Dan Henderson: Greatest Moment/Career Appreciation Thread

[rjmbrd]

Dan Henderson's biology doesn't even make sense. His chin held up for well over a decade and he routinely fought larger opponents.

Cool as a cucumber outside the cage and all around chill dude.

Aside from one of the most interesting and marquee careers in the sport, he has to be ranked somewhere in P4P toughness.

 

[quantiqus]

Are we talking title shots here?

Hendo fough three times for the UFC gold:
- Silva on dick pills - was finished
- Bisping - watch that fight, many say he won that fight. Hendo had 2 clear knockdowns and was eye poked by Bisping. But the fight took place in Manchester so...
- Rampage, lost by decision

Demian Maia had two shots at UFC gold and both times did a horrible job:
- Silva - although Silva was booed, Maia had no chance against Silva, who controlled the entire fight
- Woodley - same. Booed, but controlled the entire fight.
Great bjj fighter, but he is the living proof that you need more than bjj/wrestling to be a champion. Just like T-Bol Jones said during TUF.

Overeem has only one title shot in UFC and he lost it clearly to Stipe... you know, after he felt that tap.

 

[MMACroatia]

Brazil tournament by far.

 

[Locooo]

What a fucking animal Hendo was
Never was a fan of him, but deff deserves place in GOAT talk.

I voted Pride MW Belt (KTFO Wanderlei, and kind of fuck him bad for good)

The Rings Championship and Fedor being a second choice.

But Bisping ? Come on.. iconic ko yeah. goat moment of his career ? GTFOH

 

[MMACroatia]

His KO of Wand in Pride is absolutely every bit as brutal. In fact, he hit a lot of folks with that H-Bomb. He'll always be Hollywood Henderson to me.

Awful "defense" from Wand
Hands down,squared stance.
Like he wanted to get KO'd.

 

[Mr T_712]

Any of KOing Wanderlei, Bisping or Fedor.

 

[MusterX]

Awful "defense" from Wand
Hands down,squared stance.
Like he wanted to get KO'd.

Its that follow up shot too, Dan likes to destroy unconscious fighters.

 

[Toxxus]

I have no faith in you motherfuckers, and yet and this matter, you are gloriously correct.

Well done, Sherbros.

 

[MTL]

I voted Pride MW title win.
But I love that Bisping KO.

 

[Perrichet]

Awful "defense" from Wand
Hands down,squared stance.
Like he wanted to get KO'd.

Wand the pub brawler

 

[Seaside]

should be winning WW champion or MW in Pride.

Fedor was shit at that point, and everyone expected him to beat Bisping.

 

[The Schmoop]

Simultaneous 2 Division champion in Pride.

 

[Buff]

The RINGS victory is really not getting the respect it deserves...

2x Heavyweights in one night - he was outweighed by 30lbs in both nights against Kaehara (admittedly a punching bag), and a Georgian bum named Bakouri Gogitidze... That' not really a big deal in retrospect, but at the time it was some David vs Goliath shit...

Then in the same night he fights 20-3 Gilbert Yvel who had beaten all of his opponents by stoppage, and was 35lbs heavier than Dan, even though it was before Yvel got fat. Also one of the dirtiest fighters ever, both intimidating, and feared... Dan fights him first and wins a decision.

Gilbert Yvel:

Then, an hour later he fights an undefeated Minotauro Nogeira who would go on to become one of the undisputed heavyweight GOATs, a man who was 4 inches taller, and 30+lbs heavier, and virtually indestructible... Dan won via gruelling split decision.

Minotauro Nogueira:

Son'd Werdum

He once took this:

And still won.

Spoiler: Just because...

Then he fights Renato "Babalu" Sobral... This was probably the craziest, most dangerous prospect in the sport at the time - he was 12-0, and everyone was terrified of him. He had recently soccer kicked gif-friendly Brad Kohler half to death, had opponents quitting on their stools between rounds, and tapping out from leg kicks - he was the baddest guy in the tournament, 20lbs heavier, and straight scary. He beat Shogun, Trevor Prangley, and the great Jeremy Horn in one night... With zero fucks given, 180lbs Hendo, who had already spent half an hour fighting 2 of the best Heavyweights of the era, and plodded, jabbed, and single legged his way to victory.

All of that happened in one night.

Babalu:

RIP Brad Kohler

RIP David Heath

All star grappler:


Babalu the night he fought Dan:

All in one night... 30 lbs lighter... Seriously wtf. It wasn't great to watch, but holy shit, in retrospect it was absolutely incredible.

 

[Persuadertron]

Dan Henderson arguably might have the most illustrious career in MMA history... Pick your favourite.

BRAZIL OPEN TOURNAMENT '97 CHAMPION (1997)



Wins 2 fights in one night on his debut, and wins the Lightweight tournament.


UFC 17 MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION (1998)

Defeats Allan Goes and Carlos Newton to win the Middleweight Tournament. Has jaw broken vs Newton but fights on to win.


RINGS: KING OF KINGS 1999 OPEN WEIGHT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION (1999)

Defeats 2 guys in one night (Bakouri Gogitidze, Hiromito Kanehara), followed by 3 guys in one night; Lil Nog, Gilbert Yvel, and Babalu - all of whom had a big size advantage. Is crowned Open Weight Champion.


WINS PRIDE WELTERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT AND CHAMPIONSHIP (2005)

(couldn't find a decent pic or gif, so you'll have to settle for that - it's not from the tourny).

KO's Ryo Chonan, and Akihiro Gino on the same night, then beats Murilo Bustamante in the final to win the Tournament, and is Crowned PRIDE FC Welterweight Champion


WINS PRIDE MIDDLEWEIGHT (205LBS) CHAMPIONSHIP (2007)

Without giving up his 185 WW strap, Hendo moves up to 205 and brutally KOs Prime Wanderlei, and becomes the first person to simultaneously hold 2 belts at the same time in a major organisation.



UFC 100 - CREATES GIF OF THE CENTURY (2009)

After enduring months of trash talk from outspoken heel-allstar Michael Bisping on The Ultimate Fighter, Hendo delivered a KO that will live through the ages. It was amazing.


WINS STRIKEFORCE LHW CHAMPIONSHIP (2011)

KOs Babalu in a title eliminator, then defendinf champ Feijao to win the 205 Strikeforce title - at the time Feijao was thought to be one of the better LHW in the world.


KNOCKS OUT FEDOR EMILIANENKO (2011)

Fighting at Heavyweight, Hendo moves up to face the apparent GOAT, Fedor Emilianenko - he was undersized, and coming in as a massive underdog - Hendo knocked him out for the first time in his career. Sherdog melted down.


Hendo Bless.

Honorable mentions go to beating Lombard aged 46, and having one of the fights of the last 10 years against Shogun aged 45 and getting the finish, knocking out Renzo Gracie, beating Ninja in Pride, His epic fight with Lil Nog, and hanging them up after a titleshot.

Decision Dan hbomb hollywood hendo Henderson is the shit! HE' in my GOAT list. It looks like this:

1Fedor
2GSP
3Hendo

And then Aldo, Shogun and other guys.

 

[Seaside]

Are we talking title shots here?

Hendo fough three times for the UFC gold:
- Silva on dick pills - was finished
- Bisping - watch that fight, many say he won that fight. Hendo had 2 clear knockdowns and was eye poked by Bisping. But the fight took place in Manchester so...
- Rampage, lost by decision

Demian Maia had two shots at UFC gold and both times did a horrible job:
- Silva - although Silva was booed, Maia had no chance against Silva, who controlled the entire fight
- Woodley - same. Booed, but controlled the entire fight.
Great bjj fighter, but he is the living proof that you need more than bjj/wrestling to be a champion. Just like T-Bol Jones said during TUF.

Overeem has only one title shot in UFC and he lost it clearly to Stipe... you know, after he felt that tap.

naah Overeem did more in his career when you count K1. Hendo always lost to the elite class of guys.

stipe nearly was finished like 2x against overeem. Ngannou will sleep Stipe

 

[Buff]

Are we talking title shots here?

Hendo fough three times for the UFC gold:
- Silva on dick pills - was finished
- Bisping - watch that fight, many say he won that fight. Hendo had 2 clear knockdowns and was eye poked by Bisping. But the fight took place in Manchester so...
- Rampage, lost by decision

Demian Maia had two shots at UFC gold and both times did a horrible job:
- Silva - although Silva was booed, Maia had no chance against Silva, who controlled the entire fight
- Woodley - same. Booed, but controlled the entire fight.
Great bjj fighter, but he is the living proof that you need more than bjj/wrestling to be a champion. Just like T-Bol Jones said during TUF.

Overeem has only one title shot in UFC and he lost it clearly to Stipe... you know, after he felt that tap.

We're talking overall career brilliance... There is a strong argument for Overeem, but he doesn't quite have the same pedigree of achievements outside of the UFC - K1 is awesome, and so are DREAM, Strikeforce, and so on, but what Hendo did in Pride alone easily surpasses what Overeem managed in his whole career.

Demian Maia doesn't really deserve a mention tbh. He's alright and everything, but putting him on the same level as Hendo and Overeem doesn't quite wash.

 

[Raise Your Fist]

His rematch with Wanderlei and KO'ing him was his biggest win in my book.

Hendo is a legend for sure

 

[HomeRun916]

Voted the KO of Wand. Very impressive career Mr. Hendo.

 

[bufetadanacara]

Rings king of kings is the right answer.



Winning the title over Wand, with the big knockout was a huge moment but Wand had already been cro copped.

The Fedor win was huge but Fedor wasn't in his prime.

Split decision win over Bustamante...

UFC 17 was ok but Newton win the overtime.

 

[Capt Lunatic]

A picture of Henderson KO'ing Bisping should replace the stars on the American flag.