71 Facts About Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson was the last Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion of Pride Fighting Championships.

Dan Henderson was the only double champion in the history of Pride FC.

Dan Henderson challenged for the UFC Middleweight Championship, the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.

Dan Henderson was the first mixed martial artist to hold two titles in two different weight classes concurrently in a major MMA promotion.

Dan Henderson was born in Downey, California, and grew up in Apple Valley, California.

Dan Henderson competed in freestyle wrestling, but is much better known for his achievements in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Dan Henderson attended Victor Valley High School in Victorville, California, and earned medals at the California State Wrestling Championships in 1987 and 1988.

Dan Henderson placed second in 1987 and fifth in 1988.

Dan Henderson was a member of the 1987 Victor Valley High School wrestling team state champions.

In 1988 Dan Henderson became a national junior champion in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling.

In Greco-Roman wrestling Dan Henderson became the university national champion in 1991,1993, and 1994.

Dan Henderson was the national champion at the senior level in 1993,1994, and 1997.

Dan Henderson represented the United States in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics and placed 10th and 12th, respectively.

Dan Henderson competed at the World Wrestling Championships in 1994 and 1997, placing 12th and 7th respectively.

Dan Henderson reached the 2001 world team trials finals, but was defeated by Matt Lindland, and after that focused on an MMA career.

Dan Henderson was assistant wrestling coach at Cerritos College during the 1990s.

Dan Henderson began training in mixed martial arts in 1997, when he joined the Real American Wrestling team.

Dan Henderson entered the Brazil Open Lightweight Tournament, which had a weight limit of 176 pounds, the lightest Dan Henderson would ever compete at.

Less than one year later, Dan Henderson entered his second MMA tournament, a four-man tournament to be completed in one night.

Dan Henderson defeated Allan Goes and Carlos Newton in closely contested contests to earn his second MMA tournament championship.

About eighteen months later, Dan Henderson entered his third MMA tournament.

The tournament was full of many notable competitors, and Dan Henderson faced Gilbert Yvel, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Renato Sobral.

Dan Henderson began competing in Pride Fighting Championships in late 2000.

Dan Henderson entered in three tournaments for the organization, winning the Welterweight tournament at Pride Shockwave 2005 by defeating Murilo Bustamante by split decision.

The opening two rounds of the eight-man tournament were fought at Pride Bushido 9, at which Dan Henderson knocked out both Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono.

In 2006, Dan Henderson lost a decision in a rematch against Kazuo Misaki.

Dan Henderson's final Pride bout was a rematch with Wanderlei Silva at Pride 33 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 24,2007, at which he scored a knockout victory to become Middleweight Champion, while still holding his Welterweight title.

Dan Henderson became the first fighter to hold titles in two different weight classes simultaneously in a major MMA organization.

On September 8,2007, Dan Henderson returned to the UFC to face light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 75 in London, England.

On November 17,2007, it was announced during the post fight at UFC 78 that Dan Henderson would fight UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva to unify the Pride welterweight and UFC middleweight championships.

Dan Henderson returned to the light heavyweight division to face former UFC Middleweight champion Rich Franklin on January 17,2009, at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland.

Dan Henderson won the fight via a split decision following an eye-poke in the third round that many, including Franklin, thought was intentional.

Dan Henderson was selected to lead Team US on season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, with Michael Bisping coaching the opposing Team UK.

Controversy arose from the fight due to Dan Henderson immediately following up his knockout punch with a flying forearm-drop to the undefended Bisping's head shortly before referee Mario Yamasaki ended the fight at 3:20.

Dan Henderson signed a four-fight, 16-month deal with Strikeforce on December 5,2009, after his contract expired with the UFC.

Dan Henderson made his Strikeforce debut on April 17,2010, at Strikeforce on CBS against Jake Shields.

Dan Henderson was eyed for a light heavyweight match against Gegard Mousasi, and expressed interest in eventually fighting Fedor Emelianenko at some point during his contract.

Dan Henderson faced Renato Sobral on December 4,2010, at Strikeforce: Dan Henderson vs Babalu.

Dan Henderson won the fight via KO at 1:53 of the first round.

Dan Henderson defeated Rafael Cavalcante via third-round TKO for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship at Strikeforce 32.

Dan Henderson fought Fedor Emelianenko on July 30,2011, at Strikeforce: Fedor vs Dan Henderson.

Many had speculated that Dan Henderson would meet Fedor at a catch weight, but Strikeforce later confirmed the fight as a heavyweight bout.

Dan Henderson defeated Emelianenko via KO at 4:12 of the 1st round.

Dan Henderson said he would like to re-sign to defend his Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship.

Dan Henderson faced Mauricio Rua on November 19,2011, at UFC 139 for his third run in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White announced during the post-fight press conference of UFC 145 that Henderson would be the next opponent for Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

However, Dan Henderson withdrew from the fight citing a knee injury, and the remainder of the fight card was cancelled.

Dan Henderson faced Lyoto Machida on February 23,2013, at UFC 157.

Dan Henderson faced Rashad Evans on June 15,2013, in the main event at UFC 161.

Dan Henderson faced Vitor Belfort in a rematch on November 9,2013, at UFC Fight Night 32.

Dan Henderson defeated Belfort in their first encounter in 2006 at Pride 32 via unanimous decision.

Dan Henderson lost the fight via knockout in the first round, marking the first time in his MMA career that he had been stopped due to strikes.

Dan Henderson lost the fight via submission in the third round after being out-wrestled and held down on the bottom for the majority of the fight.

On November 12,2014, the UFC announced that Dan Henderson would move down to Middleweight to face Gegard Mousasi on January 24,2015, in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 14.

Dan Henderson lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Dan Henderson faced Tim Boetsch on June 6,2015, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 68.

Dan Henderson won the fight via knockout at 28 seconds of the first round.

Dan Henderson faced Vitor Belfort in a rubber match in the main event at UFC Fight Night 77.

Dan Henderson again lost the bout via a combination of head kick and punches.

Therefore, he was removed from the bout and Dan Henderson was re-booked for another event at a later date.

Dan Henderson was quickly rescheduled to face Hector Lombard on June 4,2016, at UFC 199.

Dan Henderson won the fight via knockout in the second round via a head kick followed by a reverse elbow and earned himself a Performance of the Night bonus, as well as becoming the first fighter to knock Lombard out cold.

Dan Henderson faced then UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping, in a rematch on October 8,2016, at UFC 204.

Dan Henderson was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame at the UFC Fan Expo on July 5,2018, alongside Mauricio Rua, for their fight in 2011.

Dan Henderson grew up on a ranch in Apple Valley, California.

Dan Henderson started wrestling at a young age and started being noticed as a relentless competitor.

Dan Henderson is of Native American, English, Scottish and French descent.

Dan Henderson had previously been prescribed testosterone replacement therapy after being diagnosed with low testosterone levels in 2007.

Dan Henderson was coached by Bob Anderson, of the defunct California Jets.

Dan Henderson placed second at the California State Wrestling Championship in 1987 and Victor Valley won the team title.

Dan Henderson is an owner of Team Quest Fitness Gym located in Temecula, California.