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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.

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.

The post UFC Belt Or Not, Dan Henderson Is A MMA Legend appeared first on LowKick MMA.

Classic Fight: Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 [VIDEO]

(Video is after the jump.)

This Sunday at UFC Fight Night 38 in Brazil, Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua will meet in a rematch of one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Their first bout went down back in November 2011 at UFC 139, and featured five rounds of mutual abuse that was more like a two-man demolition derby than a professional MMA fight. In the end, Hendo earned a unanimous decision with 48-47 scores from all three judges — although it would have been a different story if the fight was scored under Stockton Rules.

It might be overly optimistic to think that these two living legends could produce a sequel that rivals their first meeting, especially when you consider that Hendo is now 43 years old, has gone winless since the first Shogun fight, and may already be considering the end of his career. The only thing Sunday’s fight will determine is which guy gets to keep plugging away a little longer. To call it “the most anticipated rematch in UFC history” is laughably inaccurate.

Still, if you’ve been a fan of Henderson and Shogun’s long, decorated careers — and if you consider yourself an MMA fan, it’s pretty likely that you idolized at least one of these guys at some point — it’s not a bad free fight for a Sunday evening. Check out their epic first match below and shoot us your predictions for Shogun vs. Henderson 2 in the comments section.

(Video is after the jump.)

(Henderson vs. Shogun full fight video. Props: UFC.com via MMAWeekly)

CSAC Passes Amendment Allowing Therapeutic Exemptions for TRT and Marijuana

(Could I get JUST ONE of those exemptions, por favor?)

Some big news out of California today, as it appears that the California State Athletic Commission has taken a huge step towards legalizing the therapeutic use of testosterone and marijuana in mixed martial arts competition. SI.com was the first to break the news:

The California State Athletic Commission voted on Monday to approve an amendment that allows therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for combat sports’ athletes who use drugs currently banned by the state agency for medical purposes, including testosterone and marijuana.

To be adopted into state law, the amendment’s verbiage must now be reviewed and approved by the Department of Consumer Affairs and then the state’s Office of Administrative Law, a process that could take months or even years, if it passes at all.

(Could I get JUST ONE of those exemptions, por favor?)

The California State Athletic Commission voted on Monday to approve an amendment that allows therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for combat sports’ athletes who use drugs currently banned by the state agency for medical purposes, including testosterone and marijuana.

To be adopted into state law, the amendment’s verbiage must now be reviewed and approved by the Department of Consumer Affairs and then the state’s Office of Administrative Law, a process that could take months or even years, if it passes at all.

OK, so it’s not as big of news as one could have hoped, but it’s something, right? Then again, depending on your stance on testosterone replacement therapy (or marijuana for that matter), this could be a step in the wrong direction for the sport of MMA. Personally, I could care less if someone smokes a little weed in the off season; the fact that it is still demonized by some in our current over-prescribed, pill-popping culture is nothing short of ridiculous. As for TRT, well, it seems a little odd to me that some of the most physically fit athletes in the world would have a testosterone problem to begin with, but I’m just going to plead ignorance and leave it at that.

Few can forget who spearheaded this amendment in the first place, none other than the man with the “biggest arms in MMA,” Chael Sonnen. Following his fifth round submission loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117, Sonnen’s post-fight drug test came back positive for an absurdly high amount of testosterone. Chael would appeal the one year suspension he received thereafter on the grounds that he had received an exemption from the previous commission for his medical diagnosed case of hypogonadism. When no such paperwork was found by newly appointed CSAC executive director George Dodd, Sonnen’s suspension was reduced then quickly reinstated.

Believe it or not, among the fighters to receive therapeutic exemptions for testosterone was Dan Henderson before his fight with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139:

Dodd told SI.com in December that Henderson’s rigorous approval process served as a test case that the commission used to evaluate its proposed TUE requirements.

Like Henderson, one of three fighters approved for a testosterone TUE in Nevada, Dodd said future TUE candidates would need to provide extensive medical records documenting past use of the drug for medical purposes.

For a testosterone exemption specifically, Dodd said an applicant would be asked to provide blood tests prior to (30 days before) and after a contest to ensure levels were within acceptable margins. Dodd said that all materials submitted would be reviewed by the CSAC’s medical advisory board, which added an endocrinologist to its ranks on Monday for such cases.

Definitely an interesting development in this whole TRT issue to say the least. And though nothing was mentioned about marijuana usage in the article, we will keep you informed as to any developments regarding this legislation as they develop.

-J. Jones

Dana White Claims Dan Henderson Turned Down a Shogun Rematch, Is Promptly Pwned by Hendo

(That moment you realize you are a fraction of the man Dan Henderson is.)

Few, if any, will ever be able to forget Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s epic battle at UFC 139. It was like that time you watched your dad and your friend’s dad argue over a garden hose at your local pub when you were 12, an argument that quickly devolved into chair throwing, bottle smashing, and frequent use of the “n-word” despite the fact that both participants were white. You and your friend would never be the same again, but to be fair, his dad did say he would return the hose over a week ago, so fuck him.

Now swap your friend’s dad/Shogun with Dana White, and your dad with Dan Henderson, and you’ve pretty much got the gist of these two’s ongoing series of misunderstandings. They’ve butted heads over money before, but now it seems they’ve moved into the territory of straight up verbal warfare. At yesterday’s Calgary press conference, White informed Mauro Ranallo that he had attempted to secure a rematch between Henderson and Rua, but was met with firm opposition by the inventor of the H-bomb:

Yeah, I was trying to put together Dan Henderson vs. Shogun II and Henderson doesn’t want to do the fight. Henderson wants to wait for the winner of either Jonny “Bones” Jones or Anderson Silva. He wants Anderson Silva, if Silva wins, he will make that cut. Otherwise, he wants to fight the winner of Rashad and Jones.

After hearing the above snippet, Henderson took to his Twitter account to respond, where he promptly slayed DW in less than ten words.

Join us after the jump for those ten words.

(That moment you realize you are a fraction of the man Dan Henderson is.)

Yeah, I was trying to put together Dan Henderson vs. Shogun II and Henderson doesn’t want to do the fight. Henderson wants to wait for the winner of either Jonny “Bones” Jones or Anderson Silva. He wants Anderson Silva, if Silva wins, he will make that cut. Otherwise, he wants to fight the winner of Rashad and Jones.

After hearing the above snippet, Henderson took to his Twitter account to respond, where he promptly slayed DW in less than a sentence, responding, “If dana said it then out (assuming he meant “it”) must be true. Lol..”

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, the quickest way possible to piss off your boss, like a boss. If this response had a movie equivalent, it would be How to Lose a Job in Ten Words. And yet, it’s hard to deny what Hendo’s text is getting at. Dana White has led the MMA media astray on several occasions, only to pull the rug out from underneath us when the opportunity struck. You remember that whole Kimbo Slice situation? How about the fact that he was urging Wanderlei Silva to retire weeks before making him a coach on TUF: Brazil? All we’re saying is, Dana’s word is not exactly set in stone. Just ask Paul Daley. Or Miguel Torres.

But considering that Hendo has already turned down a rematch with Lil’ Nog in order to get the next shot at Anderson Silva or Jon Jones, it’s not like Dana’s accusation is out of left field either. And, let’s be honest, Hendo was definitely slowing down in the latter rounds of his UFC 139 fight with Rua, so maybe that has something to do with it. But far be it from us to call our fake dad a liar. Especially when he helped this country win the Revolutionary War.

What say you, Potato Nation? Do you think Hendo is worried a rematch with Shogun could cost him a title shot? Or is DW blowing smoke up our collective asses again?

-J. Jones

Defending Dana White: Why so Much Hate for the UFC President?

Dana White is a polarizing figure. Some love him, some hate him, and those in the MMA blogosphere that have never even met him, take every opportunity they have to crucify his every move.I read the blogs daily and always read the comments section…

Dana White is a polarizing figure. Some love him, some hate him, and those in the MMA blogosphere that have never even met him, take every opportunity they have to crucify his every move.

I read the blogs daily and always read the comments sections where keyboard warriors can tell you an event sucks before it takes place, why B.J. Penn has no motivation, or how Cain Velasquez could have beaten Junior Dos Santos. The scenarios are endless and the accountability is non-existent.

When a UFC story breaks about a separation or contract talk breakdown, the answer is always the same. “It is Dana White’s fault,” they say, not caring that they know nothing of the details or facts (see: Fedor contract negotiations, Brittany Palmer leaving UFC, and Golden Glory fighters released).

As a lifelong New York Yankees fan, Dana’s “character” reminds me very much of George Steinbrenner (though others might say WWE star Vince McMahon). He takes care of business and makes no apologies for his style, his opinion, or his success.

I am convinced that even if he were to find a cure for cancer, the comments sections would still be overflowing with reasons to hate him.

Although I realize this opinion will not win me any fans, I feel it is time to defend Dana White on a few topics.

Begin Slideshow

Fight of the Year: Dan Henderson vs. ‘Shogun’ Rua

Filed under: UFCThe fight wasn’t even a minute old and already Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was backed against the fence, covering up like an unarmed combatant in a pillow fight as Dan Henderson directed one punch after another at the delicate spaces in his d…

Filed under: UFC

The fight wasn’t even a minute old and already Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was backed against the fence, covering up like an unarmed combatant in a pillow fight as Dan Henderson directed one punch after another at the delicate spaces in his defense.

“Well,” I remember saying to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who was seated next to me on press row, “this one’s definitely not going five rounds.”

This is why you shouldn’t make predictions based on about 60 seconds of action. Not unless you want to feel really, really dumb a half-hour later. But who could blame me? Just 30 seconds into the first round of the UFC 139 main event, the former light heavyweight champ walked straight into one of Henderson’s famous right hands. Careers had been forever altered by the arc of that very punch. Nights had been ruined and eight-week training camps rendered meaningless by that exact same blow.

Rua had to know it was possible that he might find out what it felt like for himself, but he couldn’t have thought it would happen so soon. When you tiptoe right to the edge of getting knocked out in the very beginning of a 25-minute fight, what’s plan B?

If you’re “Shogun,” apparently it includes blinking away the blood and coming forward, only to get dropped a second time 15 seconds later, then unceremoniously tripped to the mat 20 seconds after that. Four and a half more rounds of this? Are you kidding? As Rua lunged for a takedown like a drunk diving into a cab at 2 a.m., he seemed as if he’d be lucky to survive the round.

But that was the difference between this fight and most. Now matter how unsteady Rua looked at times, it was as if he was never more than one deep breath from regaining his composure. One moment his legs seemed to have stopped taking orders from his brain, and the next he was firing off jumping knees and a looping right hand that caught Hendo behind the ear, giving him a taste of the canvas.

That’s the pattern they followed for most of the first three rounds. Henderson attacked, Rua bled. Henderson poured it on, Rua put up just enough of a defense to stay in it. And then, as if he had some alarm in his head that woke him up in the final two minutes of each round, the Brazilian snapped to attention and started giving some of that punishment back. When the horn sounded to end the third round, both men wandered aimlessly around before heading back to their corners. You could almost hear them thinking, shouldn’t this be over by now? Haven’t we beaten each other up enough?

But no, they still had two more rounds to go. In the fourth Rua got himself in trouble on the mat after a takedown, but again rebounded and had Henderson nearly out on his feet by the end. The fifth was all Rua. He flipped an exhausted Henderson onto his back and camped out in full mount, raining down blows with heavy, exhausted arms until the final horn sounded. Several times it seemed close to being stopped, and you almost wanted to call out to the ref and ask him to disregard the rules just this once, to let these two sort it out for themselves. They’d earned that right, it seemed, and so they continued on until the very last second, when Hendo was almost too exhausted to stand and Rua’s once white shorts were now stained a dirty pink from his own blood.

Fans in the crowd didn’t know whether to cheer or cry when it was over. You could look around the HP Pavilion and see men standing up in their seats with their mouths hanging open, both hands on top of their heads as if trying to keep their brains from leaping out of their skulls.

Some nights, when you’re in the moment, you can’t appreciate what’s happening. It’s only when you look back on them that you realize how special they were. This was not one of those nights. This was one of the nights where, at several points, you turn to your buddy or even just the stranger next to you with a stunned look that says, Are you seeing this? Can you believe what’s happening here?

Those looks were all over the arena that night. When Henderson got the nod from the judges, it was as if it almost didn’t matter who the winner was. Hendo needed the help of his cornermen just to get out of the cage. Rua’s face was so battered and bloodied, it seemed entirely possible that the immigration agents at the airport might refuse to believe he was the same person pictured on his passport.

Both men had suffered. Both men had been partners in creating a masterpiece. Right away we all knew it. Fans shuffled out into the rain with the expressions of people who were already planning how to tell this story to their purely hypothetical grandchildren. Reporters stood around in the media room shrugging at one another. Something like a giddy sense of shock set in. Did we really just see that? Did that really just happen?

Over at the hospital, Rua and Henderson didn’t need to ask. They had the proof. They had paid for it.

Other contenders worth noting:

2: Mike Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez, Bellator 58
The second-best fight of the night on November 19, 2011 was a very close runner-up for fight of the year. The two lightweights went back and forth in Hollywood, Florida with the Bellator title at stake before Chandler finished it in the fourth with a rear-naked choke. They produced a classic, but one that was almost immediately overshadowed by Hendo-Rua, which took place just hours later on the opposite coast. Sometimes timing is everything.

3. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II, UFC 125
After barely staying conscious through the first round, Edgar battled back to force a five-round seesaw fight that ended in a draw. Unsatisfying? Only if you’re the kind of jerk who can’t just relax enjoy the ride.

4. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley, Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley
If there was an award for the best one-round fight of the year, these two would have taken it. They set a furious pace right from the start and neither man was at all interesting in slowing down or even giving the crowd a chance to blink. Not a single second went to waste, and when the dust cleared it was Diaz who was left standing.

5. Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez, TUF 14 Finale
The Forrest Griffin-Stephan Bonnar finale might have done more for the UFC, but this may very well have been the most action-packed ending to a season of the UFC’s reality show. After nearly getting his jaw relocated to the back of his skull, Brandao somehow rallied to secure an armbar submission in another one-round stunner.

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