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DAN HENDERSON
Nickname Hollywood, Dangerous, Hendo
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg) to 205 lb (93 kg)
Nationality American
Born August 24, 1970
Town of birth Apple Valley, California
Team/Association Team Quest
Fighting style Greco-Roman Wrestling
Mixed martial arts record
Wins 22
By knockout 10
By submission 1
Losses 6
Draws 0
Daniel Jeffery Henderson (born August 24, 1970) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and the current Welterweight (185 lb.) champion of the PRIDE Fighting Championships. He is associated with Team Quest. He has a professional MMA record of 22-6-0 as of September 2007, and was the only MMA fighter holding titles in two weight classes at the same time until he was defeated in a unification match with Quinton Jackson. He is originally from Apple Valley, California and went to Victor Valley High School in Victorville, California where he was a two-time California State placer. He went on to wrestle at Arizona State University, participating in the 1993 NCAA championships. He has trained with World Bronze medalist and Pan American Silver Medalist Jeff Funicello. Afterwards he moved onto the international circuit competing for the United States in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. He now lives in Temecula, California
He has notable wins over: Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Kazuo Misaki, Murilo Bustamante, Yuki Kondo, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Murilo Rua, Renato Sobral, Gilbert Yvel and Carlos Newton.
Henderson, who started wrestling at the age of 5, competed on the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling teams.
Henderson started training in mixed martial arts in 1997 at the suggestion of his friend and fellow wrestler Randy Couture, who invited Dan to join Rico Chiapparelli Real American Wrestling team (RAW). Currently, Henderson trains with Team Quest, which includes fellow fighters Matt Lindland, and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Henderson cross-trains in Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In his first year of MMA training he won the Brazil Open tournament, and just one year later Henderson entered and won the UFC 17 tournament in 1998, defeating Allan Goes and Carlos Newton. After that, Henderson left the UFC seeking greater financial opportunity in Japan, where he competed in the now defunct Rings and PRIDE Fighting Championships. It was there he won the 1999 Rings - King of Kings tournament. He defeated two opponents in one night to qualify for the finals, and then beating Gilbert Yvel, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Renato "Babulu" Sobral to win the tournament. Until recently, there was no 183-lb. division in PRIDE, so Henderson fought at 205 lbs. and Heavyweight for much of his career, where he competed against some of the best, including Wanderlei Silva. He later called his first fight with Silva the toughest single fight he ever had. He later fought with top fighters such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ricardo Arona. When PRIDE began its Bushido shows, bringing in lower weight classes, Henderson fought in and won their first ever 183-lb. Grand Prix, defeating Ryo Chonan and Akihiro Gono by knockout, and then defeating Murilo Bustamante by split decision in the finals. At PRIDE Bushido 10, Henderson defeated Kazuo Misaki by unanimous decision after hurting Misaki with strikes on numerous occasions. Henderson then entered the second ever Pride 185-lb. Grand Prix, where he lost a rematch with Misaki.
Previous to the unification match with Quinton Jackson, his most recent fight was at PRIDE 33 in Las Vegas on February 24, 2007, where he scored an upset by defeating Wanderlei Silva via KO to become Middleweight champion.
Henderson is the second fighter in MMA history to win two world titles in two different weight classes in a major organization (along with former Team Quest stablemate Randy Couture) and is the first fighter to ever hold them simultaneously.
As announced during the broadcast of UFC 71, Henderson would be the next challenger for the UFC Light Heavyweight title against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Henderson lost that bout in London, England at UFC 75 via unanimous decision.
As announced during the broadcast of UFC 71, Henderson would be the next challenger for the UFC Light Heavyweight title against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Henderson lost that bout in London, England at UFC 75 via unanimous decision.
Dan wrestled at Victor Valley High School with his older brother, Tom, where their team won the California State Wrestling Championship in 1987. Dan placed second overall in California in the 1988 season. Henderson also made an appearance on The King Of Queens.
Source: Wikipedia
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