The legacies of professional athletes are defined by championships. Many athletes have stellar careers, but have never been a world champion for their sport.
Dan Henderson falls into this category.
Technically speaking, Hendo was a UFC champion. He defeated Carlos Newton to win the middleweight tournament at UFC 17. He has not been a “modern day” UFC champion, however.
Henderson became the Pride welterweight champion in 2005. Two years later he beat Wanderlei Silva to become the Pride middleweight champion. For good measure, Hendo added a Strikeforce light heavyweight championship in 2011.
But he has not been what many consider to be a world champion MMA fighter. He has not won in the most prestigious promotion, the UFC.
Fans would be hard pressed to find a more impressive career. Over the course of a 15-year professional career, Hendo has racked up 29 wins (13 by knockout), and earned four titles in three different weight classes.
In 37 career fights, Henderson has never been knocked out, and of his eight losses only three have not gone to a decision.
At 41 years old, most would expect Hendo to have a couple of fights left in the tank and wrap up what should be a Hall of Fame UFC career. Or is it?
The glaring achievement missing from Dan Henderson’s legendary career is a UFC championship belt. Furthermore, while he has an outstanding career, his record in the Octagon is only 6-2.
Hendo’s victories in the UFC have come against Allan Goes, Carlos Newton, Rousimar Palhares, Rich Franklin, Michael Bisping and Shogun Rua.
The two losses have come against Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva. Those two losses were also his chances of winning a UFC belt.
It would be unfair to say Hendo can’t win when the title is on the line. He has shown throughout his career he can rise to the occasion with the championship in reach. Unfortunately, he hasn’t come through in a UFC title fight.
From all accounts, it appears Henderson is going to hand pick his next opponent. He doesn’t want to fight anybody but the best, and he wants to go out on top with a UFC belt.
Should Dan Henderson retire without earning UFC gold, it would not diminish anything he has accomplished as a professional fighter. It would, however, put him in the undesirable club of the best UFC fighters never to hold a title.
Hendo deserves better than that.
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