This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Dan Henderson Turns 43

Dan Henderson turns 43 this week. | Photo: TJ De Santis/Sherdog.com

Former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson will celebrate his 43rd birthday on Aug. 24.

One of the most accomplished and revered competitors in MMA history, Henderson remains the only fighter to ever hold major championships in two different weight classes simultaneously, having done so in Pride at 185 and 205 pounds. Wins over Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Michael Bisping and Wanderlei Silva anchor his lengthy resume, along with victories over five former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholders: Carlos Newton, Murilo Bustamante (twice), Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin and Mauricio Rua. In 39 professional bouts, the Downey, Calif., native has never been stopped by strikes. Still active and competitive with the upper-tier fighters at 205 pounds, Henderson last appeared at UFC 161 in June, when he wound up on the wrong side of a split decision to Rashad Evans at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Henderson wrestled collegiately at Cal State Fullerton and Arizona State University. He was a two-time Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling, representing the United States at the Summer Games in 1992 and 1996.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday the week covering Aug. 18-Aug. 24:

AUG. 18

Chris Lytle (39)
Chad Robichaux (38)
Sergei Kharitonov (33)
Geronimo dos Santos (33)
Sachiko Yamamoto (33)
Guy Delumeau (32)
Miesha Tate (27)

AUG. 19

Ricco Rodriguez (36)
Kyle Bradley (31)
Stipe Miocic (31)
Mizuki Inoue (19)

AUG. 20

Tom Speer (29)

AUG. 21

Alex Reid (38)
Zachary Micklewright (27)
Shoko Sato (26)

AUG. 22

Hideo Tokoro (36)
Justin Buchholz (30)

AUG. 23

Brock Larson (36)
Andrey Koreshkov (23)

AUG. 24

James Toney (45)
Dan Henderson (43)
Trevor Prangley (41)
Dong Sik Yoon (41)
Marcus Davis (40)
Hayato “Mach” Sakurai (38)

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