Board Shorts.
MMA record
| 31 matches | 24 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 10 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 3 |
| By decision | 13 | 4 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
 Michael Bisping
|
UFC 100 | 7/11/2009 | Las Vegas, NV, United States | ||||||
| Win | 24-7 |  Rich Franklin
|
Decision (Split) | UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson | 1/17/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 23-7 |  Rousimar Palhares
|
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 88: Breakthrough | 9/6/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | |
| Loss | 22-7 | Anderson Silva
|
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC 82: Pride of a Champion | 3/1/2008 | 2 | 4:50 | Columbus, Ohio, USA | For UFC Middleweight Championship |
| Loss | 22-6 | Quinton Jackson
|
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 75: Champion vs Champion | 9/8/2007 | 5 | 5:00 | London, England, United Kingdom | For UFC Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 22-5 | Wanderlei Silva
|
KO (Punch) | Pride 33: The Second Coming | 2/24/2007 | 3 | 2:08 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | Won the Pride Middleweight Championship |
| Win | 21-5 | Vitor Belfort
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride 32: The Real Deal | 10/21/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | |
| Loss | 20-5 |  Kazuo Misaki
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride Bushido 12 | 8/26/2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Win | 20-4 | Kazuo Misaki
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride Bushido 10 | 4/2/2006 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 19-4 | Murilo Bustamante
|
Decision (Split) | Pride Shockwave 2005 | 12/31/2005 | 2 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Won Pride Welterweight Championship |
| Win | 18-4 | Akihiro Gono
|
KO (Punch) | Pride Bushido 9 | 9/25/2005 | 1 | 7:58 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 17-4 | Ryo Chonan
|
TKO (Punches) | Pride Bushido 9 | 9/25/2005 | 1 | 0:22 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Loss | 16-4 | Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
|
Submission (Armbar) | Pride Total Elimination 2005 | 4/23/2005 | 1 | 8:05 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Win | 16-3 | Yuki Kondo
|
Decision (Split) | Pride Shockwave 2004 | 12/31/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 15-3 | Kazuhiro Nakamura
|
TKO (Injury) | Pride 28: High Octane | 10/31/2004 | 1 | 1:15 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 14-3 | Murilo Bustamante
|
KO (punches) | Pride Final Conflict 2003 | 11/9/2003 | 1 | 0:53 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 13-3 | Shungo Oyama
|
TKO (Strikes) | Pride 25: Body Blow | 3/16/2003 | 1 | 3:28 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Loss | 12-3 | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
|
Submission (Armbar) | Pride 24: Cold Fury 3 | 12/23/2002 | 3 | 1:49 | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| Loss | 12-2 | Ricardo Arona
|
Decision (Split) | Pride 20: Armed and Ready | 4/28/2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 12-1 | Murilo Rua
|
Decision (Split) | Pride 17: Championship Chaos | 11/3/2001 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 11-1 | Akira Shoji
|
TKO (Strikes) | Pride 14: Clash of the Titans | 5/27/2001 | 3 | 3:18 | Yokohama, Japan | |
| Win | 10-1 | Renzo Gracie
|
KO (Punch) | Pride 13: Collision Course | 3/25/2001 | 1 | 1:40 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 9-1 | Wanderlei Silva
|
Decision (Unanimous) | Pride 12: Cold Fury | 12/9/2000 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 9-0 | Renato Sobral
|
Decision (Split) | RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Final | 2/26/2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | Won RINGS King of Kings Tournament |
| Win | 8-0 | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
|
Decision (Split) | RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Final | 2/26/2000 | 3 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 7-0 |  Gilbert Yvel
|
Decision (Unanimous) | RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Final | 2/26/2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6-0 | Hiromitsu Kanehara
|
Decision (Split) | RINGS: King of Kings Block A | 10/28/1999 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 5-0 |  Bakouri Gogitidze
|
TKO (Strikes) | RINGS: King of Kings Block A | 10/28/1999 | 1 | 2:17 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 4-0 |  Carlos Newton
|
Decision (Split) | UFC 17: Redemption | 5/15/1998 | 1 | 15:00 | Mobile, Alabama, USA | Won UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament |
| Win | 3-0 | Allan Goes
|
Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 17: Redemption | 5/15/1998 | 1 | 15:00 | Mobile, Alabama, USA | |
| Win | 2-0 | Eric Smith
|
Submission (Guillotine Choke) | Brazil Open '97 | 6/15/1997 | 1 | 0:30 | Brazil | |
| Win | 1-0 | Crezio de Souza
|
TKO (Strikes) | Brazil Open '97 | 6/15/1997 | 1 | 5:25 | Brazil |
Championships and accomplishments
References
- ^ "Dan Henderson Biography and Fighting Information". Submittomma.com. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Dan Henderson". Complete Martial Arts.com. February 24, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Dan Henderson". Washington Post. August 24, 1970. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "After losing a tough fight to Rampage, what's next for the first ever double-champ in UFC, Pride and MMA history?". Fighting Spirit Magazine. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Daniel "Hollywood" Henderson - Official Mixed Martial Arts Fighting Resume". Mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ http://mmajunkie.com/news/15063/winner-of-ufc-100s-michael-bisping-vs-dan-henderson-fights-gets-a-title-shot.mma
- ^ "Henderson Speaks". Fightsport.com. December 10, 2005. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Team Quest MMA Fitness, Murrietta, CA". Teamquestmma.com. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Dan Henderson profile". Clinchgear.com. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Team Quest MMA Fitness Center Staff". Teamquestmma.com. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Dan Henderson and Frank Trigg on CBS". May 10, 2006. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Pride Fighting champ has WW heritage" (PDF). Confederated Umatilla Journal. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. March 2007. p. 41. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Clinch Gear Bio". Rdfc.tv: Red Dragon Fight Company website. Retrieved March 22, 2009.
- ^ "Primo Classic Hendo Signature Performance Board Shorts". Clinchgear.com. September 5, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2009.