Wrestlers in MMA: Olympian Dan Henderson trains for his final fight vs. Michael Bisping in UFC 204 Main Event
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Two-time Greco-Roman Olympian Dan Henderson headlocks Greco-Roman World champion Joe Warren during an MMA workout. Both have had successful MMA careers. Photo courtesy of DanHenderson.com
Dan Henderson qualified for his first Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team at age 21 and went on to compete in the 1992 Barcelona Games. He reached the pinnacle of wrestling at a very young age, with tremendous promise for a bright future.
On October 8, 2016, a full 24 years later, his combat sports career will end as he faces UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping in a title fight as the Main Event of UFC 204 in Manchester, England. Henderson says that this will be his last MMA fight, completing a long and storied career, which took the two-time Olympian from the mats into the Octagon at the highest levels.
“I thought the early 30’s would be pushing it to still be competing in anything. I am now 46 years old and still doing it. I guess it’s something in me that loves the competition and the challenge,” said Henderson.
It will be a very difficult challenge for Henderson, who has a No. 12 ranking in the weight class, and boasts a 32-14 career record. However, Henderson defeated Bisping in their previous matchup, a second round knockout from a punch in UFC 100 in July of 2009. This knockout, as well as his popularity with MMA fans, may be the reason he has a chance to conclude his career in such a high-profile fight.
“I didn’t even think about a rematch until all the fans really started asking for it. After UFC 199, when we fought on the same card, the fans asked for it. I didn’t really think too much about it, until the fans really asked for it and made it happen,” said Henderson.
Certainly, Henderson would like the same outcome as the first fight. He is expecting a similar battle, but knows he may have to be ready to go the distance this time.
“I think in a lot of ways it will be similar. I think he will try to stand outside and score points, and at the same time, he is going to try to pressure me to try to make me tired. But that is what I want, I want him to pressure me. My conditioning gets a little bit tougher as I get older, but I feel I am in great shape for this fight and ready to go five rounds.”
Henderson will be facing a rowdy and loud hometown crowd behind Bisping, who is a hero in Great Britain and will be defending his championship belt in front of his best fans.
“I am not afraid of it, or anything. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a title fight, and it doesn’t matter where it is at. It will be nice to shut him up on his home turf,” said Henderson.
Henderson has been competing in MMA for close to 20 years, with his first professional fights at the Brazil Open back in June 1997. His first UFC appearance was at UFC 17 in Mobile, Alabama in 1998. He fought in other fight organizations including Rings, Pride and Strikeforce while also developing into a popular and successful star with the UFC. Henderson has figured out how to train effectively and remain very successful for a very long time.
“I have had to cut things out and definitely train smarter over the years. You learn to listen to your body a little better and cut back when you need to, train harder when you need to, and make changes as far as how intense some workouts are,” said Henderson.
When people talk about former wrestlers who have become stars in MMA, Henderson is always included on the list. He was a Junior National Champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman as a California high school star, and competed at the Div. I level in college before turning his focus full-time to Greco-Roman. He still uses his wrestling background as part of training and as a powerful tool in his fighting arsenal.
“It is nice to have that wrestling background. I don’t specifically just wrestle too much, but wrestling is part of every day in training. It doesn’t matter if I am working specifically striking, wrestling is still involved, just in being able to control where the fight is. We can’t ever overlook guys trying to take us down or can’t not focus on going for the takedown when it is there,” said Henderson.
Although he is not yet done as an athlete, he has no problem talking about some of the personal highlights of his MMA career. He has been willing to take on the best that the sport has to offer, facing numerous Hall of Fame candidates in prominent fights, many which he was able to win. He shares a few of his favorite triumphs.
“Maybe Wanderlei (Silva) and Fedor (Emelianenko) were on the top of that list, and are in my mind as my bigger accomplishments. Beating Wanderlei for that second Pride belt and knocking off Fedor were big,” he said.
Don’t expect Henderson to fall away from the spotlight after the Bisping fight, even though he will be retired from competition.
“I would like to stay involved and help grow the sport of MMA and be more involved in wrestling as well. Coaching and being a spokesperson for MMA is where I can have an impact,” said Henderson.
Whenever possible, Henderson has stayed close to his wrestling roots, attending events and following the sport. He served as the Honorary Captain of the 2015 U.S. Freestyle World Cup Team in Los Angeles, where he helped promote the event and support the athletes during the tournament. Henderson was able to catch some of the 2016 Olympic wrestling action, and was disappointed that the Greco-Roman athletes were not able to win any medals.
Henderson was ahead of his time when he qualified for his first Olympic team as a 21 year old. He has great respect for new Olympic champion Kyle Snyder, who became the youngest American gold medalist at 20 years old this summer in Rio.
“It was pretty impressive that a 20 year old could do as well as he did that last two or three years. It was nice to see. I am a big fan of his now and can’t wait to see him win more World Championships and Olympics. I hear he has maybe thoughts of competing in MMA. Have him give me a call,” said Henderson.
Wrestlers in MMA Notes
UFC 205 to include wrestlers - The UFC announced its first five bouts for UFC 205, which is scheduled for Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 12. It will be the first UFC fight in the Big Apple since the state finally permitted professional MMA to be held in New York State. There will be prominent former wrestlers who are on included in this historic card. No. 2 ranked lightweight Frankie Edgar, a college wrestler from Clarion who hails from nearby New Jersey, is taking on No. 7 Jeremy Stephens. Rashad Evans, the Michigan State and Niagara CC wrestling star who is ranked No. 7 as a light heavyweight, will battle No. 13 Tim Kennedy.
Cejudo to fight Benavidez in fight between TUF 24 coaches – Fans who have enjoyed watching 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo as a coach in The Ultimate Fighter 24 get to see him fight the other coach on the show, Joseph Benavidez, on the TUF 24 finale on December 3 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. No. 2 contender Cejudo, who recently lost a Flyweight title fight to UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, takes on Benavidez, who is now the No. 1 contender in the division.
Lashley in co-Main Event battle in Bellator 162 – Bobby Lashley will battle Josh Appelt in a heavyweight match as the co-Main event at Bellator 162 in Memphis, Tenn. on October 21. Lashley wrestled in college for Missouri Valley College, then pursued Olympic goals in freestyle as an OTC resident athlete and member of the U.S. Army program. In addition to his MMA career where he has a 14-2 record, Lashley was also involved in professional wrestling with the WWE and other organizations.
Dan Henderson qualified for his first Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team at age 21 and went on to compete in the 1992 Barcelona Games. He reached the pinnacle of wrestling at a very young age, with tremendous promise for a bright future.
On October 8, 2016, a full 24 years later, his combat sports career will end as he faces UFC Middleweight champion Michael Bisping in a title fight as the Main Event of UFC 204 in Manchester, England. Henderson says that this will be his last MMA fight, completing a long and storied career, which took the two-time Olympian from the mats into the Octagon at the highest levels.
“I thought the early 30’s would be pushing it to still be competing in anything. I am now 46 years old and still doing it. I guess it’s something in me that loves the competition and the challenge,” said Henderson.
It will be a very difficult challenge for Henderson, who has a No. 12 ranking in the weight class, and boasts a 32-14 career record. However, Henderson defeated Bisping in their previous matchup, a second round knockout from a punch in UFC 100 in July of 2009. This knockout, as well as his popularity with MMA fans, may be the reason he has a chance to conclude his career in such a high-profile fight.
“I didn’t even think about a rematch until all the fans really started asking for it. After UFC 199, when we fought on the same card, the fans asked for it. I didn’t really think too much about it, until the fans really asked for it and made it happen,” said Henderson.
Certainly, Henderson would like the same outcome as the first fight. He is expecting a similar battle, but knows he may have to be ready to go the distance this time.
“I think in a lot of ways it will be similar. I think he will try to stand outside and score points, and at the same time, he is going to try to pressure me to try to make me tired. But that is what I want, I want him to pressure me. My conditioning gets a little bit tougher as I get older, but I feel I am in great shape for this fight and ready to go five rounds.”
Henderson will be facing a rowdy and loud hometown crowd behind Bisping, who is a hero in Great Britain and will be defending his championship belt in front of his best fans.
“I am not afraid of it, or anything. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a title fight, and it doesn’t matter where it is at. It will be nice to shut him up on his home turf,” said Henderson.
Henderson has been competing in MMA for close to 20 years, with his first professional fights at the Brazil Open back in June 1997. His first UFC appearance was at UFC 17 in Mobile, Alabama in 1998. He fought in other fight organizations including Rings, Pride and Strikeforce while also developing into a popular and successful star with the UFC. Henderson has figured out how to train effectively and remain very successful for a very long time.
“I have had to cut things out and definitely train smarter over the years. You learn to listen to your body a little better and cut back when you need to, train harder when you need to, and make changes as far as how intense some workouts are,” said Henderson.
When people talk about former wrestlers who have become stars in MMA, Henderson is always included on the list. He was a Junior National Champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman as a California high school star, and competed at the Div. I level in college before turning his focus full-time to Greco-Roman. He still uses his wrestling background as part of training and as a powerful tool in his fighting arsenal.
“It is nice to have that wrestling background. I don’t specifically just wrestle too much, but wrestling is part of every day in training. It doesn’t matter if I am working specifically striking, wrestling is still involved, just in being able to control where the fight is. We can’t ever overlook guys trying to take us down or can’t not focus on going for the takedown when it is there,” said Henderson.
Although he is not yet done as an athlete, he has no problem talking about some of the personal highlights of his MMA career. He has been willing to take on the best that the sport has to offer, facing numerous Hall of Fame candidates in prominent fights, many which he was able to win. He shares a few of his favorite triumphs.
“Maybe Wanderlei (Silva) and Fedor (Emelianenko) were on the top of that list, and are in my mind as my bigger accomplishments. Beating Wanderlei for that second Pride belt and knocking off Fedor were big,” he said.
Don’t expect Henderson to fall away from the spotlight after the Bisping fight, even though he will be retired from competition.
“I would like to stay involved and help grow the sport of MMA and be more involved in wrestling as well. Coaching and being a spokesperson for MMA is where I can have an impact,” said Henderson.
Whenever possible, Henderson has stayed close to his wrestling roots, attending events and following the sport. He served as the Honorary Captain of the 2015 U.S. Freestyle World Cup Team in Los Angeles, where he helped promote the event and support the athletes during the tournament. Henderson was able to catch some of the 2016 Olympic wrestling action, and was disappointed that the Greco-Roman athletes were not able to win any medals.
Henderson was ahead of his time when he qualified for his first Olympic team as a 21 year old. He has great respect for new Olympic champion Kyle Snyder, who became the youngest American gold medalist at 20 years old this summer in Rio.
“It was pretty impressive that a 20 year old could do as well as he did that last two or three years. It was nice to see. I am a big fan of his now and can’t wait to see him win more World Championships and Olympics. I hear he has maybe thoughts of competing in MMA. Have him give me a call,” said Henderson.
Wrestlers in MMA Notes
UFC 205 to include wrestlers - The UFC announced its first five bouts for UFC 205, which is scheduled for Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 12. It will be the first UFC fight in the Big Apple since the state finally permitted professional MMA to be held in New York State. There will be prominent former wrestlers who are on included in this historic card. No. 2 ranked lightweight Frankie Edgar, a college wrestler from Clarion who hails from nearby New Jersey, is taking on No. 7 Jeremy Stephens. Rashad Evans, the Michigan State and Niagara CC wrestling star who is ranked No. 7 as a light heavyweight, will battle No. 13 Tim Kennedy.
Cejudo to fight Benavidez in fight between TUF 24 coaches – Fans who have enjoyed watching 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo as a coach in The Ultimate Fighter 24 get to see him fight the other coach on the show, Joseph Benavidez, on the TUF 24 finale on December 3 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. No. 2 contender Cejudo, who recently lost a Flyweight title fight to UFC champion Demetrious Johnson, takes on Benavidez, who is now the No. 1 contender in the division.
Lashley in co-Main Event battle in Bellator 162 – Bobby Lashley will battle Josh Appelt in a heavyweight match as the co-Main event at Bellator 162 in Memphis, Tenn. on October 21. Lashley wrestled in college for Missouri Valley College, then pursued Olympic goals in freestyle as an OTC resident athlete and member of the U.S. Army program. In addition to his MMA career where he has a 14-2 record, Lashley was also involved in professional wrestling with the WWE and other organizations.
