3. Dan Henderson
As is usual for Henderson on these top 10 lists—I've lost count of how many he has made—his ranking among voters was all over the place. He received two first places, only one fewer than the two men in front of him, while others left him off entirely! My own list was again in the middle, ranking him eighth. I keenly understand the dilemma of his unique career, with its exceptional highs and considerable lows. Really, all it comes down to Henderson's unique style. Despite being an Olympic wrestler, he rarely used wrestling to win fights and could be taken down and controlled himself. Instead, he relied on his boxing, predicated on one of the most devastating right crosses in MMA history, plus an iron chin. Either Henderson caught his opponent and it was spectacular, or he didn't and it was disappointing. Including his initial UFC tournament win in 1997, taking two very close decisions that night—I thought both Allan Goes and Carlos Newton beat him—Henderson went 9-9 in the promotion. On the one hand, he won two of the greatest fights in MMA history against recent UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua, the first by decision—though most scored it a draw—and the second by third-round knockout. He also scored one of the greatest knockouts in MMA history against future middleweight champion Michael Bisping and won a split decision against Rich Franklin, yet another past or future UFC champion. On the other hand, he lost decisions against Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans, neither of which should have been split, was knocked out twice early in the first round by Vitor Belfort, and was also demolished in 70 seconds by Gegard Mousasi.
Henderson also had three cracks at a UFC divisional title. He lost a competitive decision for the light heavyweight crown against Quinton Jackson in 2007, which unified the Pride Fighting Championships and UFC titles. He was then submitted at the end of the second round by Anderson Silva in his very next fight in early 2008 for the UFC middleweight title. Lastly, in 2016, at an incredible 46 years old, Henderson had a rematch against his nemesis Bisping, who had improbably become UFC middleweight champion. Henderson gave an excellent accounting of himself, with some even scoring it for him or as a draw, but in the end, the champion retained. After this, Henderson retired, having recorded legendary victories in every major promotion he graced, UFC included.
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