Chrom
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 |  Subject: Dan Henderson's Best Fights, A Top Five List Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:42 pm | |
|  - Quote :
- Dan Henderson vs. Renato Sobral
Rings: "King of Kings"
Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan
February 26, 2000
Thirty-two men enter, one man leaves. That was the concept behind the
event that Fighting Network Rings (RINGS) assembled in 1999, pitting
the best fighters at the time -- from nine different countries --
against one another in a single elimination tournament that took four
months to complete. It was a prehistoric period for mixed martial arts
(MMA), but several notable fighters such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, Renato Sobral, Renzo Gracie, Maurice Smith, Gilbert Yvel
and Dave Menne were all in the running. It was Henderson, however, who
somehow emerged victorious in the end. Sure, he was fresh off a
middleweight tournament win at UFC 17 months prior, but the decorated
Olympic wrestler had no business winning major MMA tournaments. Not just
after turning pro two years earlier, anyway. And it's not like he had a
cupcake path, either. Henderson had to go through Bakouri Gogitidze,
Hiromitsu Kanehara, Yvel, Nogueira and finally "Babalu" in the finals.
It was the start of something special.
Dan Henderson vs. Murilo Bustamante
Pride Shockwave 2005
Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan
Dec. 31, 2005
Pride FC had big plans for Murilo Bustamante when it lured the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace away from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) shortly after he successfully defended his middleweight belt for the first and only time against Matt Lindland
in 2003. However, he got off to a rocky start, losing three consecutive
fights, including a technical knockout finish at the heavy hands of
Henderson. In 2005, he entered the Pride FC Welterweight Grand Prix,
stringing together two straight victories and securing a spot in the
final opposite Henderson, who literally punched his ticket to the
championship fight with two knockout wins in the opening and semifinal
rounds. But once again, it was Henderson who would prevail, earning a
split decision from the judges and taking home the 185-pound tournament
trophy, as well as the division championship. Another Henderson hardware
haul.
Dan Henderson vs. Wanderlei Silva
PRIDE 33: "Second Coming"
Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb. 24, 2007
For most of his career, Henderson was a two-division fighter, stuck
between the 185 and 205 pound weight classes. However, he was much more
successful against lighter competition. Losses to Ricardo Arona, Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira and his brother, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira,
made it seem pretty clear that Henderson was in over his head in the
205-pound division. He'd start to change that perception, however, when
he decisioned Vitor Belfort
at Pride 32: "The Real Deal" in 2006. And he'd prove it wrong
altogether when he scored an improbable, and devastating, knockout of
Wanderlei Silva in their rematch four months later. Earlier in their
careers, "The Axe Murderer" registered a unanimous decision win over
Henderson. He would go on an epic championship run, successfully
defending his middleweight title several times over the next six years.
That would come to a crashing end when Henderson separated him from
consciousness with a blistering left hand on the button, which came
shortly after a highlight-reel spinning backfist that wobbled the
Brazilian. It marked the first time ever in MMA competition that a
fighter held two major titles at the same time in different divisions.
Dan Henderson, setting records at 36.
Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
UFC 100: "Lesnar vs. Mir 2"
Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada2
July 11, 2009
It was the centennial event for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
It was a hallmark in the history of the promotion, which was headlined
by its two biggest draws, heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and 170-pound deity Georges St. Pierre.
Henderson was also on the card, taking on the polarizing Michael
Bisping, the culmination of their "U.S. vs. U.K." coaching rivalry on
the set of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9. "The Count" was a viable and
marketable middleweight contender at the time, and if he could defeat
Henderson, was likely guaranteed a title shot against division champion Anderson Silva
in the near future. Henderson detonated those hopes with a thundering
right hook, which he followed up with a flying face forearm smash as
Bisping lay supine, stiff as a board, on the canvas. It was the biggest
highlight on the UFC's biggest ever show. Henderson stole the show,
scoring one of the greatest, career-defining knockouts ever against one
of the sport's most reviled personalities ... on the biggest stage
possible. Clutch.
Dan Henderson vs. Rafael Cavalcante
Strikeforce: "Feijao vs. Henderson"
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
March 5, 2011
After his epic win over Bisping, with his stock at an all-time high,
Henderson opted to walkaway from the UFC after the parties failed to
agree on the terms of a contract extension. Strikeforce quickly swooped
in and signed him to a deal, as well as rewarded him with an instant
title shot against middleweight champion Jake Shields. Despite a marked
experience and size advantage, Henderson would drop a disappointing
five-round unanimous decision ... even though he nearly finished the
fight in the first round. SB Nation | |
|
Chrom
Hall of Famer
Posts : 5966
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Join date : 2011-07-06
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| | Subject: Re: Dan Henderson's Best Fights, A Top Five List Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:44 pm | |
| My favorites are definitely the KO over Wandy and the Bionic Forearm KO over Mikey | |
|
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