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Interview w/ Dan Henderson
Reported By: Boxing Insider - 02.03.2003 10:03 PM
The following interview was conducted by Ryan Bennett of MMAWeekly.com:
Dan Henderson showed all MMA fans why he is one of the most dangerous fighters in the world. He took on the best fighter on the planet in Minotauro Nogueira, on very short notice and took him to the limit. Now Henderson has just one fight left on his Pride contract. He will fight in the upcoming Pride 25 show, but after that, what is next? He talked with MMAWeekly's Ryan Bennett about his future and what the chances are of fighting again in the UFC. It's all discussed now in our Interview of the Week.
Ryan Bennett: Hendo, how have you been?
Dan Henderson: I'm pretty good how you been?
Ryan Bennett: I'm good thanks, what have you been doing since your last fight?
Dan Henderson: I took some holiday time off to train again. I took about a month off and now I'm starting to train hard again.
Ryan: Rumor has it that you might be fighting again as soon as Pride 25. Is that correct?
Dan: Yea, I will be fighting at the next Pride for sure. I don't know who yet. They haven't given me any names yet. All of the names out there right now are speculation and rumors. I haven't heard anyone's name yet.
Ryan: Any name has got to be better than Minotauro Nogueira's right?
Dan: Yea I guess it can only be easier from here out.
Ryan: Tell me about that situation before we break down that fight. You took that fight on what, 8 days notice?
Dan: Yea it was about 10 days.
Ryan: When you look back at the situation, where you crazy to take that fight on such short notice?
Dan: No I don't think so. The only regret I had about the fight was the fact that I didn't have a chance to train with bigger guys. If I would have had two months before or even two weeks before, that would have made a big difference in the fight. That's the only thing, because I know I can beat him. I really could with proper notice. I thought I did pretty well considering. I was probably too conservative in the fight when I was on top. I only opened up once with some strikes. The rest of the time I kind of just hung out and let him work his offense. I was on the defense most of the time. Other than that I just ran out of gas that third round.
Ryan: I saw that. Did you surprise yourself in that fight giving up the weight?
Dan: No. I didn't surprise myself. I think I match up pretty well with him other than the size difference. Technique wise I'm a very tough fight for him. I make it fairly tough for him to take down and tough to submit. His game is to take you down and submit. I found out I match up pretty well skill wise with him. I got tired and got caught and that's the way it goes. You learn from it.
Ryan: You've never had anyone finish you in a fight before, does that bother you?
Dan: Yea, it's not that big of a deal to me now. It's nice not to be submitted, but a loss is a loss when you get right down to it. I think the worst part about it, is actually losing. I let down mentally and I think I could have mustard enough energy to go the distance, but I let up a bit mentally and he took advantage of it. That's what makes him such a great fighter.
Ryan: Most fighters can take something good out of a loss. Can you do that with this defeat?
Dan: I think next time, I will be stronger mentally. I won't be so passive. I would open more on the ground with him. I kept hanging out and waiting to see what happens. I feel I'm pretty good on the ground, I only showed my defense with no offense.
Ryan: What made it so tough for you to get off offensively in the fight?
Dan: On my feet I was fine, but once I got on the ground, I only opened up the one time. I think I was waiting to pop back up to my feet. He's got a really good grip, especially on my wrists and he just kind of pulled me back in. He did a good job with that.
Ryan: The only knock on Pride is the fact you guys have to wait so long to find out your opponents. Are you doing something now in training to get ready for a fight when you have no idea who your opponent is?
Dan: I'm always trying to get better, no matter who I fight. Until I find out I might tweak my training a bit. But my overall training is basically the same. I'm working on my stand up and boxing half of the time and my submissions the other half. Same thing with my defense. Certain fighters do certain things or specific techniques. I will focus on those once I find out who I'm fighting.
Ryan: I know a couple of your team mates this week are training with Chuck Liddell and crew at the Pit with John Hackleman. Do you get a chance to train with different gyms frequently?
Dan: Yea, I'm actually doing that right now. I don't have the luxury that they do with all the people they have coming in, so I travel at least two or three days a week different camps. I've been training with a group called Millennia Jiu-Jitsu in Pomona. I go at least once or twice a week. I also head to a few different places in San Diego. I'm actually going up with Randy and Matt to train up there with Chuck so that will be good.
Ryan: Last time I talked with Matt Lindland he told me something I didn't realize. He said that you guys competed for the same spot on the USA World Team in wrestling years ago?
Dan: Yea during the 2000 Olympics he was actually a weight lower than I was and I didn't make the team in 2000. In 2001 he moved up a weight and I decided to wrestle that year. We then wrestled in the finals that year to make the team. And he beat me two out of three…
Ryan: You let that guy beat you? (laughs)
Dan: (laughs) He beat me two straight….I hadn't wrestled him in years. Before that I beat him every match we wrestled. I think it was only two or three matches when we were younger. Then in practice we competed a lot but we hadn't competed against each other since 2001 in the summer. It was fun. It's the way us wrestlers are. We're friends and we know it's a sport when we compete against each other. It's like playing a game of pool with a buddy. You always want to win but your still friends afterwards.
Ryan: Back to your fighting career today. You have to be like anyone else. Shocked about the things that have transpired in Pride. You have to be concerned about your future.
Dan: Right now I guess it's a wait and see type deal. I'm going to feel them out for the next show. It's a sad situation all around. I'm actually going to Japan in a few weeks for one of our other fighters in Pancrase. I might be able to meet with them over there and figure things out. I'm hoping they turn things around and get things going for them and us as fighters.
Ryan: Does it concern you that you see all the MMA fighters turn to pro wrestling? Would you consider it if you get paid well?
Dan: Yea I would do that with New Japan. I know Randy (Couture) and Matt (Lindland) said they would do that. I wouldn't do it here in States. Only in Japan. They do it a lot different in Japan. It's not so gay looking. They actually make it look like real fights.
Ryan: What about the UFC?
Dan: I'm hoping to go there. I'm going to give them a shot when my contract ends. They won't talk to me until my contract is up.
Ryan: When is that?
Dan: Next fight in Pride.
Ryan: Wow, so you will talk to them after this next fight then…
Dan: Yea, I briefly mentioned it to them, but they won't talk to me until my contract is up in Pride, so I respect that. I know they are interested. It's just a matter of money like anything is in the fight game. I feel I want to pay what I'm worth.
Ryan: Would you fight in the UFC at 185 or 205?
Dan: I would like to fight at 185 but Matt is in there right now. The UFC has those policies which are kind of stupid I think, but they still have them with one man per team, per weight. I think if it came right down to it, our guys would fight against each other. I'm sure Matt and I would fight each other for the right price.
Ryan: So if things were a perfect world, you would rather fight at 185, not 205?
Dan: Yea. Eight pounds is nothing to cut. That would be easy.
Ryan: How concerned are you as a fighter that this sport is struggling financially. Not only Pride, but the UFC hasn't had the success until the last UFC?
Dan: I think Pride is a strange situation. I can't believe they aren't making money when they've had HUGE shows. I just don't understand it. I know they have spent a lot of money on some stupid things for the fans, and whatever, but I can't figure why they are losing money. Maybe somebody is hiding it or something, I don't know. They said they lost money on that show that drew 91,000 people. How that's possible, I have no idea. There is probably truth to that because that's why the President killed himself. They have the honor system there and if you fail then people do that. Who knows.
Ryan: It's got to be a lot of fun fighting in Japan in front of 91,000 people….
Dan: Yea I enjoy fighting in front of the Japanese fans. They are very respectful. They don't yell obscenities and boo and do anything like that during the fight. I've only heard one or two occasions that they actually boo somebody. I like that because they respect you win or lose. The U.S. fans are more cut throat. They like the blood and guts. They don't understand what's going on the mat most of the time. They like the striking aspect. The Japanese fans understand it a lot more. With that said I do like the U.S fans because they get loud and cheer.
Ryan: So you have a few decisions to make after your next fight…
Dan: Yea just a couple. I will look at everything. I know there was some talk that Pride was going to do another Grand Prix and wanted me in it, but it's hard to say what's going on over there right now. I don't know. I would still like to fight in the UFC, but I don't know if they will have any money left if Tito (Ortiz) gets what he wants for his next fight.
Ryan: So what do you still want to accomplish in MMA this year?
Dan: I want to fight at least three to four times this year and win them all obviously. I want to get the Pride belt if I stay with Pride, or the UFC belt if I go there. I would also like to fight certain people to test myself. Murilo Bustamante for one, and I've been wanting to fight Sakuraba as well, and that could happen.
Ryan: Anyone else out there you would like to fight?
Dan: Well I think Matt is going to do it for me, but I would like to shut Baroni's fat lip's up. I've talked with him personally a while back. He was a lot different then. He was a little cocky before, but nice and personable. Now I guess his alter ego came out. I guess he might be schizophrenic or something. He's a good fighter though, but I still think he's young and not experienced and letting a lot of that go to his head.
Ryan: Break down that fight between him and Matt at UFC 41?
Dan: Baroni is going to walk out crying like a girl. He's going to have a third personality come out. Matt should control him real well the entire time. Obviously Baroni has some quick hard punches. I think Matt though is doing the right things now to get ready for it. Matt didn't get knocked out the first time and that was when he made some sloppy mistakes and ate all of Baroni's punches and power and tried to do some bad kicks. Matt didn't get knocked out back then with those mistakes but there's always a chance in the fight game.
Ryan: Alright Dan, well it's always good to talk with you and I look forward to seeing you in Pride 25?
Dan: O.k. Ryan. I will see you soon when I come and train.
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