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UFC Belt Or Not, Dan Henderson Is A MMA Legend

Longtime MMA star Dan Henderson officially retired after his close unanimous decision loss to Michael Bisping in the main event of last night’s (Sat., October 8, 2016) UFC 204 from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, and he did so in the style that only the heavy-hitting “Hendo” could. A throwback to an earlier era of MMA

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Longtime MMA star Dan Henderson officially retired after his close unanimous decision loss to Michael Bisping in the main event of last night’s (Sat., October 8, 2016) UFC 204 from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, and he did so in the style that only the heavy-hitting “Hendo” could.

A throwback to an earlier era of MMA where fighters fought to compete rather than gather social media followers, “Hendo” went out with a bang by nearly finishing now-champ Bisping in the same fashion in which he so iconically did at 2009’s UFC 100. In the end, the 46-year-old Henderson was edged out by Bisping’s far superior aggression, striking volume, and accuracy, but the two “H-Bombs” that nearly put “The Count’s” lights out in the first and second round were more than enough for most Hendo fans to believe their man had done enough to win.

While that’s a tough proposition to do against the champion in his home (and in a fight where he rarely pushed the action), the once-named “Hollywood” made things as dramatic as ever, and that is why he will go down as one of the most revered fighters in UFC and MMA history.

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His story is a unique one. After a Greco Roman wrestling career that twice saw him compete in the Summer Olympics, Henderson first fought in the UFC in only his third MMA fight, defeating Allan Goes by decision on May 15, 1998 before outlasting Carlos Newton on the same night to win the UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament Final. After a string of six decision wins in seven bouts saw him dubbed “Decision Dan,” Hendo refuted the notion by becoming “Hollywood” in Pride due to his highlight reel finishes.

There, he fought a who’s who of Japanese MMA at the time, winning the welterweight championship and defeating Wanderlei Silva for the middleweight belt to become the first simultaneous two-weight champion in Pride. He remains the only man to do so.

In the Octagon, Hendo never won the one title that eluded him, falling just short against elite fighters such as Anderson Silva, Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, and Bisping. Obviously he did etch his name into UFC history with possibly the most infamous knockout ever for his one-punch decimation of Bisping at UFC 100.

He even left for Strikeforce after a contract dispute following his historic knockout of Bisping, becoming their 205-pound champion by knocking out Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Henderson then knocked out arguably the best heavyweight of all-time when he floored Fedor Emelianenko in 2011.

That was enough for the UFC to re-sign him, and his third UFC run began with a fight that many feel may be the greatest MMA bout of all-time, his classic UFC 139 war with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. It was the kind of bouts fans came to love and respect from Henderson.

That fight lead to a light heavyweight champion to dominant then-champ Jon Jones, but the bout never happened when Henderson injured his knee and ‘Bones’ refused to fight anyone on short notice, leading to the the promotion’s first ever cancellation of an event with UFC 151.

Hendo never seemed to quite bounce back from the over yearlong layoff that resulted, dropping narrow, uninspired split decisions to Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans in 2013 before he was knocked out by the almost superhuman force of TRT-era Vitor Belfort (yes, it also deserves to be noted that Henderson was a pioneer of sorts of TRT use in MMA, being one of the first to secure a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for the treatment).

His UFC run ended with seven losses in his last 10 bouts, but any MMA fan couldn’t help but forget all about those when Henderson rallied to knock out Hector Lombard with, of all things, a back-elbow, head kick, forearm smash combination at UFC 199. It was enough to get him a revenge-based title shot against Bisping despite the backlash due to the bout’s accused refusal to adhere to anything close to resembling a fair rankings system.

It happened, and Henderson and Bisping delivered a classic. True, Henderson came up just short, but even the Manchester fans gave him a rousing ovation after he nearly knocked out their famed hometown champion on more than one occasion.

Henderson was a throwback of MMA gone past who still brought the excitement needed to gain attention in today’s increasingly fast-paced, attention-starved world. There simply won’t be another fighter like him, and while he may not have had his hand raised every time, it was most certainly guaranteed you would be seeing a show.

“Hendo,” “Hollywood,” “Dangerous,” or even “Decision Dan,” Henderson was, is, and always will be an MMA legend. In his case, the UFC belt doesn’t prove or disprove that, yet he battled the only way he knew how to in one last war last with Bisping night.

We salute you Dan Henderson.

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Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson Full Fight Video Highlights

The UFC middleweight championship, along with a chance at revenge, was on the line for the newly-crowned Michael Bisping when he met rival Dan Henderson in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., October 8, 2016) UFC 204 from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. And “The Count” got it, but it wasn’t without adversity. Bisping used his superior

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And “The Count” got it, but it wasn’t without adversity. Bisping used his superior speed and technical striking to push the action at ‘Hendo’ throughout the entire fight, but Henderson rocked his British counterpart with two patented ‘H-Bombs’ in both the first and second rounds that had ‘Dangerous Dan’ dangerously close to finishing the fight.

Badly cut and bleeding, Bisping showed the heart of a true champion by rebounding with a onslaught of precise volume strikes, stinging Henderson on countless occasions but never seriously threatening a knockout. In the end, the hometown judges gave ‘The Count’ a unanimous decision win for his first title defense.

After the bout, Henderson announced his official retirement from MMA competition. Watch the full fight video highlights of his last bout below:

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UFC 204 Post-Fight Press Conference

Tonight’s (Sat., October 8, 2016) UFC 204 pay-per-view (PPV) event is in the books from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. In the main event, home favorite middleweight champion Michael Bisping beat longtime rival Dan Henderson by a close decision after getting rocked twice to settle their feud once and for all. Rising middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi stalked

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Tonight’s (Sat., October 8, 2016) UFC 204 pay-per-view (PPV) event is in the books from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.

In the main event, home favorite middleweight champion Michael Bisping beat longtime rival Dan Henderson by a close decision after getting rocked twice to settle their feud once and for all. Rising middleweight contender Gegard Mousasi stalked and stopped Vitor Belfort in the co-main event.

Join LowKick MMA for the event’s post-fight press conference starting shortly after the main card:

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UFC 204 Predictions: Did Anyone Go With Hendo?

A rivalry that has been stewing for over seven years – at least for Michael Bisping – will finally come to a conclusion when “The Count” meets Dan Henderson for the middleweight title in the main event of tomorrow night’s (Sat., October 8, 2016) UFC 204 from Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. Having knocked out

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Having knocked out Bisping with quite possibly the most famous one-punch KO in MMA history, aging legend ‘Hendo’ didn’t seem to care at all about a rematch with his British counterpart; that is, until Bisping shockingly won the belt by knocking out Luke Rockhold earlier this year. That meant the brash talker was in possession of the only major MMA title to elude Henderson, an official UFC belt. The 46-year-old was suddenly (and understandably) interested in the one fight “The Count” wished he could get back.

We’ll see what transpires at this stage in the game.

In the co-main event, Gegard Mousasi will take on another aging legend in Vitor Belfort for a top spot at 185 pounds. All told, it promises to be a pivotal night for the direction of the middleweight division. Find out who we picked to win the main bouts:

Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson:

Mike Drahota:

The main event in Manchester certainly eschews anything even remotely close to adherence to the ‘official’ rankings, something that’s drawn the collective ire of the most of MMA’s fanbase since it was teased and announced. But it should be a fun one where many fans hope “Hendo” can recapture the magic of UFC 100 by knocking out “The Count’s” lights again.

Yet like most I’ve seen so far, I don’t think that’s going to happen here. Following his impressive, title sealing win over Luke Rockhold, Bisping rates a deserving -227 favorite over “Dangerous Dan,” who is a +192 dog according to BigOnSports.com. I think the 46-year-old will struggle to keep up with this new, and apparently best, form of Bisping, outlasting with a combination of volume striking and unrelenting pace.

Of course there’s always a chance for that “H-Bomb,” but I think “The Count” gets the finish and his revenge, which is rough considering we’ll never get to see MMA legend Henderson finally win the one title that’s eluded him if he does. Bisping by third round TKO is my pick.

Rory Kernaghan:

The difference between Bisping and Henderson compared to when they first fought is vast. In the past seven years I think ‘The Count’ has improved greatly; ‘Hendo’ however has began feeling the effects of a near 20-year career. No longer is he impossible to knock out, and Henderson’s recent record is riddled with brutal losses.

It would be foolish to say an upset win is not possible, but I see it as highly unlikely. Bisping is on fire right now, has revenge on his mind, and is also on home soil. I like his footwork and of course his combinations, but ‘The Count’ has really started setting for his shots now. I see a knockout in round one, but it will be Michael Bisping who has his hand raised.

Mike Henken:

When it comes to the main event, it’s a pretty easy pick for me, as I see Bisping getting the job done. In my opinion, Henderson’s only chance to win is if he can land his patented right hand once again. I expect the champion to use his speed and movement to avoid the big shots, however, while landing combinations of his own. “The Count” should also have the cardio advantage, and if he can wear Henderson down, he may be able to find a finish. Bisping by third round TKO.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Vitor Belfort:

Mike Drahota:

It’s cliché to see we’re no longer seeing the wrecking machine Vitor Belfort was just a few short years ago (although it seems like a lot longer), but it’s simply true. Chris Weidman and Ronaldo Souza destroyed him, and his only win in nearly three years ironically comes over Dan Henderson, whom he’s knocked out twice. Befort has looked out of sorts in the post-TRT era, and he’s a deserving +267 underdog at UFC 204. On the other hand, -328 favorite Mousasi looks like a man possessed as he attempts to wash himself of his disappointing knockout loss to Uriah Hall next year. He came guns blazing at UFC 200 and knocked out Thiago Santos in highlight reel fashion, and I think he’ll use his better all-around game to do just that to ‘The Phenom.’ Mousasi by second round knockout.

Rory Kernaghan:

Gegard Mousasi faces a shell of Vitor Belfort at UFC 204. ‘The Phenom’ is so far past his prime it’s almost hard to watch, but similar to the main event of the evening, there’s always a puncher’s chance. That said, against such a technically sound striker like ‘The Dreamcatcher’ that puncher’s chance is diminished greatly. I can’t see any way for Belfort to get the win here, and I’m predicting that Mousasi will be rampant and aggressive in his approach. Mousasi by TKO round one.

Mike Henken:

A few years back, Belfort was one of the most feared men in the division. His striking has typically been explosive and powerful, and his speed has always been second to none. I also always felt as if his ground game was underrated. However, he has lost two of his last three bouts, and has appeared to be declining. Mousasi, on the other hand, has only been picking up steam as of late, winning four of his last five bouts. His decorated kickboxing background and slick submission game should launch him towards a victory here, as I simply feel as if he’s the fresher fighter. Mousasi by first round TKO.

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Six Reasons Fans Want Hendo To Smash Bisping Again

With just a few days to go before Michael Bisping defends his middleweight title against Dan Henderson, it’s about time we all refresh ourselves on why many MMA fans are hoping Henderson will re-create his UFC 100 super-starching of “The Count.” From his antics on TUF to his past mistakes like spitting on a downed opponent’s corner to

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From his antics on TUF to his past mistakes like spitting on a downed opponent’s corner to his reputation for being outspoken with his many opinions, Bisping is an easy target to be cast as a villain, especially in contrast to quintessential good-guy Henderson. He seems to be a good family man and quite a nice guy off camera, but he’s been painted in quite the villainous light on it. So it may not be all that hard to see why rooting for Henderson seems to feel so natural for so many MMA fans.

Nonetheless, we’ve singled out the most polarizing moments and will examine them here, with three for each side of the argument.

Three Reasons Fans Want Pull For Henderson

3. He’s Fought Everyone, Everywhere For Nearly 20 Years

At age 46, Henderson will be stepping into the Octagon for his 47th career fight. Of those battles he has won 32 with 18 finishes, including some of the most exciting knockouts in MMA history. In such a long-spanning career Henderson has faced some defeats. However, looking back on his record, the vast majority of his losses are to former champs and absolute legends.

He held two belts in Pride, was the last Light Heavyweight Champion of Strikeforce, and now has the opportunity to capture the one belt that has eluded him. It’s only fitting that a pioneer who has provided us with so many highlight-reel finishes in MMA’s modern-era and jaw-dropping memories from years past finds himself in a position to close out his career with a title shot against one of the sport’s most outspoken villains.

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Dan Henderson Responds To Michael Bisping’s “Cheater” Accusations

At a recent UFC 204 gym day, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson was called out by longtime foe Michael “The Count” Bisping. Bisping, the current middleweight champion, made several accusations that Henderson hasn’t always been a clean fighter. “The Count” has been very persistent in slandering Henderson’s name every chance he gets, constantly

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“The Count” has been very persistent in slandering Henderson’s name every chance he gets, constantly slamming him about using testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT), which at the time was legal when accompanied by a therapeutic use exemption (TUE), but has been banned altogether by athletic commissions since 2014.

However, from a technical point of view, a fighter using TRT, even when it was deemed legal, should have only been doing so with a TUE if it were essential to their ability to keep fighting. After the banning of TRT, not one fighter who was taking the substance at the time retired, only leaving one to imagine that the fighters were taking advantage of the system.

When questioned about this, Henderson made the following remarks via MMA Fighting:

“I think he’s a little bit naive about certain things,” said Henderson, who challenges for Bisping’s middleweight title in the main event of UFC 204. “I was taking TRT when it was legal and really wasn’t taking much. That’s why I think it’s funny. I think his body has changed more since we fought the first time than mine has. He looks a lot bigger and a lot different now than he did then. I look about the same except for maybe a little grayer here and there.“

Henderson, now 46, does not consider himself someone who used to game the system, just a person who was abiding by the rules that were set in place. Although Henderson has been a user of TRT, he has been a long advocate of increased drug testing in mixed martial arts, and says he is in favor of USADA’s partnership with the UFC, comparing it to the Olympic testing when he was wrestling.

Henderson would later add:

“I don’t care what he says,” Henderson said of Bisping. “It doesn’t matter to me. I know, in my mind, who I am and how I’ve been throughout the years. I never tested positive for anything.”I’m the one guy that’s probably been asking for this type of drug-testing for probably five or six years before they started it.”

The statements above sent “The Count” into a rage. He wasn’t having any of it:

“Dan Henderson, you were on TRT,” a disgruntled Bisping said at the gym day. “You were the godfather of TRT. Shame on you. This is the guy that says he needed TRT to be able to compete. Yet years later, he’s still competing. This guy is a marvel to modern science. Perhaps if you take his blood, we can find the cure for cancer. Because this guy is an anomaly.”

Henderson also stated how Bisping’s body looked vaguely different, saying that Bisping looked much bigger, and very different, as opposed to the previous bout between the two.

Bisping immediately snapped back saying:

“Yeah, through blood, sweat, and tears and hard work,” Bisping said. “Dan Henderson saying that just shows what a moron he is. Take one look at Dan Henderson, you can see there’s not much going on in between there. Captain Caveman. Fred Flintstones. Whatever you want to call it. You can see he is a throwback to the Neanderthal man.

“For him to throw out insinuations like that, shame on you Dan Henderson. I’ve been tested more times than anybody — I don’t know if that’s accurate, but i’m still gonna do a Chael Sonnen and say that — I’ve been tested more times than anybody, I’ve never even come close. Not even a whistle. Not even a hint of suspicion in any of my tests. You can test my blood right now. I will piss in any cup you want.”

Bisping finally struck gold, capturing the UFC middleweight championship, something that has eluded him for the greater part of his career, by defeating former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 by TKO under two minutes into the first round.

“The Count” will now have his chance at redemption, as he’s scheduled to defend his belt for the first time against a challenger he’s fought before, Dan Henderson. In their first meeting at UFC 100, Henderson got the best of Bisping in the second round, catching him with a lethal right hand that is now known as one of the most spectacular knock outs in the history of the sport, and something that has haunted Bisping his whole career.

Bisping has desired his chance to right that wrong, and at UFC 204, right next to his hometown, “The Count” will get a chance to do just that when he squares off against Dan Henderson, live in Manchester, England, October 8th, 2016.

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