Dan Hendeson, full name, Daniel Jefferey Henderson is a retired mixed martial artist and Olympic wrestler from California, USA. During his heydays, Daniel was a household name given his display of prowess in bouts.
His stellar record is admirable, with him racking up 32 wins and having only 17 losses during his entire MMA career.
Before retiring, Daniel was a middleweight contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. While there, Henderson’s devotion was rewarded with a colossal of awards.
They include; four-time winner of ‘Fight of the Night’ and a two-time winner of ‘Performance of the Night.’ Learn fascinating facts about Dan Henderson in this review.
Who is Dan Henderson?
Dan Jefferey Henderson is a former fighter and wrestling maestro. His love for wrestling was nurtured from a relatively young age. Dan was a member of his high school wrestling team.
Victor Valley High School was his stepping stone to prominence in the sport. While there, Henderson was crowned the national junior champion in both Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling.
Dan, additionally, obtained medals at the California State Wrestling Championships in two consecutive years. He came in second place in 1987 and fifth place in 1988.
Upon completing high school, Dan laid back a bit before pursuing wrestling in college. For a whole season, Henderson competed at Cal State Fullerton (CSUF) and Arizona State University (ASU).
His hard work paid off, earning him a chance to participate in the 1993 NCAA championships.
Furthermore, Dan was the university national champion for three consistent years; 1991, 1992, and 1993.
Moreover, Henderson was chosen to represent the U.S. in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics held in those summers. He came in tenth place and twelfth place respectively.
After these commendable victories, Dan moved on to contest at the World Wrestling Championships.
As usual, Henderson did not fail to deliver as he emerged No 12 and No 17 in 1994 and 1997, respectively.
He did not stop there as he moved on to attain a bronze medal and a gold medal at the 1995 and 2000 Pan American Games and Pan American Championships.
Unfortunately, Dan was not able to qualify for the 2000 Olympics. His defeat against Matt Lindland led to his retirement in the field. This loss paved the way for his MMA career.
Henderson began practicing mixed martial arts in 1997, as many wrestlers had done before him. He winded up joining the RAW (Real American Wrestling) team.
How old is Dan Henderson?
Dan Jefferson Henderson was born on August 24th, 1970, in Downey, California, U.S. It makes him 50-years old as of 2021. The Zodiac symbol for his birth month is ‘Lion.’ This was depicted by his ferocity in the ring throughout his career.
Net Worth.
Henderson accumulated an abysmal amount of wealth during his career. His salary earnings from 2007 to 2010 amounted to a whopping $1.36 million.
From 2011 to 2016, Dan reportedly amassed $3.57 million. For each match he won, Henderson received a winning bonus.
In his fight against Bisping, he earned $100,000 that trailed the ‘Knockout of the Night’ award.
There is no doubt that Dan had a lucrative MMA career. Dan Henderson’s net worth is $8 million.
Wife and Kids.
After years of battling in the ring, an MMA fighter craves a place where they find peace.
Dan Henderson was lucky enough to find his peace in his long-term girlfriend, Racheal Malter.
Dan decided to make the relationship more permanent and proposed to his heartthrob in 2014. The proposal took place at the Henderson Family/Team Annual Pig Roast.
Interestingly, the couple got married one hour after Dan popped the question.
Sources later revealed that Henderson had already purchased a wedding dress for Racheal, and apart from this, he had an officiating minister a stone throw away.
Before Racheal, Henderson was married to Alison Henderson, with whom he had kids.
Dan Henderson and former wife Rachel Malter divorced, however, following allegations of Alison wanting to rob her husband blind.
The two have three children; Sierra, Danielle, and Reese Henderson. The family is constantly seen on social media platforms wearing cheek-to-cheek smiles.
Sneak Peek of Dan Henderson’s Social Media Activity.
Dan Henderson might be retired, but his social media platforms indicate that he still has zealous energy for fighting.
Training posts can be seen on his Instagram page, where he has 358,000 followers.
Scrolling down, you will get to see Dan’s dedication to veterans and his country in general.
Henderson is a family man. His wife and kids dominate his account, and one cannot help but relate to that type of love.
Dan Henderson’s Wiki-Bio and Facts.
Full name | Daniel Jefferson Henderson |
Age | 50 |
Date of Birth | 24th August 1970 |
Place of Birth | Downey, California, United States |
Profession | Former professional mixed martial artist |
Net worth | $8 million |
Wife | Racheal Malter |
Kids | 3 |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | English, French, Scottish, Native, American |
Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Parents | Bill Henderson |
Dan competed at the Brazil Open Lightweight Tournament for his first match, where he faced three opponents. Amazingly, Dan managed to emerge as the winner gaining UFC recognition.
Dan made his UFC debut at the UFC 17 match, which would lead to his inconsistent relationship with this establishment. This on and off relationship would go on to last for almost two decades.
In this fight, Henderson showcased his exceptional skills defeating three men in the ring while having a broken jaw.
He would later face renowned fighters like Gilbert Yvel, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, and Renato Sobral in an MMA tournament.
Dan weighed 199 pounds during this event, and his opponents outweighed him by more than 30 pounds.
Despite this, Henderson won all the five fights of that tournament and was crowned the ‘Rings: King of Kings Tournament’ 1999 champion. This victory put him on the global map.
Dan would then move on to carve his career path in the PRIDE Fighting Championships. While here, Henderson acquired two titles that would lead him to garner a massive fan base.
He became the first person to hold titles in two different weight classes (middleweight and welterweight) concurrently in a major MMA establishment.
In April 2009, Henderson appeared on Spike TV as a coach for the Ultimate Fighter.
This reality TV show amassed a plethora of fans, majorly because of the bad blood between the two coaches. The feud would later be settled in the ring, with Henderson emerging victorious.
He would proceed to win an admirable number of fights at the UFC and Strikeforce over the years, racking up an impressive record.
During his entire career, he achieved thirteen wins via KO alone.
Additionally, Dan happens to be the owner of ‘Team Quest Fitness Gym,’ based in Temecula, California. Henderson and Matt Lindland were involved in a lawsuit over the logo of ‘Team Quest.’
Dan has appeared in notable films and TV shows such as ‘Dragon Eyes,’ ‘The King of Queens’ and ‘Cubed.’
In 2007, Dan was diagnosed with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). He did not, however, go through with the procedure as UFC had banned it.
Dan has had a very successful career over the years. He is an icon of our time.
Additionally, Henderson is known for his devotion to working with veterans.