Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson competed in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. He wrestled collegiately at Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State, winning the university Greco-Roman national championship in 1991 and 1993-94. He was national champion in Greco in 1993-94 and 1997. Henderson won a bronze medal at the 1995 Pan American Games, and silver medals at the 1994 and 1996 World Cup. He added a full set of medals at the Pan American Championships, winning gold in 2000, silver in 1994, and bronze in 1998. Henderson competed at the World Championships in Greco-Roman in 1994 and 1997, placing 12th and 7th respectively.

In 1997 Henderson began competing in mixed martial arts (MMA), spending time with various groups over the next 20 years. He started with Real American Wrestling (RAW) and has been back-and-forth to UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) several times. He has also competed with Pride Fighting Championships and StrikeForce. Through 2015, Henderson had a career MMA record of 31 wins and 13 losses. He was the last Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion of the Pride Fighting Championships. He also won the UFC 17 Middleweight Tournament, the 1997 Brazil Open Lightweight Tournament, the RINGS King of Kings 1999 Tournament, and the 2005 PRIDE Welterweight Grand Prix. Henderson’s sister, Selanée Henderson, played professional golf on the Symmetra Futures Tour, the development tour for the LPGA.